Light weight innertubes - how much difference do they make?

styxd
styxd Posts: 3,234
edited May 2012 in Road buying advice
I just run the cheapest tubes I can find, usually £2 jobbies off ebay or chainreactioncycles. However, I bought some Michelin Airstop Butyl (reasonably light?) tubes the other day. They perhaps feel slightly lighter in the hand, so I thought I'd fit them to the bike.

First ride out and I could swear there was a noticeable difference (probably a tail wind!)

Nothing that would make a difference to average speed over a few hours, but the bike seemed a bit nippier out of the saddle and it seemed to roll a bit smoother?

Is this likely to be a placebo? Or would switching to some superlight tubes make even more of a difference?

The tyres are conti GP4000s if it makes any difference

Comments

  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    They do make a noticeable difference, latex tubes even moreso.
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  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    Light tyres and tubes do make a difference... latex ones are a bit more difficult to puncture for the "condom effect", but of course they are not to be used for long days on the saddle, as you might come back home with 80 PSI left in the tyre... they have their place, which is criterium races if you don't have tubolars
    left the forum March 2023
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    My latex tubes lose 10psi maybe over 24hrs but I've been out all day on them and they've been fine...
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  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    NapoleonD wrote:
    My latex tubes lose 10psi maybe over 24hrs but I've been out all day on them and they've been fine...

    +1

    Latex tubes are ok all day IMO but you must remember to pump them up before every ride!
  • banditvic
    banditvic Posts: 549
    The way i look at it is on wheels below 1500 grams a pair, the lighter you go it gets very expensive.
    So spending £20 (pair) on some supersonics and saving 100grams is cheap.
    Not that i can feel any diference.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    what about flats? any more than with normal tubes?
  • napoleond
    napoleond Posts: 5,992
    giant man wrote:
    what about flats? any more than with normal tubes?

    I'm dreading saying this but I haven't had one on a latex tube yet in 18months. Actually, I wrecked one putting it on a wheel in a ham-fisted manner. I've done that with normal tubes too though.
    Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
    ABCC Cycling Coach
  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    giant man wrote:
    what about flats? any more than with normal tubes?

    Same as normal for me. 1 flat in 9 months or so on the summer bike. I patched it up because it was so expensive!
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,337
    giant man wrote:
    what about flats? any more than with normal tubes?

    They are way more flexible than butyl rubber, so, if anything, you should puncture less... but yes, the section is wide and they are a bit more tricky to fit under the tyre without pinching them... just need some practice... wouldn't recommend then for a quick fix at the side of the road... get a normal tube as spare
    left the forum March 2023

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