What's your experience with latex?

37monkey
37monkey Posts: 141
edited September 2010 in Workshop
Inner tubes of course, what did you think I meant?
I'm considering Michelin Air Comp Latex Road Inner Tube having read e-shop reviews about how smooth the ride is, puncture resistance and the slow deflation issue, I wanted to get some other opinions on these tubes, are they suitable for year round and training?

Comments

  • SBezza
    SBezza Posts: 2,173
    I ride with them on my TT bike, but then again I pump my tyres up before each TT, so the deflation issue is not one I worry about.

    To be honest even on a road bike, I will pump my tyres up before each ride, and they do not deflate quick enough to worry about it either.

    The ride does tend to feel a little smoother, though nothing markedly different, they do tend to be less prone to punctures, they are more flexible than butyl, so it seems to take more penetration to actually puncture one. One thing to note though, don't try and inflate them much outside a tyre, as they will bulge in one spot.
  • 37monkey
    37monkey Posts: 141
    Thanks,
    just thought this should be in buying advice :oops: , (note to self "don't post before first caffeine fix") could a mod move it?
  • moonshine
    moonshine Posts: 1,021
    I bought a couple for my Felt F3, to use with PR3 tyres.
    Were a bit of a pain TBH - it is nice to pick the bike up and go for a scoot whenever and not worry about them being flat.

    If you use your bike once a frotnight, fine, but if you use it every day, too much haslte.

    I also had one explode without warning anput 4 weeks after fitting on a ride.

    Replaced iot with a butly tube abd havn't looked back. i've latex tubes on my Tubs, but i don't mind pumping up race wheels before use. For everyday use, don't bother with LAtex.
  • SBezza
    SBezza Posts: 2,173
    I ride my bike everyday, and pump the tyres up everyday, be they butyl or latex. Just habit I suppose, and the pump is right next to the bikes.
  • moonshine
    moonshine Posts: 1,021
    SBezza wrote:
    I ride my bike everyday, and pump the tyres up everyday, be they butyl or latex. Just habit I suppose, and the pump is right next to the bikes.
    good for you.

    i don't on my commuter. I do on my race bikes.
    They are still a ball ache - I don't like my bike sitting on flat tyres after a week of not using it.
  • chriskempton
    chriskempton Posts: 1,245
    Don't like them - apart from the deflation thing, I had one sneak it's way under the tyre bead, and then it exploded as i was riding down a hill. And yes it was fitted correctly. Latex is more supple than butyl hence it's better at worming its way through any imperfections in tyre/rim interface.
  • dreamlx10
    dreamlx10 Posts: 235
    a frotnight

    How long is that then ?

    haslte

    Come on ! Once was ok but......
  • Pirahna
    Pirahna Posts: 1,315
    I couldn't tell the difference. They're also fatter than butyl tubes which can make it easier to pinch when installing if you're that way inclined. Also heaver than a light butyl tube and you'll need to talc the inside of the tyre.

    On the plus side you can use normal puncture repair kit to fix them.
  • ScottieP
    ScottieP Posts: 599
    I think they're great - I've done about 1500km on them this year I guess. I use Vittoria Open Pave tyres and they work really well together. I didn't think I'd notice the difference but I do. I won't be going back to Butyl tubes with good tyres only on my winter tyres.

    I always pump up my tyres before going out - so it's no difference as I always seemed to need to put air in my butyl tubes too.

    I'm converted... nicer feel rolling, more comfortable and better the faster you go.
    My cycling blog: http://girodilento.com/
  • Legshaver
    Legshaver Posts: 75
    I used Michelin latex tubes for a number of years. They are more puncture resistant, roll well
    and make the ride more comfortable. The daily loss of pressure didn't bother me too much. I thought it was a small price to pay for the advantages.

    I stopped using them when I had one explode on the front wheel when descending at about 40mph. I was very lucky to be able to stay upright long enough to land on some soft ground, and although the wheel was wrecked I only suffered cuts and bruises.

    All I can say is be warned. I just don't trust them. If you want better puncture resistance get some good Michelin Karillions or something similar. Good tyres roll well and are much safer. Tubeless tyres will eventually be the standard, I'm sure, but not just yet.

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