Innertubes

dag_on_a_bike

There's many threads here on 'which tyre is best' but hardly anything for innertubes.

Is there much difference between butyl or latex?

Is there much benefit from 'ultralight' tubes?

Are one type more/less puncture prone?

Recommendations/opinions appreciated. Thanks.

slimboyjim

Lighter tubes are obviously lighter, and with less rotational mass make your bike more responsive as I understand it. Problem is, they puncture more easily... Not sure about the butyl/latex thing, but I think one is 'softer' feeling? Not sure which.

What type of riding do you do? People will need to know to make a recommendation!

I ride xc (and around on the roads a bit) and had kenda tubes for a year with no problems. Recently I changed to Bontrager (new rims would not accept schraeder (car type) valve) and both tubes pinch punctured within a couple of miles. Useless in my opinion! I've now got Panaracer which seem better, but I may have suffered another puncture today... I can't check until my missus brings back my bike pump from the shops - she took it with her by accident. ; )

Looks like I'll be on DH tubes at this rate!

STEFANOS4784

I think i've read on here that the latex ones are the best apart from the fact that they aren't 100% air tight so you may need to pump your tyres more often than with other types but someone will probably be along shortly to confirm this or to shoot me down 8) :arrow:

maddog 2

DAG on a bike wrote:

Is there much difference between butyl or latex?

latex does ride 'softer' but loses air too, so you need to top them up regularly

Is there much benefit from 'ultralight' tubes?

just weight, obviously. A conti supersonic is 55g ish, the race light is 75ish, the standard race is more like 95ish (all butyl)., The latex Michelin is 75ish I think.

Are one type more/less puncture prone?

Dunno. Not noticed any difference. Been running supersonics for the last couple of weeks and no issues so far, but they are quite thin.

Recommendations/opinions appreciated. Thanks.

The Mich latex are good - supple but need topping up. The Conti race lights are also a good option.

gcaster

Vittoria ultralights.
Cheap as chips and no punctures after a couple of months using them.

bahzob

In my experience latex best (not noticed much difference between Mich and Vits) in terms of speed/comfort so use them for events. Having to pump them up before each ride is a bit of a chore but not mega. In terms of punctures havent noticed any more puncture prone than butyls. Only had the 1 puncture in around 1500miles of road racing/sportives on pretty poor roads (e.g. TOW/TOI/spring road races, even survived Etape Caledonian without problems) . On that one occasion it seemed tyre deflated less quickly than butyls which was good as meant I could choose best place to stop/fix.

Have tried the superlights as alternative and didnt like these. They did seem to be more puncture prone and I avoid now.

For non event use I use butyls. Cant say Ive noticed any difference between makes.

dag_on_a_bike

slimboyjim wrote:

What type of riding do you do? People will need to know to make a recommendation!

I ride just for the enjoyment, not competetively.

All road, but as mainly in UK road conitions are questionable to say the least.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I'm not a weight weenie - I would benefit far more for losing a few (or more) kilos off the body than 30gms of a tube, but as I'm due to get some new tubes thought I would ask for your input and opinions.

Thanks again.

Mettan

I use both Michelin Aircomp Ultralight's and Vittoria Ultralights - was a bit concerned that they were going to be too fragile - but they've been pretty good so far (9 months-ish) - did have a little "valve puncture" on one of the Aircomp's recently so they're not super-tough - if you want performance, and can live with potentially some reliablity issues get some Ultralights - if not, get some heavier butly tubes - standard Conti 28's are pretty well-made. Would like to try latex at some point in the future.