Sometimes I'm Tempted to Reuse Old Tires

Don't be fooled by good looking older tires, whatever the tread.
Safety comes first. Replace old rubber.

It's my general practice to discard old tires from any project bike, particularly when the sidewalls appear cracked or threads are poking out, like fine hairs. It's just plain dangerous to reuse tires that have been sitting for years, even if the bicycle has been stored inside. Rubber deteriorates. Blowouts can happen, possibly placing the rider in a dangerous situation. And considering this bicycle is one I'm refurbishing for my son (more on that in another blog post) I want him to ride a bicycle that's safe.

With that said, I discovered the rear tire seemed in fine shape. Plenty of tread. Sidewalls are okay, I think. Then I found the tire was a puncture-proof Nimbus Armadillo, like the one I put on my Trek Antelope. I wondered. Should I consider reusing it on my own bike?

Thankfully, I researched further. Old rubber not only disintegrates, but becomes stiff. Inflexible tires do not corner well. I will heed others' advice: if you don't know the bike's history or suspect it's been in storage, why take a chance? Do yourself a favor, replace the rubber. Period.