Latex tubes vs stardard rubber tubes

itboffin

Welcome to the club

il_principe

I don't trust those green latex Michelin tubes at all. I've had a blowout, at home luckily and they were a pain to fit as well!

timpop

Always Tyred wrote:

I was buying ski stuff this weekend, and a shop assistant tried to explain to my gf that the "molecules of snow" were larger than the "molecules of water", during a misguided attempt to big up the water repellant technology of some gloves within earshot of an (ex) research scientist. It happens. :roll: .

O...M...G...! :shock:

AllTheGear

I repaired my punctured latex tube and refitted it. It blew out 10 minutes later. The puncture repair held though. There's an odd dimpled pattern down the 'seam' line of the tube, that does not correspond to anything in my wheel or tyre. The puncture was right on one of these dimples. Manufacturing fault?

il_principe

timpop wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

I was buying ski stuff this weekend, and a shop assistant tried to explain to my gf that the "molecules of snow" were larger than the "molecules of water", during a misguided attempt to big up the water repellant technology of some gloves within earshot of an (ex) research scientist. It happens. :roll: .

O...M...G...! :shock:

itboffin

Yup AT is very very very boring :P

Just kidding AT

I'm guessing that the Aircomps are in fact made of the thinnest material known to mankind, that's a science FACT.

Back off AT, Buns et al :roll:

il_principe

itboffin wrote:

Yup AT is very very very boring :P

Just kidding AT

I'm guessing that the Aircomps are in fact made of the thinnest material known to mankind, that's a science FACT.

Back off AT, Buns et al :roll:

Aircomps "made with smaller molecules than other inertubes"

I like it.

Gotta love salesmen eh?

itboffin

FS: 3 x Michelin party poppers

WARNING: may cause temporary deafness

Bugly

Latex they are fast BUT they deflate quickly, they do go with a bang, they are expensive and they dont patch well (and even if they did patched latex tubes would loose their performance edge). Light good quality Butyl seems the best compromise for me.

lost-time

I used to have the old 'Air B' latex innertubes for MTBing. They were pink! Now I have green Michelin ones. Yes they let a bit of air out....I have to top them up with a few pumps 2x a week but they are more puncture proof than normal tubes. Latex is more stretchy and in theory stretches around thorns, glass etc etc. I certainly don't find them delicate but these are the MTB versions. NEVER had a flat with them until about 1 1/2 years of using the same ones.

AllTheGear

Thanks for the replies.

Genuinely, I have 1x green AirComp for sale, was fitted but otherwise unused! Kevlar gloves, safety mask and ear defenders recommeded during fitting.

Also 2 more are available if you are prepared to patch them (a 2 foot patch should just about do it!)

Seriously, I have 23mm tyres, and 22/23 AirComp green tubes. But these tubes are much larger bore than my skimpy Maxxis Fly Weight butyl ones which are 18-25 (and scary thin and light, but have been 100% reliable for me). I'm wondering if the Mich tubes are folding over on themselves when I inflate? I don't know why they have to be so big as they claim latex can stretch 700%?

Do you think it's worth trying the 18-20mm Latex tubes, even though I have 23mm tyres?

AllTheGear

... I've just realised I'm talking about switching from reliable butyl tubes to unreliable ones, in the commuting forum. Just to pre-empt any witticisms: Yes, I'm a nob!