Tires, tubes and talcum powder. Is cornstarch okay?

[Stude Light]

Alas, my big container of talcum “baby” powder I used for coating the inside of tires. tubes and flaps to keep things from sticking is empty. Due to the lawsuits alleging cancer and asbestos from talc, all I can find on the shelf nowadays is cornstarch based powders. I assume that should work similarly but thought I would ask if anyone has experience using it.

[Bloo]

Cancer aside, that stuff will screw up you lungs badly. Avoid breathing it. I bought a can of tire talc when I ran out a couple years ago, and it is still available. A quick look on amazon just now for "tire talc" netted 5 brands of the stuff, including the "tip top" brand I bought a couple years ago. I have also used the cornstarch based baby powder and it seemed to work fine to get the tube all sorted out, though I often wondered what would happen if it got wet.

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by Bloo (see edit history)

[EmTee]

I have always used cornstarch, including recently on my '38 Buick.  No issues, but I kept it dry...

[Hans1]

Used Corn starch for over 70 years, from blke  tires on up to cars.

Just two weeks ago when repaired my daily bike front tire.

[Mark Shaw]

 I have Asthma & have used corn starch for years with no issues.

[Stude Light]

Thanks all for the feedback. Looks like my tires will smell like lavender.

[Akstraw]

[Littlestown Mike]

6 hours ago, Stude Light said:

Thanks all for the feedback. Looks like my tires will smell like lavender.

And that will be so nice as you repair the flat tire on the side of the road......  Lavender has a calming effect, right?

Edited April 27, 2023 by Littlestown Mike
spelling (see edit history)

[Mark Gregush]

While both are organic, cornstarch is plant based and talc is mineral. I wondered if cornstarch being plant based would cause it to get gloopy in the tire and cake when dry whereas, talc would remain somewhat stable. Maybe they both remain somewhat stable returning to their original state but have avoided cornstarch and use talc. 

[Mark Shaw]

1 hour ago, Mark Gregush said:

I wondered if cornstarch being plant based would cause it to get gloopy in the tire

Nope.