I’ve used latex tubes all season in my 23mm training and race tires. Now, for the off season, I’m going with a 25mm tire. I’ve got tyne same latex tubes in the 25s. Butyl tubes seem to be okay stretched a couple mm passed their recommended width.
Has anyone used a latex tube in a tire outside the recommended width?
Is latex inherently unable to expand to a greater width?
Thanks!
Is latex inherently unable to expand to a greater width?
I think it is quite the opposite actually. I have been using Challenge and Michelin latex tubes in 700x19/23 with Vittoria 700x25 tires on Zipp 303 FC wheels for quite some time with no adverse effects.
Great. That is the exact tire I’ve gone to. Thanks!
No problem at all using the 23 tube in a 25 tire. Wouldn’t give it a first or second thought.
Tubes can expand quite a bit before bursting and like the other poster said, latex is actually ‘more’ pliable. Both a quite expandable though; I use regular road tubes 19/25mm tubes in my oversized cyclocross tires (35mm) with not a single burst tube in 3 years.
I think you’d run into bigger problems if you tired to use a slightly larger tube in a skinny tire.
Latex expands just fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJVcfWfa6TE
You shouldn’t have any problems.
I am using my 23s in my winter 27s and no problem.
Lederman,
One thing you may notice is that the tubes take on a bit of permanent “stretch” from their winter time on the 25s and end up a bit generous in diameter if you decided to swap them back into the 23s. By spring they certainly won’t owe you anything so you might be better off to go for a new set for those 23s in spring anyway. In terms of preventing installation mistakes a bit skinny cross section is better than a bit fat in preventing tube under the tire bead problems.
YMMV,
Hugh
Good point Sciguy. Thanks.