Using talcum powder with tubes

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History

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My understanding of why it’s used is,, to keep the tube from adhering to the tire or rim which later becomes torn when the flex is great enough to break the adhesion or thereabouts. I’ve never used it myself but would if I were smart enough to have it available when needed. My question is how much should you use??? I believe and I’m sure you guys will let me know if I’m wrong that just a dusting is really all that’s needed, similar to baby powder on a toddlers butt????


Let me show you what I found today when I changed some tires off the rims they came on to my rims,,


Maybe someone’s grandson helped out and poured the entire bottle in? I can’t get my head around why anyone would put so much. It may it have came through in the photos but it was an unbelievable mess and amount, I can’t see how they got it all in. I’m surprised the wheel wasnt so out of balance that it’d lift the wheel off the road.
 

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Baby powder is being reformulated to eliminate the talcum powder. Corn starch will work too.

Tearing of the tube is a problem when using bias ply tubes with radial tires. The talcum powder will help. It also helps putting enough air in the tire so that it does not get more than warm to the touch when the car is driven.
 
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I don't think I have ever fitted a tyre (and tube) without using talc. I even carry some with me on longer runs, just in case. I carry it for the tyres, not for me!!!!
 
Talc is what has led to law suits from various products. My dad taught me to use corn starch or talc, whichever is handy. Put a good bit in the tire, maybe a cup worth, then rotate the tire in your hands letting the powder slide and tumble around the inside of the tire. It will leave a nice thin coating wherever it has touched. Then dump the excess out of the tire. If you run your fingers on the inside surface, it will feel silky smooth. Now install the tire and tube onto the wheel. You only needs a thin layer to allow the tube to find home when your are filling with air.
Another trick is to fill enough air to get the tube to touch the inside of the tire and bounce the tire lightly while rotating, then fill to maybe 10 psi and repeat. This encourages the tube to move to where it wants to be before getting the full pressure.
As a kid, I never had a problem with my bicycle tires so I think my dad knew what he was talking about. Later, I worked at a gas station and used the same method for cars.
 
Started using it way back when we were patching bicycle tires as kids, also first air-up was without the valve core to kinda strech out the tube and let it move around then let the air out, install the core and inflate
 
I once used duct tape as a liner with no powder, what a sticky mess! Had to use paint thinner to wash and scrub the inside of the wheels and inner tubes. Talc or corn starch work good. For what it's worth, dry corn starch is great for the final polishing of paint (and biscuits). :)
 
Same topic, smaller scale application: Dusting bicycle tires with baby powder to prevent tube stick is very common in road bike applications where road friction can actually get so hot that the tubes melt and stick to the tire. It works and I’ve done it for years.
 
I just put 2 new tires on my 190A without using any powder. Once the tire is on, I inflate the tube to 40 psig a few times with its valve out to unwrinkle it. This works for me. Never had an issue doing this.
 
I am a bicycle wheel manufacturer. I have mounted tens of thousands of bicycle tube and tire based systems (as well as glued tubular and sealed tubeless) over the years.

I still use a dusting of talc. Sure it helps keep the tube from sticking to the tire but it does that by lubricating the tube and tire interface. As such dusting any tube before installing it will also help installation and help the tire's beads slip over the rim.
 
Having an issue that tube alone does not leak under water when out of the tire. But once put in the wheel, it leaks. I will give powder a try. Maybe something is catching.
 
I don’t believe the photos were able to show just how much powder was in that tire and there were two by the way. I seriously wouldn’t doubt that there was a full cup or more in each one. Enough to polish every biscuit Hardee’s/Carls Jr makes for a month. 😉
 
Baken said:
Having an issue that tube alone does not leak under water when out of the tire. But once put in the wheel, it leaks. I will give powder a try. Maybe something is catching.
Click to expand...

If you've been careful and sure that it absolutely isn't leaking when under water then it's most likely leaking from the valve. Get a replacement valve core.

Also while under water take a second to push the valve to the sides to see if there is a hole at the base of the valve stem that opens up under pressure.
 
Baken said:
Having an issue that tube alone does not leak under water when out of the tire. But once put in the wheel, it leaks. I will give powder a try. Maybe something is catching.
Click to expand...

I don't think powder will make a difference, sorry.
Some tubes are porous when they have 35 psi in them. Inflating a tube for the water test is rarely even 5 psi. I had one like that. The dog now plays with it.
 
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