Vitoria latex inner tube deformation?
07-08-18, 09:46 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: WA
Posts: 87
Bikes: '85 Peugeot Triathlon, '92 DeRosa Nuovo Classico, '93 DeRosa Titanio, '00 DeRosa Neo Pro, '00 Gary Fisher Marlin, '14 Cervelo R3, '14 Focus Mares
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Vittoria latex inner tube deformation?
hello,
has anyone seen a deformation like this in an inner tube? It looks like an inline series of dimples.. I installed new tires and these new latex inner tubes a week ago. I did one easy 25mi ride and then a super hard century. I checked the bike this morning to find the rear flatted. When I removed the tube I saw this bizarre dimple pattern on the inside of the tube, the side that would be touching the rim. I have never seen anything like this. Local LBS has never seen it either. The wheel is a Stans Alpha 340, and the air pressure used was 98 psi. The tire is a 700c x 23 continental 4000 II ... Any input on what this could be greatly appreciated.
Last edited by mr9iron; 07-08-18 at 10:13 PM. Reason: Spelling
07-09-18, 01:21 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,791
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1020 Post(s)
Liked 463 Times
in
293 Posts
I regularly use Vittoria latex inner tubes.
The “dimpled” inner tube is normal.
Are you sure the tube was “flatted?” Latex loses air pressure even after a few days, or after a long ride.
The “dimpled” inner tube is normal.
Are you sure the tube was “flatted?” Latex loses air pressure even after a few days, or after a long ride.
07-09-18, 07:03 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
I don't know about the dimples but latex tubes are notorious for losing pressure quickly. Most users top them up before every ride.
07-09-18, 07:43 AM
#4
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
I've nothing useful to add to the thread regarding the latex tube deformation pictured but I've been using Continental Supersonic tubes with Corsa G+ tires and am very happy with the tubes.
They are butyl but 52 grams each, confirmed on my scale. They drop from 90 psi to about 75 psi over three days of sitting.
-Tim-
They are butyl but 52 grams each, confirmed on my scale. They drop from 90 psi to about 75 psi over three days of sitting.
-Tim-
07-09-18, 10:18 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
What rim strip/tape are you using? Its probably just dragging on that. The tire, rim, and tube move as they roll on the surface, somewhat independently of each other. The lower hysteresis is one of the reasons latex tubes have lower rolling resistance. You could decrease this if you use some talc powder which is a good idea anyways as the tubes tend to stick to the tire and/or rim bed over time, but I've gone thousands of miles on latex tubes that look just like that which are still fine.
07-09-18, 10:43 AM
#6
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: WA
Posts: 87
Bikes: '85 Peugeot Triathlon, '92 DeRosa Nuovo Classico, '93 DeRosa Titanio, '00 DeRosa Neo Pro, '00 Gary Fisher Marlin, '14 Cervelo R3, '14 Focus Mares
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I am sure it flatted, zero pressure in an 8 hour window, the front tire still has decent pressure, only lost 5 lbs after the ride ...
07-09-18, 10:52 AM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: WA
Posts: 87
Bikes: '85 Peugeot Triathlon, '92 DeRosa Nuovo Classico, '93 DeRosa Titanio, '00 DeRosa Neo Pro, '00 Gary Fisher Marlin, '14 Cervelo R3, '14 Focus Mares
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What rim strip/tape are you using? Its probably just dragging on that. The tire, rim, and tube move as they roll on the surface, somewhat independently of each other. The lower hysteresis is one of the reasons latex tubes have lower rolling resistance. You could decrease this if you use some talc powder which is a good idea anyways as the tubes tend to stick to the tire and/or rim bed over time, but I've gone thousands of miles on latex tubes that look just like that which are still fine.
07-09-18, 10:54 AM
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: WA
Posts: 87
Bikes: '85 Peugeot Triathlon, '92 DeRosa Nuovo Classico, '93 DeRosa Titanio, '00 DeRosa Neo Pro, '00 Gary Fisher Marlin, '14 Cervelo R3, '14 Focus Mares
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've nothing useful to add to the thread regarding the latex tube deformation pictured but I've been using Continental Supersonic tubes with Corsa G+ tires and am very happy with the tubes.
They are butyl but 52 grams each, confirmed on my scale. They drop from 90 psi to about 75 psi over three days of sitting.
-Tim-
They are butyl but 52 grams each, confirmed on my scale. They drop from 90 psi to about 75 psi over three days of sitting.
-Tim-
07-09-18, 04:46 PM
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: WA
Posts: 87
Bikes: '85 Peugeot Triathlon, '92 DeRosa Nuovo Classico, '93 DeRosa Titanio, '00 DeRosa Neo Pro, '00 Gary Fisher Marlin, '14 Cervelo R3, '14 Focus Mares
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll report on it tonight.. thanks for your input..
07-09-18, 04:48 PM
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: WA
Posts: 87
Bikes: '85 Peugeot Triathlon, '92 DeRosa Nuovo Classico, '93 DeRosa Titanio, '00 DeRosa Neo Pro, '00 Gary Fisher Marlin, '14 Cervelo R3, '14 Focus Mares
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
07-13-18, 11:44 AM
#13
Newbie
hello, thanks, I cannot be 100% certain but almost sure the rim tape is the standard "stans" rim seal used via factory. The tube did come with talc applied. I throughly checked the rim tape and new tire before installing, everything is clean and obviously the is no strange form like the dimples shown on the tape. When I removed the tube, the dimples were more pronounced and acted like they stuck to the rim a bit...almost like some kind of heat was needed to cause it... Very strange...
Also, these tubes do loose quite a bit of air. I've noticed as much as 10psi over night.
07-13-18, 12:12 PM
#14
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: WA
Posts: 87
Bikes: '85 Peugeot Triathlon, '92 DeRosa Nuovo Classico, '93 DeRosa Titanio, '00 DeRosa Neo Pro, '00 Gary Fisher Marlin, '14 Cervelo R3, '14 Focus Mares
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've used the same Vittoria tubes on the same wheels (Stans Alpha 340s). My tubes also show the same dimpling. The dimples have not caused any problems in thousands of miles. I'm pretty sure it's just the tube stretching and conforming to the tubeless tape inside the Stans rims.
Also, these tubes do loose quite a bit of air. I've noticed as much as 10psi over night.
Also, these tubes do loose quite a bit of air. I've noticed as much as 10psi over night.
thanks for the reply just to update this thread, this mystery just keeps getting more strange... I have accepted these dimples are normal... I wanted to find where the leak was in the tube, I could not find a hole in the tube at all! I even used a bucket of water to find the leak.. no bubble no leak.. yet this tire was zero pressure after my ride.. the front still held air..I re-installed the same tube and inflated it. I refilled the front as well both to 98 psi again. Over the last few days just sitting there, not riding it, the front, as you have mentioned, loses about 10lbs per day..pretty normal as has been shown to me in this this tread. The rear is losing about 12-15 per day.. but neither rate of lose explains why the rear went completely flat in less than 12 hrs. The valve was tight and the cap firmly in place.. and I could not find a hole in the tube...
I am at a loss, I should probably do another hard ride and see if it goes to flat again..very strange..
J
07-13-18, 01:40 PM
#15
Banned
Back to Butyl rubber tubes then, to solve the Latex issues..
tough this forum has a lot of obsessions being exposed ,
with people and their bike stuff...
tough this forum has a lot of obsessions being exposed ,
with people and their bike stuff...
07-13-18, 02:57 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 246
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 84 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
Noticed similar "close together" dimple pattern when I recently installed new tires, but, the pattern was only 4 inches long. I'm running Bontrager latex tubes (green). I thought it might have bunched it that one area?
As a side note, I flatted 1st ride after putting on the new tires, discovered the leak was at the valve area (at the patch that overlays the vale to the tube), ordered a can of the Rema vulcanizing fluid, used a standard patch and the darn thing has been holding up no problem.
As a side note, I flatted 1st ride after putting on the new tires, discovered the leak was at the valve area (at the patch that overlays the vale to the tube), ordered a can of the Rema vulcanizing fluid, used a standard patch and the darn thing has been holding up no problem.
07-13-18, 03:43 PM
#17
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
Steve,
thanks for the reply just to update this thread, this mystery just keeps getting more strange... I have accepted these dimples are normal... I wanted to find where the leak was in the tube, I could not find a hole in the tube at all! I even used a bucket of water to find the leak.. no bubble no leak.. yet this tire was zero pressure after my ride.. the front still held air..I re-installed the same tube and inflated it. I refilled the front as well both to 98 psi again. Over the last few days just sitting there, not riding it, the front, as you have mentioned, loses about 10lbs per day..pretty normal as has been shown to me in this this tread. The rear is losing about 12-15 per day.. but neither rate of lose explains why the rear went completely flat in less than 12 hrs. The valve was tight and the cap firmly in place.. and I could not find a hole in the tube...
I am at a loss, I should probably do another hard ride and see if it goes to flat again..very strange..
J
thanks for the reply just to update this thread, this mystery just keeps getting more strange... I have accepted these dimples are normal... I wanted to find where the leak was in the tube, I could not find a hole in the tube at all! I even used a bucket of water to find the leak.. no bubble no leak.. yet this tire was zero pressure after my ride.. the front still held air..I re-installed the same tube and inflated it. I refilled the front as well both to 98 psi again. Over the last few days just sitting there, not riding it, the front, as you have mentioned, loses about 10lbs per day..pretty normal as has been shown to me in this this tread. The rear is losing about 12-15 per day.. but neither rate of lose explains why the rear went completely flat in less than 12 hrs. The valve was tight and the cap firmly in place.. and I could not find a hole in the tube...
I am at a loss, I should probably do another hard ride and see if it goes to flat again..very strange..
J
Or the rear tube could be replaced with new for the sake of testing.
