bccycleguy

Latex tubes have a certain cache, like being in the inner circle when it comes to specialized knowledge about this sort of thing. But given that light weight butyl tubes are widely available now, is there any real advantage to latex anymore?

I'm using Bontrager tubes that weight 62 grams and I've yet to find a latex tube that is lighter, ....and yes, I do need to pump them up every day.

Rolling resistance? maybe, but I don't think I could tell the difference, better to get some really good tires first. OCP factor? You can't see them and most OCP'ers wouldn't recognize an albino tube for what it is anyway.

Someone, give me a good reason to want latex tubes.

62vette

Latex tubes don't puncture as readily as butyl.

Latex is something like nine times more elastic than butyl, and being lighter (for the same dimensions) allows you to have thicker tubes that will tend to deform rather than rupture if you get a small chunk of glass or other debris through the tyre.

Portlandonian

Don't latex tubes leak air really fast though? Like 15 PSI per day just sitting around? How much air would you lose if you rode for 5-6 hours one day?

mrkott3r

15 psi a day I call a slow leak.

thewalrus

15 psi a week, perhaps, is a slow leak... I use the same tubes in both bikes. After pumping one bike to 115-120 psi, riding it and then not touching it for a week it was down to around 100 as measured by my floor pump.

fogrider

note true...you really believe a piece of glass that gets through the tire will just sit there without flattening the tire? I've gotten flats on on laytex inner tubes...and they do leak air...the warmer it is, the more air will leak. they are also harder to fix the puncture.

62vette

I never said they won't puncture, nothing is going to stop a decent sized piece of glass but they will be less prone to small leak type punctures. I lightweight butyl tube will go when anything gets between the tube abd tyre.

I haven't had a puncture racing using latex tubes, but I always make sure my race tyres have plenty of tread and are in good condition as well.

62vette

You won't notice any loss of pressure through a long ride, I certainly haven't.

CastIron

With Vittoria Latex tubes on sale this spring I ordered four to give 'em a shot. I understand there were some problems with that lot (hence the sale at Nashbar), so my experience may not be typical. Anywho...
Two of 'em never made it out of the garage and blew (seam failure, perhaps) on their own. One is on the front doing just fine and another under the seat as a second spare (they are tiny). The latex one loses about twice the amount of air that a butyl tube does. If you top off the air every day (I do) then it really doesn't matter. As to the ride, I can't tell any difference on my Vittoria Rubino's. I've heard that when used under a high zoot 'open tubular' that they shine quite nicely.