Mountain Biking - What's better bigger tube or tight tube?

What's better bigger tube or tight tube? By tight I mean small, but fits.

My overall question basically is, What happens if I have a bigger than tube than what I should have gotten?

Oh, you mean inner tubes right. I was thinking frame tubes for some reason, which would make your post...odd.


Anyways, smaller diameter tubes can work with larger tires, in my experience, as long as pressure is high enough, which it usually is. Let's you're using a tube rated for 1.8-2" on a 2.2" tire. Below...20 PSI you might have problems. Which is pinch flat territory anyways. If you've ever inflated a tube outside of a tire you know that they expand pretty easily.

Larger tubes in smaller tires I do not reccomend. Maybe if it's really close.

Note that I'm speaking only from my own experience. Different brands of tubes and tires act a little differently, but if you're really all that concerned, just buy a new tube. They're 5 bucks.

Well, I used to have a 1.9 to 2.1 tube, and when i went to my LBS I only saw 2.2 - 2.5. I asked the LBS guy if they were the same size, and he said yes. So whats the worst that can happen?

It might be hard to install, you install it incorrectly and the tube is all crooked, inflate it, it sits for a while, and then blows out. You're neighbors think you've fired a shot and call the police, and your tire's sidewall is ruined.

That's the worst case scenario, as I envision it.

I just bought one of those bell Ultra flat protector things, filled with goup and extra extra thick. Combined that with slime tire liners, Bombproof. No more flats.

now that i actually read the O,P this is an irrelevant post....