steve-in-kville 

So yesterday was a nice day. It was my birthday. And I haven't had the bomber (aka. my commuter) out since Thanksgiving. So of course the tires needed some air and dicovered my front tube leaked around the stem.

No biggie... took the wheel off and changed out the tube and I was on my way. Went for a 5-mile shake-out ride as I had made some adjustments to my fenders and added panniers since I had last took the bike for spin.

Anyways, got home and realized I installed a 700x23/28 and my bike takes a 700x32! I have a SS that takes the thinner tube and must have grabbed the wrong tube off the shelf.

So I guess today I'll swap the tubes out. Lesson learned.

Has anyone ever used the wrong tube and found out the hard way??

P.S.
Because I'm am cheap, I repaired the stem with Goop. has anyone tried this? The hole is exactly at the base of the stem and I've repaired lots of stuff with household Goop before. Thought it was worth a try. I might keep this tube as a spare of a spare.

prathmann

I wouldn't bother changing the tube - just about any tube will fit any size bike tire, but sometimes it'll make the installation a little harder if there's a really big mismatch.

tjspiel

I don't think using a tube designed for up to 28 mm tires in a 32 mm tire will have dire consequences. I've done something similar. Change it when you get an opportunity.

Goop worked? I'd be afraid that if the stem moved at all (like during inflation) the goop would loose its grip and you'd have a leak. Don't know though. I'm not sure I'd want to depend on that to get me home. I'd probably be wishing I had just bought another tube.

Shimagnolo

If the tube is leaking at the stem, then it is toast.

AdamDZ

I use thinner tubes very often, never had a problem. I toured on tubes rated 28mm max using 32mm tires, same with my 26" wheels.

Steely Dan

i think it's eaisier to "up-tube" than to "down-tube", meaning a tube designed for a narrow tire in a wider tire works better than a tube designed for a wide tire in a narrower tire. now, as long as the widths are relatively close, anything should work as long as your diameters match up, but trying to put a tube designed for a 38 tire in a 23 tire might present some problems when trying to mount the tube and tire on the rim; you'll have far more excess tube than you want.

AdamDZ

I agree. There is a greater chance of pinching the tube.

prathmann

The diameters don't have to match either. I've used 700c tubes in 26" wheels several times when helping out stranded riders on MTBs and once even used a 700c tube in someone's 12" trailer tire. Also needed to use a 406 (20") tube in a 451 (also nominally 20") tire once - that one was a little harder to install but it worked fine.

bent-not-broken

If you've ever blown up a tube looking for a leak you know how much a tube expands. If you can get a tube into a tire it will work. Look at the rbig ange of sizes listed on the box of many tubes. Don't sweat it.

tjspiel

Yes, but as it expands the walls get thinner making it easier to puncture. A few mm isn't going to make much of a difference but I wouldn't a skinny tube designed for 23 to 25 mm tires inside a 45 mm tire for much longer than it took to get home.

fuzz2050

My touring bike has 25mm tubes in 35mm tires, and has given me no trouble. I also have 1.5 inch tubes in 2.35 inch tires on my mountain bike, without a whisper of complaint. The standard road tubes are easier to find and pack much smaller.

colleen c

I don't know exactly what's the limits are when it comes to smaller tubes in larger tires, but I sure won't go that route if the tube has a patch in it. I seen those patch peel off if the tubes are over expanded.

Artkansas 

At one point, I accepted a thinner tube because the LBS didn't have the exact correct size. It worked fine till I got a flat. The flat was unrepairable as the patches wouldn't stick because the tube expanded too much.

Sizzle-Chest

I run mismatched sizes all the time and the only issue I have ever encountered is around the valve stem where the tube does not inflate as large, which can cause a 'soft spot' in the tire.

CACycling

I use Goop, a lot, but have had no success with anything rubber (and I've tried on several occasions). I'd be very leary of your repair.

CB HI

Never done it by accident, but I do mostly just use the smaller tubes to reduce the number of spare tubes I have sitting around.

caloso

My experience too.

CB HI

I have some tubes with ten or more patches on them, and even I throw the tube out when it starts leaking around the stem.