Latex tubes
06-27-22, 10:02 PM
#51
Full Member
thermoplastic polyurethane
yes, bought my Vit latex tubes online, but wasn't committed to them enough to stock up, so the LBS not having stock meant when one failed, it had to be replaced with something else at least immediately
yes, bought my Vit latex tubes online, but wasn't committed to them enough to stock up, so the LBS not having stock meant when one failed, it had to be replaced with something else at least immediately
06-28-22, 10:42 AM
#52
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Location: Chapel Hill NC
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Bikes: 2000 Litespeed Vortex Chorus 10, 1995 DeBernardi Cromor S/S
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There was a recent GCN video where the guy compared rolling resistance of butyl, latex and TPU tubes in a super-cheap tire vs a premium (GP5k, IIRC) tire. The experiment comprised riding on a "smart roller" at constant speed, and measuring the power needed to maintain that speed. I don't have the numbers, but the general trend was latex>>TPU>>>>>>>Butyl. However, the latex/TPU improvement over butyl was significantly more marked in the cheap tire than in the good tire. So, in this experiment at least, switching to latex in a cheap tire gave more bang for the buck than switching to latex in a good tire.
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06-28-22, 10:54 AM
#53
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I ran the Vittoria latex tubes for a while, with 25mm GP5000 tires. I was always careful to inflate them before each ride (every day) as they would drop from 100 psi to 80 psi in 24 hours. I lost the front tube one day and went to the LBS to replace it. When I asked if they had latex, they said I was the first person who'd asked in 7 years. The shop's been there for 30, so I got the impression that latex was a fad around here that passed some time ago. I'm sure tubeless is the latest thing. In any event, I put on a Bontrager tube (what the LBS had) and after only one day and half a ride, it developed a pin hole facing the velox. I bought a Conti Race Light butyl tube. I noted that the Race Light tube was lighter than the Vittoria latex tube (I weighed them). Conti also has their "Super Sonic" tubes that are supposed to be even lighter, but are too costly at my current rate of tube consumption. The Race Light lasted about a week but pin-holed sitting idle. The hole this time was on the side, nowhere near the previous one. The latex tube in the rear is holding up fine, so I don't know what's up. I bought a five-pack of regular Schwalbe tubes. I haven't any issues so far, but haven't ridden them much.
Bottom line is the latex seemed to be wonderful, but I only got about 500 miles out of the front before I lost it and it was neither pinched nor did it suffer from a road hazard. It just failed with a pinhole. It can be patched. It's in the bucket to be patched until I accumulate enough to open a tube of compound.
In most of my family's bikes, I have Conti "Race" tubes, some "Tour" in the 50mm Big Bens. In a given size, these are both heavier than the Latex, Race Lights and Super Sonics. They work fine but aren't special. I would be willing to try Aerothan or another TPU but I'd need it for 32-630. That bike I had the latex tubes in is for sale and 32-630 is what I ride most now.
Bottom line is the latex seemed to be wonderful, but I only got about 500 miles out of the front before I lost it and it was neither pinched nor did it suffer from a road hazard. It just failed with a pinhole. It can be patched. It's in the bucket to be patched until I accumulate enough to open a tube of compound.
In most of my family's bikes, I have Conti "Race" tubes, some "Tour" in the 50mm Big Bens. In a given size, these are both heavier than the Latex, Race Lights and Super Sonics. They work fine but aren't special. I would be willing to try Aerothan or another TPU but I'd need it for 32-630. That bike I had the latex tubes in is for sale and 32-630 is what I ride most now.
