goose70

I just purchased a pair of latex tubes as an experiment to see whether I can tell the difference in the ride. I have read somewhere, although can't recall where, that it is a good idea to put talc powder on them since they might otherwise move around more than rubber tubes and wear more quickly as a result. The LBS guy doubted that powder is necessary. Any opinions on this? Any real life experience either way?

Thanks.

DRietz

I like a little bit of corn starch on my tubes because with a nekkid tube it'll stick to the tire - ripped off a patch getting a tube out once.

Other than that, you'll be fine.

BotByte

I never understood that latex vs conventional deal. I see the weight difference, but not the ride quality. I've used a air compressor all my life and I can't see the tank being any different or the compression in it being different because of a change.

Difficult metaphor huh?

I see more flat protection in my tires then weight or ride quality

Shimagnolo

Google: Elastic Hysteresis

datlas 

No "real" experience here but from reading what others who actually use latex tubes have stated, the consensus is that you should use a bit of talc....I know that is hardly scientific, however.

Let us know how you like them!!

mvnsnd

I rode latex many years ago and never used talc. But what can it hurt to put some on the tube before installing?

kimconyc

A year or so ago, I tried out Michelin AirComp Latex tubes for a while and they came with a thin layer of talc pre-aplied.

Against conventional claims, they actually pinch flatted more often than butyl tubes in my experience, cost 3x more, and had to be pumped up daily; I did not notice a ride-quality difference.

Tires and air pressure make a bigger difference.

I decided not to mess around and went full-on tubulars

milliron

Yeah, I'm running Michelin AirComp Latex tubes. Mine also came with a layer of powder already on them. Ride quality is awesome but I don't know if it's better since I put on new tires at the same time.

November Dave

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...f-wheel-energy

Look in the paragraph marked "tread pattern matters, even on the road" for lab info on latex vs butyl. FWIW.

Jobst Brandt has gone to great lengths to debunk the talc thing, which like most things he's done I read until I started to seriously glaze over and concluded "he's probably right." I'm fairly certain that the powder on the tubes is part of the manufacturing/packing process and nothing to do with consumer use.

lukasz

There are some horrible batches of latex tubes out there, but if you buy ones that don't have manufacturing defects then you will likely be pleased with them. Forget about talced or nude. Here is my anecdotal experience:

My first time trying latex tubes I got some pink vittoria tubes that were covered in powder and seemed sort of dry. Well, I got 3 flats on my second ride out--none of them due to road debris. The tubes kept tearing from contact with my perfectly good rim tape. Complete junk.

A few months ago I tried Michelin tubes. I don't actually remember if they had anything on them but I do know that they were very rubbery and almost translucent (a lot like other latex things we may be familiar with, heh). I've had spectacularly good luck with these--yes I just knocked on wood--and the ride quality combined with 25mm Schwalbe Ultremos has been wonderful. I don't know what to praise more, the tires or the tubes, but both have worked flawlessly for me riding through the worst of this winter.

As an aside, I'm still not sure what the deal with pinch flats is on the road, unless you make it a habit to ride 23mm tires at 80psi in the rear or something ridiculous. I've only ever gotten one pinch flat on the road and it was on my commuter with 32mm tires that were definitely a bit low. I hit a pothole so large that my tire did not actually touch the bottom of it. Nothing would have saved my tube from that impact. kimconyc: Are you referring to user error during installation?

kimconyc

Possibly.

I just use regular Specialized tubes now for clinchers and tubulars on one of my bikes.

I actually love gluing tubulars--sort of like how I would imagine therapy would go but with better benefits afterward, like the sweet ride on the open road.