Michelin Latex tubes

billysan
billysan Posts: 575
edited April 2010 in Road buying advice
After peoples thoughts here. I was just reading some of the reviews on Wiggle for michelin air comp latex inner tubes. Some of the reviewees make it sound like these tubes are the greatest thing since the invention of the pneumatic tire. But I just cant see it. Surely they wont 'feel' any different to any similar butyl tube of similar weight?!

Or have I missed the point?

Comments

  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    LAtex tubes are less prone to punctures as they are more flexible but aren't as airtight as butyl tubes so need topping up.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • AidanR
    AidanR Posts: 1,142
    That same flexibility supposedly gives a better ride quality, but I've never tried them so can't comment from personal experience.
    Bike lover and part-time cyclist.
  • relanium
    relanium Posts: 487
    What are these Tubes like compaired to say something like Conti Supersonics?
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    billysan wrote:
    After peoples thoughts here. I was just reading some of the reviews on Wiggle for michelin air comp latex inner tubes. Some of the reviewees make it sound like these tubes are the greatest thing since the invention of the pneumatic tire. But I just cant see it. Surely they wont 'feel' any different to any similar butyl tube of similar weight?!

    Or have I missed the point?

    You mean reviewers.

    Don't quite understand how they can be less prone to punctures due to flexibility though. Surely, when exposed to that much pressure it wouldn't make a difference...
  • chrisw12
    chrisw12 Posts: 1,246
    Latex tubes are faster than butyl tubes, they give less rolling resistance.

    See biketechreview website for more info and reasons why

    a lot of people report a better ride with them. Id 100% agree with this but cant back 'feel' with science

    installing latex tubes can be a pia as they can pinch easier or fill holes (eg rim) that butyl wont fill and then puncture. I had this happen to me the night before a race. Two latex punctured on instalation where as a butyl tube went in ok.

    I dont know about puncture resistance. There might be a few myths flying aroud here and perhaps a bit of sampling bias, who takes their best bike with expensive tube and wheels on roads with glass. Where as old hack with butyl tyres is taken everywhere. Which one gets the punctures.
  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    I'm doing the L2P in June and we should average about 6-7 hours in the saddle each day, how much pressure can I expect to lose from say 110psi by the end of the day?
  • Petromyzon
    Petromyzon Posts: 221
    I can't answer the question about pressure loss over a long day as I haven't got a proper pressure gauge, only the one on my pump. I suspect you'd be fine though- start the day w/ 5 psi more than the ideal, finish it with 5-10 psi less.

    As ChrisW says, rolling resistance is the real reason to use them- up to 4W/wheel, Vredestein might be slightly better than Michelin. That makes them a must if you are serious about going fast on the bike. Whether you can "feel" this or just think you can is up for debate but knowing you have the best setup is important IMHO.

    I've only got one, they are pricey and supposed to be finickity and hard to repair, but all told they are one of the cheapest ways to go faster, like wearing tight kit rather than baggy.
  • billysan
    billysan Posts: 575
    My reason for asking was that I was considdering putting them on my track bike. Punctures should be far less of an issue here, as to is having to check the pressure each day, I do that before each use anyway!!

    I just wanted to know whether spending £15 on some inner tubes will make any difference what so ever, or should I just stick with my normal £2 ones.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    Slow-N-Old wrote:
    I'm doing the L2P in June and we should average about 6-7 hours in the saddle each day, how much pressure can I expect to lose from say 110psi by the end of the day?

    expect to lose between 2-4psi over 24 hours...
  • chrisw12
    chrisw12 Posts: 1,246
    billysan wrote:
    My reason for asking was that I was considdering putting them on my track bike. Punctures should be far less of an issue here, as to is having to check the pressure each day, I do that before each use anyway!!

    I just wanted to know whether spending £15 on some inner tubes will make any difference what so ever, or should I just stick with my normal £2 ones.

    if thats your use then definitely use latex

    use some talc and a bit of care instaling them though and no levers you dont want to pinch those babies.
  • Wappygixer
    Wappygixer Posts: 1,396
    relanium wrote:
    What are these Tubes like compaired to say something like Conti Supersonics?

    Supersonics are ok but go bang very easily.They are also difficult to repair permanently.For an extra 10-20 grams I'd rather sticj with Michelin airlight tubes which are excellent and half the price.
    I've seen latex tubes (Michelin) lose 20+ psi in a day.Not my ideal tube
  • chaffordred
    chaffordred Posts: 131
    I have been using Michelin latex tubes for a year now. The only pain is topping them up before every ride. They probably lose around 20psi over a 24hr period. I usually pump them up to 120psi (running on Pro race 3's) and the next day they're down to around 100. I recently did a 100 miler reliability ride and I again I can't say I noticed any difference in rolling resistance or ride quality at the end of it.

    FYI these tubes are now £6.00 a pop at my local Decathlon (Lakeside) and I think they now accept online orders.
  • softlad
    softlad Posts: 3,513
    The only pain is topping them up before every ride. They probably lose around 20psi over a 24hr period. I usually pump them up to 120psi (running on Pro race 3's) and the next day they're down to around 100.

    have to say, that's not my experience at all. I have a set of training wheels with Conti GP 24mm running latex tubes. I tend to run these at 100psi and the lowest I have seen after 24hrs is around 95psi - so a 4-5psi loss and I also run a set on my MTB, with similar losses - but nothing like 20psi...? If that was the case, I would suggest you have a slow puncture or something...