I know this subject has probably already been thoroughly discussed, but I was thinking about getting latex tubes. Any reason I wouldn’t want them?
None.
Except price will be higher than standard butyl tubes and you need to top them off before you ride as they slowly lose air over time.
Great rolling resistance and durability for pinch flats.
I know this subject has probably already been thoroughly discussed, but I was thinking about getting latex tubes. Any reason I wouldn’t want them?
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higher price
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much more care must be taken in preparing your wheels, rim tape mistakes WILL cause flats, and more care must be taken in installing them.
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loses air overnight. might not be a good choice for a double century
They pop real easy. I would not recommend them for training!
They pop real easy. I would not recommend them for training!
disagree, sort of assuming you have prepped the wheel properly, and installed the wheel properly they don’t pop any easier.
those are two big assumptions though. a lot of people are going to ignore that advice and pop some tubes =)
- loses air overnight. might not be a good choice for a double century
If you filled them with NO2 would they not last longer? Or else, if you pumped them up day after day, after awhile wouldn’t they be filled with NO2 and therefore stay inflated better?
Just my experience. I put latex in… and they popped. Went back to my regular (cheap) tubes no problem, nothing else changed.
I’ve wanted to like them- and used them on at least three (but probably more like five) seperate attempts at using them effectively and dependably.
I have had issues with easier punctures than I have, on a frequency basis, with butyl tubes.
The lower rolling resistance argument and lighter weight argument for latex tubes is well established, or at least, vigorously presented.
My own personal reality is that the exchange for potential exposure to more frequent flats does not outweigh any gains in performance.
So I ride butyl.
My only latex tube fails were of my own doing…a little tube peaking out from the bead and popped.
Otherwise, I have a latex tube in the back at all times since I just slap a cover on for racing…1000’s of miles flat free.
I’ve wanted to like them- and used them on at least three (but probably more like five) seperate attempts at using them effectively and dependably.
I have had issues with easier punctures than I have, on a frequency basis, with butyl tubes.
The lower rolling resistance argument and lighter weight argument for latex tubes is well established, or at least, vigorously presented.
My own personal reality is that the exchange for potential exposure to more frequent flats does not outweigh any gains in performance.
So I ride butyl.
they thing is that u don’t know how to put it in…
Just my experience. I put latex in… and they popped. Went back to my regular (cheap) tubes no problem, nothing else changed.
see about ignoring the advice on wheel prep and installation =)
maybe, but it can also be the wheel.
Tom A has recommended, and I have been discovering this truth myself lately, that you should put a bit of electrical tape over every single spoke hole on the inside of the rim. Or even line the whole inside of the rim with electrical tape.
if you just use rim tape and a bit of it moves exposing an edge of a spoke hole, the latex will pop through even a tiny exposed hole.
so in short - latex is a hassle. but it is free speed.
and honestly if you take that care with butyl tubes you will save yourself a lot of flats too.
they thing is that u don’t know how to put it in…
I’ve wanted to like them- and used them on at least three (but probably more like five) seperate attempts at using them effectively and dependably.
I have had issues with easier punctures than I have, on a frequency basis, with butyl tubes.
The lower rolling resistance argument and lighter weight argument for latex tubes is well established, or at least, vigorously presented.
My own personal reality is that the exchange for potential exposure to more frequent flats does not outweigh any gains in performance.
So I ride butyl.
Punctures on the rim side or tire side? Why would something that could make its way through your tire and puncture a latex tube not be able to puncture a butyl one?
You think that shard of glass is just gonna float around on the inside of your tire casing while your wheel rotates thousands of times and not flat a butyl tube? Really?
-Physiojoe
maybe, but it can also be the wheel.
Tom A has recommended, and I have been discovering this truth myself lately, that you should put a bit of electrical tape over every single spoke hole on the inside of the rim. Or even line the whole inside of the rim with electrical tape.
if you just use rim tape and a bit of it moves exposing an edge of a spoke hole, the latex will pop through even a tiny exposed hole.
so in short - latex is a hassle. but it is free speed.
and honestly if you take that care with butyl tubes you will save yourself a lot of flats too.
they thing is that u don’t know how to put it in…
I have raced with latex tubes all year without a single problem, but as u said: I checked/prepared my wheels beforehand!
yep, and anytime you change tires/tubes out, check the rim tape!
Here we go again… 
I’m a big fan of latex (except for the cost). I’ve been very pleased with their puncture resistance.
I did have a flat on latex this weekend on a descent due the my rims getting too hot. I’ve never experienced this before, but it was totally my fault. The descent was fast (speeds over 50) and had a couple really tight corners. I was being a bit stupid and breaking late for the tightest switchbacks and could tell my rims were getting really hot. Anyway a small hole developed in the tube and it definitely looked heat related. Anyone know if latex is more susceptible to this than butyl? Not that it really matters, as this was avoidable and due to operator boneheadedness.
$5 says there is a little something exposed by your rim tape and the heat just helped the failure that
would have eventually happened anyway.
or the cornering moved the rim tape around and boom
hence - electrical tape over all the holes
Here we go again…
I’m a big fan of latex (except for the cost). I’ve been very pleased with their puncture resistance.
I did have a flat on latex this weekend on a descent due the my rims getting too hot. I’ve never experienced this before, but it was totally my fault. The descent was fast (speeds over 50) and had a couple really tight corners. I was being a bit stupid and breaking late for the tightest switchbacks and could tell my rims were getting really hot. Anyway a small hole developed in the tube and it definitely looked heat related. Anyone know if latex is more susceptible to this than butyl? Not that it really matters, as this was avoidable and due to operator boneheadedness.
Electrical tape sucks, I mean really sucks.
I went the strapping tape route and have been very happy with it. Interesting thought on checking the tape though, I’ll take a look when I get a chance.
I’ve had strapping tape not do the job, on a wheel where some of the spoke holes are way towards the edge of the rim.
Electrical tape sucks, I mean really sucks.
I went the strapping tape route and have been very happy with it. Interesting thought on checking the tape though, I’ll take a look when I get a chance.
In my case the punctures were glass fragments in a race on Belle Isle, Detroit and what appeared to be bits of stone while riding in Traverse City, Michigan.