Are inner-tubes just... Inner-tubes?

DanDax1990

Is it worth buying decent branded tubes? Or do the cheap ones do just as well?

I ordered some Continental ones and got an On-One tube to make up the price for free delivery.

The quality of the rubber feels slightly different but do they all perform the same? Or am I making a thread about something pointless?

lawman

A tube is a tube in my experience. The dirt cheap ones from wilko's are crap, the named ones are normally ok. Of course their are Eclipse tubes which cost 50 odd euros each, weigh about 60g and apparently are pretty much puncture proof.

cooldad

Pretty much. Some of the cheapest are Cheng Shen, who just happen to own Maxxis.
The On One ones are a serious bargain at the moment.

Gamblor

I'd also be interested in opinions on tubes. Luckily I've never had to actually shop for tubes properly. I've had two punture since I started riding 4 months back, first one was on the front wheel which was replaced on the cheap with a bell tube from ASDA, and the second was a 2 inch nail through the back wheel, which was replaced by Halfords as I was caught short.

Obviously now I have a decent repair kit and pump on me at all times, but really need to be carrying a spare tube. Ideally one that is known to resist punctures or a reliable brand. Currently clueless with bikes really, and its an awfully steep learning curve even on the basics.

supersonic

Many are rebrands from the far east. Basic tubes are about 180g, you pay a bit more for 'light' versions, but not all are that light.

DanDax1990

I'm not bothered about light versions really, I'm a bit over 16st at the moment so ain't gonna make a difference really is it? lol.

Annoyingly the Conti tubes I bought from eBay were advertised as 1.75 - 2.5 but the ones I received are 1.25 - 1.75 (If I remember correctly) either way they're far too small. Or are they? Will they work fine?

Gamblor

DanDax1990 wrote:

I'm not bothered about light versions really, I'm a bit over 16st at the moment so ain't gonna make a difference really is it? lol.

Annoyingly the Conti tubes I bought from eBay were advertised as 1.75 - 2.5 but the ones I received are 1.25 - 1.75 (If I remember correctly) either way they're far too small. Or are they? Will they work fine?

As it happens I've just been seraching for various tubes, particularly the Continental MTB 26 Tube

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=18901

One of the reviews says "On the box it says 1.75 - 2.5, on the tubes it says 1.95 - 2.5 but they fit in my 1.75 wheels no problem at all without issue."

DanDax1990

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110779412733? ... 1439.l2649

Those are the ones I bought...

The Rookie

supersonic wrote:

Many are rebrands from the far east. Basic tubes are about 180g, you pay a bit more for 'light' versions, but not all are that light.

I cheat and use a schwalbe 26x1.0-1.5 tubes inside tyres up to 2.25", they weigh in at 125g and cost me £4, on the basis the weight is the same as a lightweight tube of the 'right size', the valve is the same, then the inflated material thickness must be the same, never had a problem!

rolf_f

lawman wrote:

The dirt cheap ones from wilko's are crap, the named ones are normally ok.

I've bought Wilko tubes for my old 27 inch wheel Raleigh. Actually, they are named brand (or at least they were when I bought them a couple of years back) - Kendas. And perfectly OK.

allthegearnoidea

when on tubes i used Tesco ones, under £2 a tube, 200g, and did the job,
over christmas i was playig with tubes to see how big i could get one to be made ito an award for the bike clubchristmas doo, - lack of maintenence awardee gets to wear the tube all night, valve sperglued shu and cap superglued on, i picked up oneo the old cheapy tubes form the shop, barely got it to 36" before it went Boooom! the tesco tubes i got up to 52" dia. but sadly didnt cope with cnge in temperature from shed to house and back, (club christmas doo and awards is yearly booze fest in town!!) settled at 45" for the tube, btu used one of the bigger ones that had popped and tied off the ends, blew it up to a Rediculous length and diameter of the tube, 6" diameter of the tube,
the cheaper tubes dont last, almost as if they are made of the left overs from the good uns! ive a couple of conti's and a specialized tube in the pack as spares, but they feel no better than th tesco ones with exception to nicer valves!

Long_Time_Lurker

allthegearnoidea wrote:

...and a specialized tube in the pack as spares, but they feel no better than th tesco ones with exception to nicer valves!

+1. I'm not a fan.