Originally Posted by
Sy Reene
For the cost of TPU tubes, any idea why you can't easily find these with more valve length options? I have some low 30's mm deep rims. 40mm would be too little, and 80mm too much.
Also was curious why use of plastic stems seems common for TPU tubes? If it's a good/better material, why don't we commonly see these on butyl tubes too, or if brass or Al stems are better, these put on TPU tubes?
All the major players make 60mm valve lengths; Tubolito, Schwalbe, Pirelli, Ridenow.
I don’t have any special insight into the valve stem material question, but I suspect it’s not a question of which material is better in an absolute sense, but rather which is better in specific cases within the matrix of cost, manufacturing, and marketing goals. For all the brands out there, it’s unlikely many have in-house manufacturing, so variety in the marketplace will reflect the limits of what a few suppliers are tooled up to produce.