Are all inner tubes made equal? What makes them different? Are there pros or cons to different types?
Thanks.
No, they are not “equal”
2 main types: butyl and latex. The butyl tubes are heavier and more durable (reportedly)
Latex tubes are much lighter and feel “spongier” thus giving a better ride. Also, the Crr is lower for a quality latex tube (like the Michelin Aircomp) than even the best butyl tube. Latex tubes loose air MUCH faster than butyl tubes as well and are reportedly more prone to puncture/flats. Latex tubes cost typically 3x a butyl tube (i.e. $5 vs. $15)
Some brands tend to be better than others, but that’s a matter of preference. I like the Michelin Latex tubes, or for butyl the Continentals. I hate the Bontrager lightweight tubes, they are the most prone to flatting. For training and beating the piss out of I’d say go with the Kenda Butyl tubes, they’re dirt cheap, but unlike Kenda’s tires, they’re a pretty solid and bombproof tube.
No! Inner tubes are not created equal. most standard tubes are butyl, then some companies make thin butyl, and there are a few companies that make latex. the thinner/lighter you go, the more the tubes bleed air overnight and they ride more supple and generally with less energy expended towards deformation.
ALL TUBE HAVE NEARLY EQUIVALENT PUNCTURE RESISTANCE. If it get through the tire, you’re screwed. Anyone who says otherwise has some strange paranoia of lighter tubes. HOWEVER, I will say that the chances of getting a defective tube greatly increase, especially with light butyl tubes - bontragers most notably.
Bontrager tubes are among the lightest, but have many defects. Conti’s “light” tubes aren’t very light. I hear specialized is making some good stuff. Salsa has been good for me.
pinch flats, either during installation or riding, are WAY more likely with latex tubes. i used them for a couple of months and just gave up - it was almost impossible to install them after a road flat and i was tired without damaging the tube. even just this last weekend, installing brand new lightweight butyl tubes on an easton ascent II rim with a brand new michelin pro2 race tire, i went through 3 inner tubes that pinch flatted during install before i switched to a regular weight butyl - worked first time. i’ve been installing tires for 25 years or more, just for context.
Race with a carefully installed latex tube and carry a regular butyl for a spare?
I’ve heard of pinch flats while riding but never had one - how does it happen?
Dave
pinch flats, either during installation or riding, are WAY more likely with latex tubes. i used them for a couple of months and just gave up - it was almost impossible to install them after a road flat and i was tired without damaging the tube. even just this last weekend, installing brand new lightweight butyl tubes on an easton ascent II rim with a brand new michelin pro2 race tire, i went through 3 inner tubes that pinch flatted during install before i switched to a regular weight butyl - worked first time. i’ve been installing tires for 25 years or more, just for context.
Wow…now I’ll admit that on the first latex tube I ever installed that I too ended up with it pinched under the bead and blowing out. But, that was the last time too.
Here’s a tip (well, actually two). First, after the tube is installed and the bead is worked into place, BEFORE you pump up the tube, ALWAYS go around the tire and push the bead towards the center and make sure that you can’t see any of the tube. If you do, “flip” the tire with your thumb a few times until the tube “retreats” up into the tire. It sometimes helps to have just a small amount of air in the tube to give it some form when you do this. The second tip is that some people find that a very light dusting of talc helps in the installation process on latex tubes due to the inherent “grabbiness” of the untalc’d tube. I used to do this, but don’t feel the need to do so anymore.
Oh yeah…be carefull with tire irons too. Then again, that’s necessary for butyl tubes as well…
They really aren’t that bad to install.