scarleton

On my ride yesterday I used both my spare tubes, time to order some new ones. I have been buying my tubes from LBS, but thought I might be able to get better tubs and save some money by purchasing online. I am running Grand Prix 4000 S II 700x28. I hear some tubs hold their air pressure longer. Considering I am riding LONG ride, that is a plus. What would you recommend?

Matariki

I've had good luck with Kenda tubes lately. It seems that QC of tube manufacture is not what is once was though. I have had tubes leak at valves and split along seams, so test them when you buy them and always carry a spare. Holding pressure is a function of tube thickness. The trade-off is extra weight. If you are using butyl rubber tubes, you are not likely to lose significant air pressure on any single ride.

Andrew R Stewart 

Carry a pump. Andy

chriskmurray

Nearly all tubes come out of the same factory and all butyl tubes will hold pressure just fine over any length single day ride, the latex tubes are the ones that loose pressure quickly.

alcjphil

Any inner tube will hold pressure over the course of a ride unless you ride for days on end non stop so the amount of time an inner tube can retain air is a non issue. 700 x 28 tires are relatively high volume road tires. They normally run at lower pressure than a more common 700 x 23 tire. At lower pressure, inner tubes tend to lose pressure slower than they do at higher pressure.I recommend that you not worry about pressure loss

fietsbob

Ive taken a liking to Schwalbe tubes As well as their tires . Continental also has branded tubes made

for longer air retention thicker thus heavier Thorn Resistant tubes- puts more butyl rubber in them , and more to the outside than the inside as well ..

Wanderer

I agree with Bob - Schwalbe tubes seem to hold air far longer than others...... ain't cheap, though!

alcjphil

In general, the thicker the walls of the inner tube the longer it will hold air. So you might as well buy inner tubes based on their weight. The heavier they are the longer they will hold air. Of course a heavier inner tube will affect ride quality somewhat, but 700 x 28 tires tend to have a more supple ride anyway so that may not be a problem

SkyDog75

The way to save money would be to patch the tubes with holes in them (assuming they didn't fail in an unpatchable way, like at the stem). A good vulcanizing patch kit like Rema Tip Top costs about two bucks and the patches will last as long as the rest of the tube.

nfmisso

I like Sunlite Thorn Resistant tubes, seem to be better quality that Avenir. On my commuter (18 mile round trip, 5 days a week); 28-622 tires, they go from 95 psi to 85 psi in about 3 weeks.

ThermionicScott 

+1. Save up your punctured tubes and patch them up in batches, and you won't have to buy another for a long time.

pursuance

A big +1 on Schwalbe Tubes.
They hold air very well and really take a patch well.
Here's their rap on the product.

Tire Tube | Schwalbe North America

ksisler

OP; Ditto twice; I agree with rest - Schwalbe and Continentals have both been rock solid for me over many bikes, tandems, tours, and miles on end. For mine, I depressurize to about 50psi at the end of the days ride and then repump in the morning. I do use nitrogen almost exclusively.

Crankycrank

Another vote for Schwalbe tubes. I've used just about every brand and the S brand always needs to be inflated less frequently compared to the same weight tube of other brands. Not a life changer but it's nice to not have to break out the pump as often.