Thoughts on Thorn Resistant Tubes
 

Do you use them? I think they do help, but I don't know if it's really enough difference than a regular tube to justify the cost AND the weight factor. I got one for my 29er and it's sooo heavy and thick.

If you live some place where goatheads are common (thankfully I don't), then you have to decide whether you're going to ride thick, heavy, dead-feeling tires with a regular tube, or regular tires with a thick, heavy, dead-feeling thorn-proof tube...

that's a good word for it..dead feeling. Even though their a lots of thorns in my area (woods) I might just use the TRT for a spare!

I used them...once.
 

I used thorn resistant tubes once. I figured they would be good for my commute as I have seen cars purposly throw glass bottles in the cycle lane right in front of me.

My guess is they work. I only got 1 ride on them before I pulled each 300 gram per tube and chucked it in the trash. They'd work better if they were solid. Why even bother with air at that point? The ride was awful, slow, hard, wooden, and lethargic.

I switched to Gatorskin hardshells, & Mr. Tuffy liners. I now have 7 ,(no, 8?) bikes and they run from 23, 25, 32c tires, ultra-light & regular liners, regular & ultra-light inner-tubes. Any/all above combinations work better and ride better than those thorn resistant tubes.

I've had 1 flat in 5000 miles that wasn't due to my direct installation error. I've even used a roadside metal kitchen fork to dig glass, staples, and roofing nails out where the liner is plainly visible or the debris easily penetrated further than the thorn resistant rubber tube would have been thick, had it been installed. Yet, still got no flats even with ultra-lite tube & ultra-lite liner combination because the liner prevented tube penetration.

The Gator Hardshell and Mr. Tuffy is a hard combination to beat.

If ever you are in doubt, buy a liner 1 size wider than the tire you are using to help with some sidewall protection

A bike I bought on Cragslist had thorn resistant tubes in the tires. One had a slow leak but I kept the other in a rear wheel I'd sometimes do some commuting on. I haven't used the wheels in awhile but that rear feels like there's lead in there! I'm no lightweight so I don't care about my bikes being featherweight, but that much extra rolling weight really does kill the ride.

I used to get a flat every few weeks, mostly commuting. Since switching to puncture resistant tires 3 years ago, no flats. I've noticed no difference in the performance of the tires.

I ordered a pair once.
When they arrived, I was shocked at the size and weight.
I never did install them.
They just sat on the shelf for a while until I unloaded them on eBay.

Just curious how well these tubes work in comparison to running stans no tubes? What about weight difference?

The extra weight is obvious but actually the main drawback of these tubes is the added rolling resistance. When the tire is rolling the rubber in these tubes has to be flexed in the area of the contact patch and that requires energy. I could see using them for a short commute in an area with lots of potential for flats (goat heads, other thorns, glass, etc.) where the added time from riding slower would be minimal and much more acceptable than sometimes having a longer delay to fix a flat.

This is exactly what happened to me, after a series of flats on my MTB in winter. They came in boxes the weight and size of large bricks. Still have them on the shelf. I ride MTBs and Cruisers so I am no weight snob...

Or just run tubeless and solve those issues,.

Wow, good information. Thanks everyone.

Sounds like you got something good going on there. With the combo of the Gator and liner, how is the weight compared say with a normal tire and tube, the same size? Thanks

I've been running TPT's in my vintage steel Centurion Ironman. The tubes are pretty small & fit inside the 700x25mm tires well. I'm satisfied. Haven't had a flat in over 3000 miles. Really like them when I'm approaching 40mph on a steep downhill. I'm running ordinary Michelin Dynamic sport tires inflated to 100psi. I really can't tell the difference between the TPT's & regular tubes. Don't understand why so many on these boards have such a low opinion of them.

I use Mr. Tuffy tire liners. Then you can use a supple tire and a supple tube.

OK, make that choice #3: Spend a lot of money for a stiff, hard to set up tubeless tire, then go back to the first 2 choices (along with dealing with a bigger mess inside your tire than you were expecting..) when the inevitable flat finally happens.....


300g for a TUBE********** Holy *****! A HEAVY tubular weighs that much, and that includes tire, tube, valve, tape and stitching!!!

I used both resistant (double thickness) and "proof" tubes (the kind that come in a box as big as a shoe box) as a kid in the desert. With Marathons or tubeless available, I wouldn't start again.

I forget the exact number of grams. But I do remember that the combination of ultra-light liner & a 67 gram tube came out exactly the same as a standard weight tube by it self. Given the extra flat protection of the liner, it seemed a "no-brainer" Theory being if it gets through the purpose built liner, any tube in there wouldn't have made a difference anyway.

I've long ago lost track of which bike has what, so if that tells you anything about ride quality.

No matter the combination 4 ounces per bike (worst case IIRC) was preferrable to 300 grams per tube!

That's awesome! Great protection with no sacrafice of added weight. I gotta check that out. Thanks!

Yes, so good to have trust in your tubes at that speed.

Same here. I bought Continental Grand Prix 4000S II tires and Vittoria Lite Road inner tubes yesterday (awaiting delivery). Our bike paths and road curbs are not cleaned often and the more protection I can put between my tube and the debris, the better. Just ordered a pair of Mr Tuffy from Amazon.

I use the thorn resistant tubes. For a spare I carry a non thorn resistant tube, because it is lighter. Sure you can tell the difference when you hold them in your hand. But I can't tell the difference riding on them.

Do they work? I dunno. I don't keep track of miles per tube, miles between flats, tube types, etc. But I use the heavier ones just because. When I have a flat there is usually more than one item thru the tire; small staples, glass, thorn points, etc. But only one puncture in the tube.

I hate 'em especially for thinner tires for wider stuff they are still crap but at least easier to work with. I prefer to keep my tires properly inflated and do my best to avoid things that will flat me and good quality tires. If I am running through areas of higher flat likelihood I will probably run Gatorskins or GatorHardshells from Conti and of course the wider the better.

Mr. Tuffys are a horrible idea, a random piece of material with rough edges that will move around between your tube and tire and can cause flats?! Why go through the trouble. I would rather have the thorn resistant tubes in that case at least the tubes will stay in place pretty well.

After using Mr. Tuffy's tire liners for seven years of 18 miles of daily commuting plus occasional weekend rides, I have to disagree.

They aren't "random pieces of material". They are strips of polyethylene that, in the case of Mr. Tuffys have smooth edges and smooth ends. Other attempts at making the same kind of strip haven't worked as well in my experience, however. Slime's version has ends that are too thick and are sharp enough to cut through the tube in just a few miles. I've never had a problem with them.

They work well enough that many tire manufacturers put the liner under the tread. It's the same material.

"Thorn proof" inner tubes are just heavy. I'd rather use Slime...and I hate Slime!

Piffle:rolleyes: Seven years...what a newb?:rolleyes: I've been using them for more than 25 years in the heart of goathead country. I've been on a ride with 3 other people where we had 27 flats between us. One poor person got 20, the guy running tubeless had 6, my wife had one (in the tire I forgot to put the Tuffys back in) and I got none...with Tuffys in both tires.

Don't get me wrong, I can get, and still do, get flats but the Tuffys slow them down.