Toughest tubes. Opinions?
04-04-06, 08:46 AM
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Toughest tubes. Opinions?
I've been commuting for a while on used Continental Grand Prix 700x23's with generic rubber tubes. I don't get a lot of flats, but still more than I'd like to (especially on my way to work). Does anyone have any especially successful tire/tube combinations? What are the toughest tubes? Please share.
04-04-06, 01:17 PM
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There isnt a toughness factor about tubes - they are all much the same material. Thicker ones will take a bit longer for a thorn to penetrate but it will still penetrate. Kevlar belts in tires provide protection against flats. I run Bontratger Xlite Race 28 mm, which have a kevlar belt under the tread but no special protection on the sidewalls, with a Mr Tuffy strip between the tire and tube. The Armadillos have kevlar reinforced sidewalls, but I prefer the ride of the lighter tires.
04-04-06, 08:17 PM
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I know nothing about any of these, just googling around:
Michelin latex tubes claim to be more puncture resistant
https://www.westernbikeworks.com/prod...p=MIC4L&ref=pd
Also Innova thorn resistant tubes
https://www.westernbikeworks.com/prod...um=&c=0&ref=pd
Of course, there are also a variety of self-sealing tubes, but that's closing the door after the horse has run off. My experience with Slime has been that it never works; I've had to patch or replace every puncture of a slime-filled tube; the slime just makes a mess I have to clean up before patching. But others swear by the stuff (though there is better stuff out there, that I haven't tried).
Michelin latex tubes claim to be more puncture resistant
https://www.westernbikeworks.com/prod...p=MIC4L&ref=pd
Also Innova thorn resistant tubes
https://www.westernbikeworks.com/prod...um=&c=0&ref=pd
Of course, there are also a variety of self-sealing tubes, but that's closing the door after the horse has run off. My experience with Slime has been that it never works; I've had to patch or replace every puncture of a slime-filled tube; the slime just makes a mess I have to clean up before patching. But others swear by the stuff (though there is better stuff out there, that I haven't tried).
04-05-06, 11:26 AM
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Tubes do matter in someways. I went through a batch of tubes that I got from a LBS last summer/fall that the valve stem kept tearing at the base. Was running Kevlar belted tires and could n't firgure out what was going on. Finally someone suggested to used better tubes. Switched to Performance tubes the problem went away.
04-07-06, 11:17 PM
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Tubes are not the first line of defense against flats-tires are. Tubes at best would only be marginal at defending against flats especially high pressure road tubes. Specialize makes two tubes that could be interesting to consider; the first is the AirLock which has a sealant in it which is far superior to the Slime crap tube that doesn't work in high pressure road tubes; the second is a new one called the Desert Protection Road tube that combines Airlock sealant with thicker rubber on the road side of the tube IE thorn resistent tube; and the third is a lighter weight tube called the Thorn Resistent racing tube that uses Aramid fibers combined with a slightly thicker road side ruber to help prevent flats. How effective are these tubes? The Airlock works really good but never tried the others. I use the Airlocks in my touring bikes and they are very effective...but I also use heavier thicker touring tires as well; all I know is that I cross the deserts and the plains of the midwest and never worry about thorns...well not to much anyway!
