Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Co2 Pump use 12 gram Cartridge?

I picked up a Co2 pump and a few extra thread-less cartridges. While I don't get flats very often, $2.50 seems to be a bit much for a cartridge. Wal-Mart sells 12 gram cartridges for a lot less. Would these be enough to fill a 26" tire?

Genuine Innovation Ultraflate, discontinued, but you can try by giving them a call, they'll probably send you one free of charge.

Genuine Innovations, Inc.
2700 E. Bilby Road
Tucson, AZ 85706
Phone: 520 295 3936
Fax: 520 295 3938

I bought a box of 12g cartridges for airsoft guns at . . . Walmart. I've had several flats over the past year and they work fine. The 12g doesn't get a road tire up to 110psi, but it'll get you home good enough.

Funky thing I have noticed is the CO2 seems to leak out faster than standard air. I only ride my roadbike once a week, and after flatting, repairing and CO2 inflation, it was flat again the following week. After looking for a second hole in the tube, I found nothing. This happened to me twice on two separate tubes. Now, after I get home, I deflate and repump the tire with a standard floor pump. I don't know if this happens to anyone else...but thought I'd mention it.

Umm...back to the original question . . . I haven't had problems with the airsoft 12g threadless CO2 cartridges. I think the Walmart ones I got were called Crossman.

Good luck.

Airsoft 12g will work fine. CO2 does leak out faster than air. The molecules of CO2 are smaller than those of air, so they flow through the tube faster. As you mentioned you could just deflate and re inflate with air. I just pump my tires up before each ride. I guess in time the air will eventually replace the CO2 that leaked out.

CO2 carts are not cheap, but like you I don't flat much. Maybe once or twice a year. So I don't mind the cost. I actually prefer the 16g carts myself.