Do bike tyres have an expiry date? GCN Tech Clinic

Alex Paton is joined by Manon Lloyd in the studio this week to answer your latest tech quandaries. Barely a week goes by when the subject of chain waxing isn’t raised, although last week provided a brief respite, but Ollie Bridgewood’s favourite topic is back on the agenda this week along with a host of other subjects, including carbon frame weight limits, CO2 cartridge compatibility, plus much more.

Can you hang a frame by its top tube?

The top tube is a vulnerable area of a bike hence why you should always avoid clamping it, for example, in a bike stand. It could damage the paintwork or, even worse, dent or crush the tube. The main threat comes from the clamping forces.

Clamping forces aren’t a concern when hanging a bike and it is fine to hang a bike by the top tube - many products are designed specifically for this purpose. If you have any concerns, you can use products that have two hooks as these will distribute the weight across the top tube more evenly.

Should heavier riders buy aluminium bikes due to carbon weight limits?

Many bikes are designed with maximum weight limits and this figure accounts for all of the system weight, including additional bags or water bottles.

Being a heavier rider doesn’t necessarily rule out carbon fibre as the weight limits for carbon bikes can vary greatly. Plus, non-carbon frames often have weight limits too and these aren’t necessarily more than they are for carbon.

Pick a bike with a suitable weight limit for you, but it’s also important to account for other components too, which may have weight limits.

This is where your local bike shop can be really handy as they’ll be more familiar with the different limits and can help guide you through the buying process.

• Read more: How to buy your first road bike

Can you use CO2 cartridges with TPU tubes?

CO2 cartridges are a handy and convenient alternative to a pump, but does this convenience extend to CO2 cartridges too?

Yes, and to provide a little extra confidence, Alex has used them on TPU tubes many times before. The only caveat is that CO2 cartridges can sometimes freeze the valve or the valve core which can make them brittle if they’re made from plastic.

Do bike tyres have expiry dates?

There’s no clear cut formula that dictates when a tyre needs replacing. Instead, it’s best to simply regularly inspect them and look for any visual cues that they’re coming towards the end of their life. Look for cuts, bulges or cracks, plus the wear level on the treads.

Rear tyres wear faster than front tyres and some cyclists choose to swap them around at a certain point, so that they both wear evenly. This is perfectly fine but can be a bit of hassle, so you can simply replace each tyre separately once they’ve worn, as opposed to both at the same time.

• Read more: How to change a tyre on your road bike

Can Shimano and SRAM 11-speed groupsets work on the same turbo trainer?

If you’re a cycling family, you may all share a turbo trainer, but you may run into problems if your bikes have different groupsets from both Shimano and SRAM.

There’s good news if both of the groupsets are 11-speed as chains from both brands can be used on the other’s cassettes. The same rule doesn’t apply for their 12-speed groupsets, though, where components start to diverge and you’ll need a cassette designed specifically for the groupset.

• Read more: GCN's ultimate guide to indoor cycling

Do you need to take any extra precautions when washing a bike with a waxed chain?

When using a regular lube, you’d usually have to apply fresh lube to the chain after washing your bike.

Things are much simpler for waxed chains which don’t need degreasing every time you clean your bike. Simply wipe the chain down with a dry cloth and it should be good to go.

Will upgrading older Shimano Ultegra shifters to new 105 shifters make a big difference?

Using a newer groupset is going to result in slightly crisper shifting, but not by much and it won’t drastically change the performance of your bike.

If you’re new to cycling or simply prioritise enjoyment over speed, changing components usually won’t improve your experience in any way. If you want to upgrade, it’s best to wait until a component is worn and needs replacing, rather than replacing something that is working well.

If you have any tech-related questions that you need answering, head over to this week’s Tech Clinic video on the GCN Tech YouTube channel and add your question to the comments along with #ASKGCNTECH. Or leave your question in the comments below.

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