I was speaking to someone about latex tubes which I use.
He said that once you remove a latex tube from a tire, throw it away. It will flat eventually due to adhering to the tire and slightly tear while pulling it out weakening the tube.
I train on my race set up (including latex tubes) with the exception of long training ride stuff and old race tires. 2 weeks before a race, I switch my training tires to race tires and reuse my latex tubes. I do powder them by placing them in a 2 gallon Ziploc bag with baby powder in it and shaking it around a bit.
This was the first time I have ever heard this and was curious of what others thought about this
I call BS. I always remove my race tire and tube from my front wheel. I’ve been using the same latex tube for 3 seasons… I’ve switched to the new Silca tubes 6 months ago otherwise I would still be reusing that old one. Never had a flat on latex.
Ummm…that person doesn’t know what they’re talking about…or wants to sell you more latex tubes :-/
About the only time a tube will “stick” to a tire like that is if it’s been in place for a LONG time, AND has been kept under pressure (i.e. topped off daily). Even then, the likelihood of damage is nil, especially if one removes the tube carefully.
There is a benefit when installing a latex tube. You don’t want it sticking to the tire. This is especially true for a used tube that has stretched. I think Jobst used regular butyl tubes, so a slightly different scenario.
I woud imagine that in some circumstances ditching the old latex tube in favour of the new one can be quite sensible advice.
We know that latex tubes stretch over the time. Some more other less, but all of them do strech.
Refitting latex tubes, sometimes I wish my wheels were couple of inches bigger
Even with the new tube it is easy to pinch it, with the streched one the risk of pinching or folding is much greater.
So yes, for somebody who is new to latex tubes I would say be very careful, or replace old tube with new one.
I used talc once upon a time, but not in last 15 years and have no issue with latex tube install, no tube stuck in bead and no exploding tubes.
so latex tubes stretch…less than when inflated in the tire and can still be installed without talc.
I have also had latex stick to tires, peeled off and continued to use in new tire, with no concern for tearing. the texture on the tubes from being stuck to tire is “cool” looking.
biggest issue I had with lates is back when I still used the green mich ones, the last batch I used all seemed to have issues where they would leak air out the valve if it wasn’t closed, is a tube extender that did not close the valve. haven’t had that issue with vittoria yet, but I also try to use correctly sized ones now.
Been running latex exclusively for 30 years, never talc-ed, never had a problem, apart from some Michelin quality control with shitty stem attachment.
Currently prefer vittoria, silca or challenge.
The tubes will last many years.
Been running latex exclusively for 30 years, never talc-ed, never had a problem, apart from some Michelin quality control with shitty stem attachment.
Currently prefer vittoria, silca or challenge.
The tubes will last many years.
Recently pinch flatted on a pothole I didn’t notice. With latex at road pressures that’s rare, but it was a narrow tire at TT speeds. With the hit it took I was glad I hadn’t broken the rim. I’ll patch the tube and use it for another few years.
Latex tubes are not delicate or fragile. They don’t age or wear quickly either. Less likely to pinch or puncture than butyl and adding almost no rolling resistance, they’re pretty much perfect for the task at hand. Just don’t mess up the install, or whine when a tiny sidewall tear leads to a blow out.
There is a benefit when installing a latex tube. You don’t want it sticking to the tire. This is especially true for a used tube that has stretched. I think Jobst used regular butyl tubes, so a slightly different scenario.
I’ve never had an issue with tubes sticking to tires, during installation or in removing the tube. For that matter, I don’t see much of an issue with “stretched tubes,” either, as they can’t stretch beyond the inside of the tire and rim. You worry that a sticky, stretched tube will more likely be pinched during installation? I can’t imagine.
or whine when a tiny sidewall tear leads to a blow out.
Hey, you don’t get to disqualify that as a weak point. It’s a legitimate negative of latex, that they’ll sneak through the smallest holes in the casing, whether sidewall or tread.
It’s maybe the main reason why I’ve moved to tubeless after ~12 years on latex tubes. Tubeless is an order of magnitude less likely to pinch flat (whereas latex is only marginally better at best than butyl). And small casing holes are very rarely catastrophic like they are with latex.
