Originally Posted by
Burton
Schwalbe and Michlin have their own plants. Their tubes are more expensive and when I can find them - am more than eilling to pay the difference. But most cyclists think a tube is a tube so few shops carry the more expensive tubes.
Need I mention that I've NEVER seen decent tubes installed as OEM stuff? Which also partly explains the success of companies manufacturing low-end tubes and the widespread availability of their products.
Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
I like Schwalbe tubes. I THINK that they lose a little less air between rides. I've never taken the effort to do any kind of a controlled test, however.
I primarily use the Schwalbe tubes. Haven't done a controlled test, but as anecdotal evidence... My big city bike has Schwalbe tubes and only needs to have the tires topped up every 2-3 weeks, I have a Huffy cruiser "farm bike" with Bell brand WM tubes in it, they need topping up every week. I have had several inexpensive tubes fail at seams or at the valve, I have NEVER had that problem with a Schwalbe tube. I have a mix of presta and schrader valve tubes and they run the size gamut from 16" (349) all the way up to 700c.
Aaron
