How big of a difference does it make on the performance of the bike, and which ones do you use? And how much more likely do you get flats?

I've been using the Vittoria ultra lights. How big of a difference? Close to zero probably. But you need tubes, so you might as well get the lighter ones...assuming similar performance, and that has been my experience. I don't get any more flats using them. I think that if anything pokey gets through the tire, it's going through the tube regardless if it's 150g or 80g.

Edit: you stop punctures with the tires, not tubes. Use a thin tire with no/minimal puncture belts and you get flats regardless of tube type. Use a tough tire and thin vs regular tube seems not to matter, in my experience.


I like the Vittoria tubes as well; Michelin and Kenda seem fine also. The only tube I haven't liked is Specialized. Their presta valve often sticks.

The Conti ultra-lite tubes come with removable valve cores, which I find annoying and I use loc-tite blue to seal them.