Very nice overview of the three types of inner tubes. 👏👏👏 Over a year ago, I bought a TPU inner tube as a spare due to the size and weight savings. Then I decided to go 100% TPU and replaced the butyl tubes on my wheels with TPU ones. What I could notice immediately was something not mentioned in the video, the reduced rotational inertia of my wheels when accelerating. Rotational inertia depends not only on the mass of the wheel, but even MORE on the distance of the mass from the axis of rotation (hub of wheel) as the distance is squared in the formula for rotational inertia. Reducing the mass of your inner tube by up to 100 grams, because the inner tube is at the outer most location/radius of the wheel, will have a noticable impact on the rotational inertia of your wheel. Especially if you do a lot of changing speed in you're riding. This can be another plus for TPU tubes. I bought my TPU tubes on AliExpress and purchased the RideNow brand. Free shipping to the US. I have been thoroughly delighted with their performance on my DT Swiss hooked, alloy, rim brake wheels.
I’ve been old school inner tube all my life . I just got a new build happening mainly for the disc brakes. Was looking into tubeless, watched a lot of info on them and decided I couldn’t be fafed with that goopy stuff. TPU looks like a great in between for weight and rolling . I’m sold .
Tubeless with sealant for a road bike is a bike industry scam. Makes some sense on a MTB where you are regularly taking big hits off-road. Is a stupid solution seeking out a nonexistent problem to cure on a road bike. Messy, heavier than a comparable latex tube or TPU set up, clogged valve cores, and requires you to regularly refill with sealant every couple months for the life of the tire. Total marketing based scam on a road bike.
@@ivanboesky1520 totally agree. I no even think disk brakes are over rated some what. I had a rim brake bike with ultegra 2014 ish set . And now am on dura ace 9700 disc and I know which one I prefer. Just to bleed and set up I nearly gave in, ( mind you I did full internal. Mostly for looks. ) I had middle range mavic carbones rims and the pads they sell with them and I could stop on a dime. I thought my disc would be an improvement. But not really. They squealed when on them hard and take more effort to get the same stopping power as my old rim set. I feel scammed to be honest. And don’t even get me started on hookless ! They just seem to be a recipe to disaster.
Just completed first 500 miles on RideNow tpu tubes with zero issues. 100% agree with all your points. I feel you maybe understated how much easier they are to fit, also in part due to the very low bulk so the tube takes up less space in the wheel well. The weight saving increases with wheel size as the same tube fits a 32 and a 25 , not the case with butyl. Spent 2 years on tubeless. Will NEVER go back to all that hassle and mess. Just replacing the sealant every 3 months meant I was taking tyres on and off (2 each time, front and rear) more often than I ever did thru punctures. Yuk.
Tubeless with sealant on a road bike or a light gravel bike is one of the best marketing scams the bike industry has created in the past decade. Heavier than latex tubes or TPUs, requires regular refilling of the tire with sealant, the tires themselves weigh more than a comparable size non tubeless road tire, and particularly for disc braked bikes just major unnecessary hassle to deal with, while providing no meaningful benefit on a road bike or a light gravel bike. Complete scam.
Another thing to note. A TPU tube stretches to your tyre size, but it doesn’t shrink back. Tubolito covers this in FAQ. E.g. once you use the tube in a 32mm tyre, you cannot put it in a 25mm tyre anymore. Actually, you can, but it will be wrinkled. Tubolito doesn’t recommend going this way.
Why exactly would I try to run a tube I’m using in a 700x32 size tire in a 700x25 tire? I literally do not know a single rider, who has ever done that or would even think of trying it. TPU tubes come in different 700c sizes like all other road tubes for a reason. LOL
Great video on TPU tubes. I'll be sending this to my riding buddies. We seem to have just as many flat repairs with tubeless. No one maintains their sealant enough and even if sealant is topped up, someone always gets a sealant shower. Not to mention how messy putting in a tube is or how crazy stuck to the rim a dried out sealant tire gets.
I suspect that the increase in noise is because the thicker and denser butyl tubes you had before did a better job of damping the vibrations of your carbon fiber wheels.
5 guys repairing the tubeless bike...says more than 1000 words! very nice video about the most discussed "technology". I will try soon the TPU´s as the hard season in the Alps is coming soon and I can easily save weight without changing my heavy Conti 4 season tyres or with a loss of safety (puncture wise).
Good presentation. At @6:50 my experience disputes the durability difference. I find latex more durable and flat-resistant than butyl. Also @7:25, I have been repairing latex tubes with a standard butyl patch kit for years, no problem. Regarding slow leakage, you should be checking tire pressures for every ride anyway. That said, TPU looks like a good alternative, this latex fan will give it a try.
I fully agree with this comment. What I have is a mix of TPU and Latex. Latex is the most comfortable and I prefer up front. However I tend to carry only TPU spares. If I puncture I swap in the TPU. I then carry a latex spare or if on a long ride 1 TPU / 1 latex spare. So in general I always have about 2 of each on the bike. I repair pynctures tubes once and once only. Any increase in punctures is usually a sign of tyre wear and not tube issues. One thing sis you need ot be extra careful inflating TPU tyres, to avoid folds and not dmaage the valve / tube joint. So this + good tyres + rim brakes is no issue. I live near the pyrenees and heat on the rims breaking hard down a mountain in 30°C heat is not an issue with my carbon rims eaither. Could be with Alu rims though
@@davidmacvicar334 Makes sense to use TPU as a spare, since you need something robust to finish the ride. My snarky suggestions for rims and tubes overheating during heavy braking descents are (1) don't brake just lean and (2) disc brakes.
I think it often comes down to the quality of the Latex tubes. I run Challenge latex tubes and they seldom flat. I typically have averaged 2 or less flats a whole spring, summer, fall riding season. I also think some riders have issues with latex tubes flatting because they do not take care in mounting the tube and then get pinch flats. I’m going to give TPUs a try though because the additional weight savings and much smaller carrying size of spares is very compelling. I have no idea why anyone would run tubeless with sealant on a road bike. A solution looking for a non existent problem in that bicycle application. Plus it’s a heavier set up and requires you to regularly refill the tires with sealant. Just a stupid idea in almost all road bike apps. 😀
Excellent video, as always. I've been using the TPU tubes on my MTB bike for over 9 months now. I've been out with her on all terrains and so far there hasn't been a single puncture. In addition, they are lighter than using liquid sealants. The only restriction is that it took me a while to get it right was the ideal pressure for the tires. Using the same pressure as with the butyl tubes, the tire with the TPU tubes is very hard and shakes a lot. If you use little pressure, the tire "grabs" more and the drag is greater. So it was an exercise in patience until the ideal pressure was reached. After this more than approved test period, I will also use it on the road bike.
I'm happy I didn't jump aboard the tubeless team as tpu clearly seems to be a winner for me: less fuss, likely lighter and cheaper (especially in the longer run not having to replace sealent every year).
Chinese TPU tubes quality are going up. Just ordered a set of 4 of the Ridenow ones with upgraded stem. Thanks for the VERY informative video. I really appreciate you including environmental impact and manufacturing process explanations as well.
Great stuff! I recently started using 700c tpu tubes, and I agree with your findings, except I'm finding my tpu tubes don't quite hold air as well as butyl, requiring a top up of air every 3-4 days, but perhaps that's just the brand (Cyclami) I'm using.
Great video. Please let me add. If you use the Continental light butyl tubes as spares, it reduces the used space by about 50%. Anyhow, I'll give TPU a try the next time I buy some tubes. Low weight and small packing size sounds perfect for bikepacking.
Nice job. Like many I have gone back to tubes for the road. TPU put me off with the price, but as you stated, you can now get a pair with patches for $15 US. I carry a spare tube and patch kit just in case I get more than one flat (over kill maybe) but TPU is so small now I carry two tubes, no patch kit. We will see how they hold up, but for now I’m a fan.
@@stevenleffanue yay!!! I’ve been digging to find the best wax tutorial videos of yours to give to newcomers. So having a new one will be very appreciated 👍
Thanks "Wizard of Oz". Short after I saw your clip, I bought some TPU tubes. About 50% of the ones I got were deflating too fast. I noticed the air was coming out, at the edge of the tube and the bottom of the valve. I was able to fix that by pouring some super glue all around that area. I let it dry for an hour or so and the leak was fixed.
I am using TPU tubes since a year I am mostly happy with them. Here and there still a snake bite like on all other tubes. In my opinion they are the best tube option. The plastic valve option can fail when pumped with a hand pump and the force is too strong on the valve, it snap’s. I recommend to pump it a bit up before installing. I see only advantages over other options. Tubeless is for me not an option since you need to refresh the sealant every 6 month, I rather change a tube every six month.
I wish I had you here, I brought 4 tpu tubes to have ones that feel they last a day or two between pumping them up, unsure if we find a better solution that is much closer to butyl but I might go with continental supersonic in future
Great video! I have been sceptical about TPU tubes, but now since you explained them so well, I will try them out. That size difference is amazing. In most videos, we are told that some product is lighter, stronger and faster, but we are not necessarily told WHY it is so. You explained this very well, and that convinces me alot more than some typical marketing statement. Thank you for - once again - a very informative video!
I use butyl patches on my latex tubes, it works perfectly ! And i also bought a "Ride Now" TPU tube as a spare one for my saddle bag. But i still prefer to ride with the Vittoria latex tubes.
I switched to TPU ridenow tube just a couple of weeks ago, and I got my first puncture yesterday. My tires are quite old contis with way over 10k km on them, and they're pretty worn... So I was just thinking whether I should go tubeless or get a new set of regular tires and give the TPU tubes another go. By the way, thanks for mentioning the noise - when I went for a first ride on my TPU tubes I thought one of wheel bearings was gone. They're definitely noisier, at least on carbon wheels.
I've been patching up latex with regular parktool patches and it hold up very very well, unless it's 2 hole puncture like a snake bite then it sometimes doesn't work.
One note to mention. Ive just got some ridenow tubes 24g and 36g. And its not just the valve that makes them lighter. The 24g are only rated for 28c and physically narrower than 36g ones. The latter can go upto 32c i believe Both mine have plastic valve stems, ive not had chance to ride yet... hopefully weekend. They seem to be holding air well, normally ride light butyl tubes and they lose air quicker than 2 weeks i would say more like a week. Be interesting how they hold up and ride. 👍
Here in the States, the prices for TPU tubes run considerably higher than they do down under. I just checked a large online bike supply place and the TPU runs approx. three times the price of a butyl. I will wait a while before I make the switch.
Nice and informative video as always from Ozcycle, thank you. Only thing you didn't mention is that TPU, like butyl, is a petrochemical. It too comes from oil. Also, although almost all plastics are in theory endlessly recyclable, in reality their polymer structures degrade with each cycle of reformation such that after several cycles the quality of the reformed product is quite poor and in many cases not fit for purpose. All in all though, I agree that TPU tubes are great. Final word... having used latex tubes for the last 15 years, I can definitely say that they can be patched just as easily as butyl tubes. I have a "3 strikes you're out rule for all my tubes"... they get 2 patches and on the 3rd puncture it's in the bin. Never went to tubeless because I couldn't see the benefit... Messy, fiddly, just as heavy, wheels not ridden for a few months a headache to get started again, and most people still kept a spare tube anyway if shit really hit the fan... so why go tubeless?
I used the Ridenow TPU for six months on my climbing bike. Yes they saved about 200g over latex and tubeless which was great. But I found they feel hard and have more pressure in than they actually do. I also noticed heavy cornering performance was not as good due to less sideways grip so descending was slower. Then I double punctured so have gone back to tubeless for now.
Agreed with you. I use Ridenow as well. I first tried to use about 80psi in Ridenow tubes felt like the rear tire was coming off at some sharp turns. So now I’ve gone up to 95psi. Seem better not too hard. 100psi makes the wheel bouncy like shown in the video. And low psi punctures for sure.
2 Ridenow tubes exploded on my bike ! one during an ascent (I'd be on hospital for long if it happens on a descent), another one while I was sitting nearby and drinking a beer (there was no sun!). there are some weaker spots at tube joints which expand/get thinner, especially there are weaker spots close to the valve, on third ridenow tube i can see those spots very thin !! no probs with Tubolito though.
GREAT INFO...After buying a pair of Schwable tires tubeless with some will argue with Silca tubeless carbon fiber sealantthat did not work out after 300 miles these Schwable tire don't hold a plug at all. So I decided to switch to TPU tubes and patch the tire from the inside. It could be the tire but after this experience never will try the tubeless again.
Rode tpu for the first time today. I agree the first thing i noticed was the noise (thought it was really bad brake rub at first). I imagine it would interfere with ability to hear cars when going around a corner. Thinking about latex now.
Had mine on for 6 months now, brilliant. I have a small puncture from a thin piece of wire in the front but it leaks so slowly I've been too lazy to fix it just keep adding air every couple of days. The old butyl would require a patch. Mine came with a repair kit. Got a snake bite on the rear but the patches wouldn't stick , need to find those self adhesive ones.
Great review! I recently bought a TPU tube for the compact size for carrying as a spare tube. I was thinking about replacing my butyl tubes in the tires with TPU tubes to save some weight, but your comments on the increased noise put me off that idea. I like quiet tire noise and reduced pressures to reduce the rattle of the bike.
Quick correction - you CAN use TPU in 3D printing, but the far more common filament type is PLA. TPU is incredibly difficult to print with and some printers (those with bowden-style extruders) can't print with it reliably at all. Aside from the extrusion difficulty, 3d printing often requires supports and TPU supports are nearly impossible to remove because it's so good at fusing to itself and is incredibly durable.
Thank you for all that Information! I wonder how safe the material is. Especially at high temperatures due to high mountain descending in combination with rim brakes. That's why I'll probably stay with butyl.
I bought the same TPU tube you are showing direct from China for under $5.00 US. I have been using Tuffy tire liners in my wheels for years. They greatly reduce punchers but add weight. I would rather have the added weight than getting flats all the time. Living in southern California , there is lots of glass on the roads. The liners do a great job of stopping the glass. But now with the TPU tubes, the liners are not the weight penalty they were. Thanks for your review!
Thanks for the upload Steven! Latex tubes are by far the easiest to repair. You use the same cement as with butyl and alcohol cleaned surfaces. The patches you cut yourself from old inner tubes or latex gloves. It's important to wait the 2-3min after applying cement (to both surfaces) before adding the patch.
@@twillyspanksyourcakes nonsense. latex tubes were around even before road disc was out there, especially where rolling resistance matters, i.e. racing. I run only latex tubes on three bikes (12000-15000km a year) and never have I had an explosion. Punctures yes, but there are inevitable in pneumatic systems
@@ribbyramone I guess the countless people who had blownouts on latex tubes on prolonged descents using rims are just imagining them huh? Also your experience alone is what matters in the whole world right? As long as you don't experience it means it's not real? Ok
RideNow has 700cc x 47. Or look at the mountain bike tubes. You just have to convert from metric to inches for tube size. So 700cc = 29 inches and 45c = 1.77inches. So you could round up to a 29 x 1.9 inch MTB tube.
In terms of riding i couldn't feel much difference, but there are difference of how much pressure you can pump in TPU, its just you cant pump more its like against wall. And if you have some small travel pump, its even harder. There is no more flex or room when TPU is almost full.
I don't know about you but I'm picky about my tire pressure. That means pumping the tires before any ride regardless which inner tube. For someone like me latex just becomes a few more pumps.
Thought about these things a long time ago and decided i couldn't afford them and thought they looked er fragile - before seeing anyone have a poke at 'em with a screwdriver . Cost ? well as you say I've just had a peek online and found x4 @ 16 quid inc patch kit so decided to take a punt. Anyhow cheers for a useful video and have a happy new year.
I picked up some TPU tubes last month. I have been using the BUTYL lightweight tubes, and have always packed the spares dusted with a little cornstarch to help keep them easy to work with. Are you aware of issues with long term storage of the TPU tubes?
That's a good point, durability, I had some butyl tubes for many, many years without any issue! It would be good to know about the projected lifespan of TPU to prevent flats and renew spares...
I've ridden the Cyclami TPU tubes for a little over 4000 miles. I love the ride feel over standard butyl tubes. I inflate the night before every ride using a Lezyne screw on floor pump to 110 psi on 25mm GP5000s. My experience is that these tubes drop from 110 psi to 100 psi over 48 hours. They don't seem to be much different that butyl tubes. I've had two puncture flats over the 4000+ miles. One a goathead and second, a metal staple. In neither case have I been able to fix the small puncture. I used the Cyclami provided alcohol wipe and patch , put the tube back into the tire and inflated. It was completely flat in less than an hour. When I pulled the tube, I could see a path where air lifted the patch away from the tube going from the puncture to the edge of the patch. I was able to simply pull the patch off the tube without any adhesive residue. I've been in search of a solvent to make the tube tacky for better adhesion. I first tried Testor's model glue, but it didn't stick to the TPU at all. I tested some PVC primer on the TPU wrap that comes around a tube and it appeared to leave the surface tacky and it couldn't be rubbed off. I used the PVC primer on a punctured tube , put a Cyclami self-adhesive patch on, compressed with a heavy weight for 24 hours, inserted the tube into a tire and inflated. Flat again in less than 10 hours. Is Cyclami's TPU formulation or surface finish different than other brands? Are their patches any good? Has anyone had success patching Cyclami TPU tubes?
I am a TPU convert for about 6months from 2y using tubeless. Some TPU pros vs tubeless from my experience: no sealant no mess, no topping up, no need for valve removing tool, no special pump needed, no “dry boogy” after a year (living in tropical Indonesia). No need of rotating the wheels if not used for weeks. I add another puncture resistance by using tubeless specific tires, but I can go lighter with normal clincher if i want to. Pressure on Schwalbe Pro One TLE 28c seems to hold up just fine.
I use latex. They are sensitive to sharp objects and need blowing up before every ride. But I have successfully patched twice with butyl patches. Still going to try the TPU tubes. Many thanks. I think tubless is best for off road...
I ordered a set a few days ago! (They haven't arrived yet). I have been riding latex for years, and want to give TPU a try. Latex are must faster than Butyl, I can't wait to see how TPU compares.
Brr have already done the test. Vittoria’s light speed tpu tube is the fastest tpu tube on the market. It’s .1 watt slower than the latex. ride now tubes are very close behind and are far cheaper. What they don’t go into is ride feel
Great presentation: well done ! I am currently riding on latex for cyclocross and light butyl for road. For the timetrial I am using TUFO tubular clinchers. Could you possibly expand on the latter?
Thanks for the info! It looks like I'll need to revisit TPU tubes again. I tried Tubolito tubes a few years back when they first came out, and I wasn't too impressed. Mainly because of the steep prices, and the ride quality was not as good as butyl (more chatter). However, after seeing your "stretch test" it sure looks like TPU tubes have come a long way in terms of flexibility. Also, if the price is around the same as butyl now, I see no reason >not< to use them as I'm a sucker for saving rotational weight .
@@stevenleffanue The only thing that makes me think twice is that I assume not all TPU tubes are created equal. I'm not sure about if certain brands are better than others...
We have done it multiple times and it worked fine but it's not advisable. Thermoplastic goes brittle when very cold so the tube can form cracks and leak air.
I still can`t believe how many people say tubeless is messy and hard to setup. Aparently i`ve been lucky with something once in my life, been using tubeless since 2017, and its been a matter of mount the tire, pump it up with a floor pump to seat the bead, fill sealant thru valve, fill to pressure and ride. Never had any problem.
I have had six pairs of TPU tubes, from Tubolito and more recently from RideNow. They are unbelievably light, and they hold air pressure very well. But I have found that they are extremely prone to punctures, in contrast to the claims made by the manufacturers. I've given up on them because of this. I wonder too if they really benefit rolling resistance because they are not supple. One year later. I run 36 g RideNow TPU tubes with white valve stems. No further problrms.
It's your tires or you are getting pinch flats from improper installation. I use Corsa next and have never had a puncture. I run over all types of crap. The ridenows have been solid.
@@kimwarner6050 I know how to install tirres and tubes so that they wont pinch. And these were on almost new 26 mm Pirelli P Zero Road. And i almost never get puctures with those tires and butyl tubes. I run anut 85 psi in front and 89 in back. Make of that what you will. That has been my experience.
@@stuartdryer1352 It's prone because you're a pressure too high. Since TPU has less expansion resistance than butyl ones, you should use less pressure. I don't know the exact number, but around 10 psi less should be fine.
@@hugosantana7253 That could definitely be a problem for some people but that wasn't my issue. What I have found in the meantime is that the earlier generations of TPU tubes had some manufacturing issues between the valve stem and the tube itself. I now run RideNow tubes (the ones with white valve stems, not black ones!!). With 30 mm tires I run them around 65PSI. I haven't had any problems since then and I only run TPU tubes now.
I finally got some TPU tubes and Continental GP5000 tires. Definitely a faster setup than the gravel tires with butyl tubes I had been running. However, after just 2 rides (50 miles) the rear tire popped. Luckily, not in a ride. Bike was sitting in the garage and just suddenly popped. Tried to repair with a patch and it failed as soon as I got up to 70psi. Going to give them another shot. I'm thinking I may have made an error on install.
Very interesting information you, our bicycle god, has to offer. Im not into superlight bikes but into sturdy maintenance free ones. I have no punctures at all, although i ride every day. I use so called tire liners. There are a few tricks in order to use them troublefree. You have to put graphite powder into your tire in order to lubricate everything, and you have to use a very sharp knife to make edgy ends of them flat, or make them sharply V shaped instead of edgy U shaped, because thick edges will rub into the tube and cause a flat. But only on one side so the V shape is more like |/ . Because of that you also have to use high tire pressure. The only drawback is that it could be that the carcass of your tire gets damaged over time but it usually holds up until the tread is used up. Also using wax instead of oil or grease on the chain is a big gain of maybe 100 times, and lots of cheap micronised graphite powder will improve it to about 150-200x. I put the same stuff into my tires for lubrication in order to protect the tube from the tireliners.
Urethane tire liners really are better than pvc would be? Not sure about the v shape-u shape advice without a photo, no matter how you cut it there's gonna be an edge to it unless you cover the whole tyre inside.
yes. the important think is that the ends are thin, because if they are thick and have an edge, the edge will work into the tube. if they are thin and have an edge, they dont pose a threat to the tube@@ddg227
I have been using latex tubes for decades. I find them more durable than Butyl. Much more comfortable to ride on and easy to repair. I don't understand why people say latex tubes are hard to repair. Stop trying to repair them with standard butyl repair kits. All you need is a patch cut from an old latex tube and some rubber cement. The patch then conforms to the tube and you have hundreds more miles.
As a chemical engineer, I recognize the potential flaws. It’s in the name, thermal polyurethane. Thank goodness that I haven’t had to use the CO2 cartridge that I normally carry in my seat bag. I guess I have to get a mini pump as a carry on! Thank you for confirming.
Are there any objective test on the heat resistance of TPU tubes? My only concern is whether they hold up under sustained high temperature caused by rim brakes and long decent. Nonetheless they're great for spare tubes in a minimalist repair kit.
@@fred7921good to know. I also had the same concern with OP about rim brake and long descent. Perhaps just to be safe, should stop now and then between sections of long descent.
I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video. I'm always trying to help save the planet and make smart buying decisions. I wasn't even aware of these TPU tubes, only butyl and latex, and latex tubes just seem like an overpriced, underperforming option, so I never changed. I will be going over to Aliexpress and buying some of these TPU tubes and giving them a try. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Excellent video, covers all aspects on the subject, thank you for this. My personal experience on using Vittoria TPU tubes on Next 28C tyres has been different though. On the first ride I had both front an rear tyre punctures on snake bites. Pressures were correct, same as using latex tubes. Both tubes were unrepairable, so had to try a second pair of tubes. So far so good ( 3 weeks of riding) but feel like my tyres are underinflated all the time. Seems like the profile is stretched more and the feeling is like floating, in fact as if the tyre is not stable lateraly.. I have to increase the pressure 5psi min to get a stable ride feeling but then I sacrificed the confort and compliance I used to have on latex tubes. As described in the video you feel like riding without tubes and the noise has increased. But overall huge gains on wheel weight and reactivity on accelerations.
It is _almost weird_ how sensitive ride quality & drag are, to side-wall pliability. Seems like each tire style + compound, hugely favors not just a given rider weight + inflation level, but also a specific tube thickness or lack thereof! Most recently, I've noticed that _not only_ do the 2.8" tubeless-ready Maxxis eMTB tires on our biggest ebike, ride completely different with just ~20°F of temperature change, or ±5 PSI of air, but even switching between _brands_ of tube in the same size & approximate weight, noticeably affects the rolling resistance & ride handling. Especially noteworthy, to me: The low pressure version of _the same tire pattern_ handles _totally different_ & rolls much easier, than the traditional high pressure version of the same tire. Big fat MTB tires with tall sidewalls, surely make tube-to-sidewall interactions more pronounced, but the somewhat higher pressure required for skinny low volume roadbike wheels, also seems to exacerbate tube feel, in some other regard that I haven't quite figured out yet?
@@prophetzarquon With 28 mm tyres I don't feel much difference between tubes. Also some people complain about TPU noises, but I haven't heard anything. That said I have thick tyres, Cinturato velo so that might be the explanation. It also depends a lot on the road itself... on asphalt with a flat and smooth surface, higher pressure is more efficient, while the same asphalt with some bumps and gravel would make a lower pressure faster... of course the opposite is better for rough terrain, where tubeless and wide tyres allow lower pressures. TPU is more rigid than butyl, it might make these tyres more appropriate for road, although their surface is smoother so it might create less friction on trails, too?
@@DR_1_1 Theoretically, the tube should be stretching _with_ the sidewall, not moving relative to it... but maybe? 🤔 Also: Holy smokes 28mm! 2.8 _inch_ is what I've been riding around town. I can't imagine feeling anything but road texture, on 28mm 😜
@@prophetzarquon I'd guess latex tubes might move/stretch together WITH the (sidewall) tyre, but TPU is more rigid, so it may not follow all deformations of the tube... and butyl somewhere between those two? As you said some tyres have rigid sidewalls - and are less comfortable I suppose.... 2.8 inches would be for MTB, single track, descents, or a fat bike! but if you ride a big e-bike, 25+ kilos, 45 km/h, etc. I can understand that you need fatter tyres. I'm riding a CX bike, it came stock with 32mm cross tyres, and on the road 28 mm is fine, I used to ride 25 mm with higher pressure on my old road bike, so 28 mm is already comfy for now. I wouldn't have enough power to ride 2.8 inches, or much slower, and I'm already slow... maybe in a few years, with some "nuclear" help!
@@DR_1_1 I ride 2.75" up front & 2.25" or 2.5" rear, even in the city; for traction & float (lots of sand pits around here) but also for comfort. Weirdly (I did _not_ expect this), stiffer sidewalls make for a _softer_ ride, by allowing the tire to take the same weight at lower pressure. I thought tires made for low pressure would coast _less_ but boy was I wrong! The exact same tread patterns, roll _easier_ with modern suspension-bridge like sidewalls... I'm _excessively_ tall, so as soon as I get on a bike, all the pressures need to be near max or things get busted fast; narrow tires have never been a good option for me, because higher volume supports the same weight at lower pressure. For that reason, I coast as far on my 29er MTB as I do on my friend's carbon road bike. Tire tech is weird. It's no wonder investors keep falling for "airless" tire schemes. Finding exactly the right fit, is probably part of why so much disagreement about what's "best" happens. The wrong size bike is a _miserable_ experience, on a long ride...
I bought five tubes off Ebay, unbranded and implore your viewers to buy branded ones. A number of the tubes leaked at the valve and needed re glueing with supaglue to stop leaks. I've had the odd puncture and the self adhesive patches fixed the leaks. However the big problem was a blow out where the tube failed instantly and took the tyre off the rim. Thankfully I held the bike until coming to a stop. The Tpu tube had only done around 250 miles up to the blow out. I'll just use the others as emergency spares and will try a Ridenow tube to see if it's more reliable.
Sorry you had such a negative experience.You might like to consult with the Ebay seller for compensation or at least advise them as to the fault.Tyre blowouts however are not caused by the tube but by the tyre either damaged or ill-fitting.
@@stevenleffanue I have contacted the seller, due to the dangerous nature of the tube. The tube was the weak link as a butyl tube runs fine with the same setup and pressure. Just glad I wasn't doing 50kph as I'd likely be recovering in A&E.
the ridnow ones cost about 5 euros/dollars off aliexpress when you buy in 4s. I have had one puncture but looking at the damage it would have punctured a traditional innertube too.
I bought 4 x TPU tubes on eBay for < $8 AUD delivered and they arrived in about 10 days. Not on the bike yet. I haven't seen any discussion of reduced rotational inertia - I would have thought it would be an important factor?
@@stevenleffanue hehe, with my figure, the important factor on downhills is braking performance! I was thinking it should be easier to accelerate with lower rotational inertia, but I haven't been able to feel any difference. Already had my first flat though - think it might have been due to a kink/fold in my very stiff rim tape.
Great information, appreciate the time you took to do that video. I was a bit hesitant to try TPU mostly due to price. But I have a question, will the patches hold forever? or does it just hold long enough to get home then you have to replace the tube? The answer to those questions will make me slide toward or away from TPU, thanks again.
Very nice overview of the three types of inner tubes. 👏👏👏 Over a year ago, I bought a TPU inner tube as a spare due to the size and weight savings. Then I decided to go 100% TPU and replaced the butyl tubes on my wheels with TPU ones. What I could notice immediately was something not mentioned in the video, the reduced rotational inertia of my wheels when accelerating. Rotational inertia depends not only on the mass of the wheel, but even MORE on the distance of the mass from the axis of rotation (hub of wheel) as the distance is squared in the formula for rotational inertia. Reducing the mass of your inner tube by up to 100 grams, because the inner tube is at the outer most location/radius of the wheel, will have a noticable impact on the rotational inertia of your wheel. Especially if you do a lot of changing speed in you're riding. This can be another plus for TPU tubes. I bought my TPU tubes on AliExpress and purchased the RideNow brand. Free shipping to the US. I have been thoroughly delighted with their performance on my DT Swiss hooked, alloy, rim brake wheels.
He is quoting Aussie dollars which are only worth ~2/3 of a us dollar
@@richardggeorge Thanks! I edited my comment to reflect your information.
The reduction of circumferential mass is implicit.
@@peterwillson1355 increased acceleration and reduced braking distance; win - win.
TPU tubes are FAR more flat prone.
Great that you go in-depth about the environmental impact! Good on you!
Stop watching this monster’s videos! He was convicted of kidnapping and torturing his neighbor’s dog to death. He is a twisted and evil person.
I’ve been old school inner tube all my life . I just got a new build happening mainly for the disc brakes. Was looking into tubeless, watched a lot of info on them and decided I couldn’t be fafed with that goopy stuff. TPU looks like a great in between for weight and rolling . I’m sold .
Good choice. Tbh disks are probably a faf for most of us aswell :)
Tubeless with sealant for a road bike is a bike industry scam. Makes some sense on a MTB where you are regularly taking big hits off-road. Is a stupid solution seeking out a nonexistent problem to cure on a road bike. Messy, heavier than a comparable latex tube or TPU set up, clogged valve cores, and requires you to regularly refill with sealant every couple months for the life of the tire. Total marketing based scam on a road bike.
@@ivanboesky1520 totally agree. I no even think disk brakes are over rated some what. I had a rim brake bike with ultegra 2014 ish set . And now am on dura ace 9700 disc and I know which one I prefer. Just to bleed and set up I nearly gave in, ( mind you I did full internal. Mostly for looks. ) I had middle range mavic carbones rims and the pads they sell with them and I could stop on a dime. I thought my disc would be an improvement. But not really. They squealed when on them hard and take more effort to get the same stopping power as my old rim set. I feel scammed to be honest. And don’t even get me started on hookless ! They just seem to be a recipe to disaster.
Just completed first 500 miles on RideNow tpu tubes with zero issues. 100% agree with all your points. I feel you maybe understated how much easier they are to fit, also in part due to the very low bulk so the tube takes up less space in the wheel well. The weight saving increases with wheel size as the same tube fits a 32 and a 25 , not the case with butyl.
Spent 2 years on tubeless. Will NEVER go back to all that hassle and mess. Just replacing the sealant every 3 months meant I was taking tyres on and off (2 each time, front and rear) more often than I ever did thru punctures. Yuk.
Stop watching this monster’s videos! He was convicted of kidnapping and torturing his neighbor’s dog to death. He is a twisted and evil person.
Your comment detracts my plan to go tubeless...I just bought TPU tubes, so will give it a go.
Tubeless with sealant on a road bike or a light gravel bike is one of the best marketing scams the bike industry has created in the past decade. Heavier than latex tubes or TPUs, requires regular refilling of the tire with sealant, the tires themselves weigh more than a comparable size non tubeless road tire, and particularly for disc braked bikes just major unnecessary hassle to deal with, while providing no meaningful benefit on a road bike or a light gravel bike. Complete scam.
Another thing to note. A TPU tube stretches to your tyre size, but it doesn’t shrink back. Tubolito covers this in FAQ. E.g. once you use the tube in a 32mm tyre, you cannot put it in a 25mm tyre anymore. Actually, you can, but it will be wrinkled. Tubolito doesn’t recommend going this way.
Stop watching this monster’s videos! He was convicted of kidnapping and torturing his neighbor’s dog to death. He is a twisted and evil person.
Non issue. How many people do that. It is only 10 dollars.
Why exactly would I try to run a tube I’m using in a 700x32 size tire in a 700x25 tire? I literally do not know a single rider, who has ever done that or would even think of trying it. TPU tubes come in different 700c sizes like all other road tubes for a reason. LOL
Great video on TPU tubes. I'll be sending this to my riding buddies. We seem to have just as many flat repairs with tubeless. No one maintains their sealant enough and even if sealant is topped up, someone always gets a sealant shower. Not to mention how messy putting in a tube is or how crazy stuck to the rim a dried out sealant tire gets.
Excellent presentation! Well done. I'm sold.
I suspect that the increase in noise is because the thicker and denser butyl tubes you had before did a better job of damping the vibrations of your carbon fiber wheels.
Simply the best video on bicycle tube choices out there. Well Done!!
5 guys repairing the tubeless bike...says more than 1000 words!
very nice video about the most discussed "technology". I will try soon the TPU´s as the hard season in the Alps is coming soon and I can easily save weight without changing my heavy Conti 4 season tyres or with a loss of safety (puncture wise).
Good presentation. At @6:50 my experience disputes the durability difference. I find latex more durable and flat-resistant than butyl. Also @7:25, I have been repairing latex tubes with a standard butyl patch kit for years, no problem. Regarding slow leakage, you should be checking tire pressures for every ride anyway. That said, TPU looks like a good alternative, this latex fan will give it a try.
I fully agree with this comment. What I have is a mix of TPU and Latex. Latex is the most comfortable and I prefer up front. However I tend to carry only TPU spares. If I puncture I swap in the TPU. I then carry a latex spare or if on a long ride 1 TPU / 1 latex spare. So in general I always have about 2 of each on the bike. I repair pynctures tubes once and once only.
Any increase in punctures is usually a sign of tyre wear and not tube issues. One thing sis you need ot be extra careful inflating TPU tyres, to avoid folds and not dmaage the valve / tube joint.
So this + good tyres + rim brakes is no issue. I live near the pyrenees and heat on the rims breaking hard down a mountain in 30°C heat is not an issue with my carbon rims eaither. Could be with Alu rims though
@@davidmacvicar334 Makes sense to use TPU as a spare, since you need something robust to finish the ride. My snarky suggestions for rims and tubes overheating during heavy braking descents are (1) don't brake just lean and (2) disc brakes.
@@michaelclements4664 Only the lightest TPUs are not recommended for rim brakes, the 38 g are fine.
I think it often comes down to the quality of the Latex tubes. I run Challenge latex tubes and they seldom flat. I typically have averaged 2 or less flats a whole spring, summer, fall riding season. I also think some riders have issues with latex tubes flatting because they do not take care in mounting the tube and then get pinch flats.
I’m going to give TPUs a try though because the additional weight savings and much smaller carrying size of spares is very compelling. I have no idea why anyone would run tubeless with sealant on a road bike. A solution looking for a non existent problem in that bicycle application. Plus it’s a heavier set up and requires you to regularly refill the tires with sealant. Just a stupid idea in almost all road bike apps. 😀
This is a really great informative video, always keeps me coming back! Great stuff Oz bloke!👍👍👍
Excellent video, as always.
I've been using the TPU tubes on my MTB bike for over 9 months now. I've been out with her on all terrains and so far there hasn't been a single puncture.
In addition, they are lighter than using liquid sealants.
The only restriction is that it took me a while to get it right was the ideal pressure for the tires. Using the same pressure as with the butyl tubes, the tire with the TPU tubes is very hard and shakes a lot. If you use little pressure, the tire "grabs" more and the drag is greater. So it was an exercise in patience until the ideal pressure was reached. After this more than approved test period, I will also use it on the road bike.
btw TPU tube for max 32 tire size
I'm happy I didn't jump aboard the tubeless team as tpu clearly seems to be a winner for me: less fuss, likely lighter and cheaper (especially in the longer run not having to replace sealent every year).
Hi, can you recommend a brand? I’m interested in trying it out for my XC bike. Not sure about my more enduro-oriented bike. Thanks!
Michelin@@TheJofrica
@@robertmcfadyen9156 Thank you!
Very good professional and accurate review, thanks! I just bought TPU tubes and I am looking forward to trying them
Tubeless road is SO much faff lol.
Ok for gravel bikes and XC though where thorns are an issue.
Also I suspect that tubeless ready tyres and rims are heavier than they'd need to be for tubes...
Chinese TPU tubes quality are going up. Just ordered a set of 4 of the Ridenow ones with upgraded stem. Thanks for the VERY informative video. I really appreciate you including environmental impact and manufacturing process explanations as well.
Dang, got me sold on the TPU with flat head screw driver test. Enviromenrally, it's a bonus as well Thank you!!!
Thank you for this excellent informative video.
Always enjoying watching your videos.
Great stuff! I recently started using 700c tpu tubes, and I agree with your findings, except I'm finding my tpu tubes don't quite hold air as well as butyl, requiring a top up of air every 3-4 days, but perhaps that's just the brand (Cyclami) I'm using.
Great video. Please let me add. If you use the Continental light butyl tubes as spares, it reduces the used space by about 50%. Anyhow, I'll give TPU a try the next time I buy some tubes. Low weight and small packing size sounds perfect for bikepacking.
Nice job. Like many I have gone back to tubes for the road. TPU put me off with the price, but as you stated, you can now get a pair with patches for $15 US. I carry a spare tube and patch kit just in case I get more than one flat (over kill maybe) but TPU is so small now I carry two tubes, no patch kit. We will see how they hold up, but for now I’m a fan.
So far this is the only video I've seen that actually talks about the supply chain involved 💯
going to try them.thanks for great review. Fun to see you riding out there.
Great video. I was thinking about switching to TPU, and you have convinced me. Cheers mate.
Great informative video - thanks. I am glad you covered reparability as that is something I always wonder about with non-butyl tubes
Extremely well done! Great balance of research/info/opinion. Thanks!!
Such a comprehensive and well made video, thank you!
You did it again, mate! Best reviews in town. I always look here first.
I miss these kinds of videos. I hope you do more of these and any revisited chain wax videos.
Thanx. Next vid IS a wax one actually 😁
@@stevenleffanue yay!!!
I’ve been digging to find the best wax tutorial videos of yours to give to newcomers. So having a new one will be very appreciated 👍
@@stevenleffanue 😊
Thanks "Wizard of Oz". Short after I saw your clip, I bought some TPU tubes. About 50% of the ones I got were deflating too fast. I noticed the air was coming out, at the edge of the tube and the bottom of the valve. I was able to fix that by pouring some super glue all around that area. I let it dry for an hour or so and the leak was fixed.
Thanks for relating that fix , that's a great idea !
I am using TPU tubes since a year I am mostly happy with them. Here and there still a snake bite like on all other tubes. In my opinion they are the best tube option. The plastic valve option can fail when pumped with a hand pump and the force is too strong on the valve, it snap’s. I recommend to pump it a bit up before installing. I see only advantages over other options. Tubeless is for me not an option since you need to refresh the sealant every 6 month, I rather change a tube every six month.
I wish I had you here, I brought 4 tpu tubes to have ones that feel they last a day or two between pumping them up, unsure if we find a better solution that is much closer to butyl but I might go with continental supersonic in future
Great video! I have been sceptical about TPU tubes, but now since you explained them so well, I will try them out. That size difference is amazing. In most videos, we are told that some product is lighter, stronger and faster, but we are not necessarily told WHY it is so. You explained this very well, and that convinces me alot more than some typical marketing statement. Thank you for - once again - a very informative video!
Stop watching this monster’s videos! He was convicted of kidnapping and torturing his neighbor’s dog to death. He is a twisted and evil person.
Why not try? 10 dollars to save so much weight, and you are hesitant to try?
I use butyl patches on my latex tubes, it works perfectly !
And i also bought a "Ride Now" TPU tube as a spare one for my saddle bag.
But i still prefer to ride with the Vittoria latex tubes.
did you test that spare? I heard quite a few ride now tubes come DoA and leak terribly. Would suck to get a blow out and your spare wouldnt hold air.
I appreciate the detailed environmental considerations. Thx.
You have the best, most informative bike videos!
I’ve been using a pair of tubolitos for 8 months now without a single flat, racing over belgian cobbles at high speeds. They havent failed me ever.
I bought 4 Ridenow tubes from Aliexpress and I absolutely love them. Best bang for your buck bike improvement you can make!
Excellent information! Thank you very much!
I switched to TPU ridenow tube just a couple of weeks ago, and I got my first puncture yesterday. My tires are quite old contis with way over 10k km on them, and they're pretty worn...
So I was just thinking whether I should go tubeless or get a new set of regular tires and give the TPU tubes another go.
By the way, thanks for mentioning the noise - when I went for a first ride on my TPU tubes I thought one of wheel bearings was gone. They're definitely noisier, at least on carbon wheels.
Stop watching this monster’s videos! He was convicted of kidnapping and torturing his neighbor’s dog to death. He is a twisted and evil person.
as usual very informative and neat video 👌
I've been patching up latex with regular parktool patches and it hold up very very well, unless it's 2 hole puncture like a snake bite then it sometimes doesn't work.
One note to mention. Ive just got some ridenow tubes 24g and 36g. And its not just the valve that makes them lighter. The 24g are only rated for 28c and physically narrower than 36g ones. The latter can go upto 32c i believe Both mine have plastic valve stems, ive not had chance to ride yet... hopefully weekend. They seem to be holding air well, normally ride light butyl tubes and they lose air quicker than 2 weeks i would say more like a week. Be interesting how they hold up and ride. 👍
Stop watching this monster’s videos! He was convicted of kidnapping and torturing his neighbor’s dog to death. He is a twisted and evil person.
I just want to say that I really enjoy your videos, the quality of the information is great! I hope you keep with the good work!
Thank you 😊
Here in the States, the prices for TPU tubes run considerably higher than they do down under. I just checked a large online bike supply place and the TPU runs approx. three times the price of a butyl. I will wait a while before I make the switch.
Alie express ridenow. +-7$
Hillarious and enjoyably over-informative. Thanks!
Very informative. I watch your channel frequently.
Nice and informative video as always from Ozcycle, thank you. Only thing you didn't mention is that TPU, like butyl, is a petrochemical. It too comes from oil. Also, although almost all plastics are in theory endlessly recyclable, in reality their polymer structures degrade with each cycle of reformation such that after several cycles the quality of the reformed product is quite poor and in many cases not fit for purpose. All in all though, I agree that TPU tubes are great. Final word... having used latex tubes for the last 15 years, I can definitely say that they can be patched just as easily as butyl tubes. I have a "3 strikes you're out rule for all my tubes"... they get 2 patches and on the 3rd puncture it's in the bin. Never went to tubeless because I couldn't see the benefit... Messy, fiddly, just as heavy, wheels not ridden for a few months a headache to get started again, and most people still kept a spare tube anyway if shit really hit the fan... so why go tubeless?
I used the Ridenow TPU for six months on my climbing bike. Yes they saved about 200g over latex and tubeless which was great. But I found they feel hard and have more pressure in than they actually do. I also noticed heavy cornering performance was not as good due to less sideways grip so descending was slower. Then I double punctured so have gone back to tubeless for now.
Agreed with you. I use Ridenow as well. I first tried to use about 80psi in Ridenow tubes felt like the rear tire was coming off at some sharp turns. So now I’ve gone up to 95psi. Seem better not too hard. 100psi makes the wheel bouncy like shown in the video. And low psi punctures for sure.
You need to lower the pressure. TPU tubes have less resistance against expansion than butylic ones, so it doesn't need to be as high.
2 Ridenow tubes exploded on my bike ! one during an ascent (I'd be on hospital for long if it happens on a descent), another one while I was sitting nearby and drinking a beer (there was no sun!). there are some weaker spots at tube joints which expand/get thinner, especially there are weaker spots close to the valve, on third ridenow tube i can see those spots very thin !!
no probs with Tubolito though.
GREAT INFO...After buying a pair of Schwable tires tubeless with some will argue with Silca tubeless carbon fiber sealantthat did not work out after 300 miles these Schwable tire don't hold a plug at all. So I decided to switch to TPU tubes and patch the tire from the inside. It could be the tire but after this experience never will try the tubeless again.
Thanx for relating your experience 👌
Schwalbe* tires
ordered my first ever Ridenow TPU tubes (4 in total) in Aliexpress today. Can't wait to try them
Thank you for the detailed review.
Excellent addition of the section on environmental impact! All reviews should feature it. Thank you 🙏
Rode tpu for the first time today. I agree the first thing i noticed was the noise (thought it was really bad brake rub at first). I imagine it would interfere with ability to hear cars when going around a corner. Thinking about latex now.
Had mine on for 6 months now, brilliant. I have a small puncture from a thin piece of wire in the front but it leaks so slowly I've been too lazy to fix it just keep adding air every couple of days. The old butyl would require a patch.
Mine came with a repair kit. Got a snake bite on the rear but the patches wouldn't stick , need to find those self adhesive ones.
Great review! I recently bought a TPU tube for the compact size for carrying as a spare tube. I was thinking about replacing my butyl tubes in the tires with TPU tubes to save some weight, but your comments on the increased noise put me off that idea. I like quiet tire noise and reduced pressures to reduce the rattle of the bike.
Might be an issue with carbon rims mostly.
Excellent video!
About to give these TPUs a try. Thanks
I bought 4 Ridenow tubes from Aliexpress I freakin love them.
How are you OZ ? Good to see you again 😊 , you make great informative entertaining videos as always
This video is a game changer for me. I’m going to switch. Thank you!
Quick correction - you CAN use TPU in 3D printing, but the far more common filament type is PLA. TPU is incredibly difficult to print with and some printers (those with bowden-style extruders) can't print with it reliably at all. Aside from the extrusion difficulty, 3d printing often requires supports and TPU supports are nearly impossible to remove because it's so good at fusing to itself and is incredibly durable.
Stop watching this monster’s videos! He was convicted of kidnapping and torturing his neighbor’s dog to death. He is a twisted and evil person.
Thank you for all that Information!
I wonder how safe the material is. Especially at high temperatures due to high mountain descending in combination with rim brakes. That's why I'll probably stay with butyl.
38 g TPU's should be fine, but not the lightest versions.
I bought the same TPU tube you are showing direct from China for under $5.00 US. I have been using Tuffy tire liners in my wheels for years. They greatly reduce punchers but add weight. I would rather have the added weight than getting flats all the time. Living in southern California , there is lots of glass on the roads. The liners do a great job of stopping the glass. But now with the TPU tubes, the liners are not the weight penalty they were. Thanks for your review!
any chance they are knock-offs?
Thanks for the upload Steven! Latex tubes are by far the easiest to repair. You use the same cement as with butyl and alcohol cleaned surfaces. The patches you cut yourself from old inner tubes or latex gloves. It's important to wait the 2-3min after applying cement (to both surfaces) before adding the patch.
Plus they also explode
@@twillyspanksyourcakes anything that contains pressurized air, i.e. pneumatic, could explode
@@ribbyramone Latex are more prone to exploding especially in rim bikes. Tpu and latex both no go for rims.
@@twillyspanksyourcakes nonsense. latex tubes were around even before road disc was out there, especially where rolling resistance matters, i.e. racing. I run only latex tubes on three bikes (12000-15000km a year) and never have I had an explosion. Punctures yes, but there are inevitable in pneumatic systems
@@ribbyramone I guess the countless people who had blownouts on latex tubes on prolonged descents using rims are just imagining them huh? Also your experience alone is what matters in the whole world right? As long as you don't experience it means it's not real? Ok
Thanks, that was refreshing content. Clear and to the point. I just bought 2,but I couldn't find a size that will work in my gravel tires (38 to 45c).
Ridenow makes TPU tube for 700x32-48, weight around 85 grams.
RideNow has 700cc x 47. Or look at the mountain bike tubes. You just have to convert from metric to inches for tube size. So 700cc = 29 inches and 45c = 1.77inches. So you could round up to a 29 x 1.9 inch MTB tube.
Thanks for the awesome, very detailed video. TPU tubes are really getting cheaper and cheaper. I just bought 2 for 4 USD each, which is crazy low.
In terms of riding i couldn't feel much difference, but there are difference of how much pressure you can pump in TPU, its just you cant pump more its like against wall. And if you have some small travel pump, its even harder. There is no more flex or room when TPU is almost full.
Latex for riding and TPU for saddle bag spares.
Agreed. Latex is nice. Seam to puncture much less on latex. Tubulito are so so puncture resistant only
I don't know about you but I'm picky about my tire pressure. That means pumping the tires before any ride regardless which inner tube. For someone like me latex just becomes a few more pumps.
Great video!!! Thank you!!! Clear tpu tubes look interesting :)
Thought about these things a long time ago and decided i couldn't afford them and thought they looked er fragile - before seeing anyone have a poke at 'em with a screwdriver . Cost ? well as you say I've just had a peek online and found x4 @ 16 quid inc patch kit so decided to take a punt. Anyhow cheers for a useful video and have a happy new year.
Very interesting. Thanks 👍🏼
Are you planing to change your MTB tires also to TPU? It would be interesting what you tested at that duty.
Not MTB but probably the gravel bike
I picked up some TPU tubes last month. I have been using the BUTYL lightweight tubes, and have always packed the spares dusted with a little cornstarch to help keep them easy to work with. Are you aware of issues with long term storage of the TPU tubes?
That's a good point, durability, I had some butyl tubes for many, many years without any issue!
It would be good to know about the projected lifespan of TPU to prevent flats and renew spares...
I've ridden the Cyclami TPU tubes for a little over 4000 miles. I love the ride feel over standard butyl tubes. I inflate the night before every ride using a Lezyne screw on floor pump to 110 psi on 25mm GP5000s. My experience is that these tubes drop from 110 psi to 100 psi over 48 hours. They don't seem to be much different that butyl tubes.
I've had two puncture flats over the 4000+ miles. One a goathead and second, a metal staple. In neither case have I been able to fix the small puncture. I used the Cyclami provided alcohol wipe and patch , put the tube back into the tire and inflated. It was completely flat in less than an hour. When I pulled the tube, I could see a path where air lifted the patch away from the tube going from the puncture to the edge of the patch. I was able to simply pull the patch off the tube without any adhesive residue.
I've been in search of a solvent to make the tube tacky for better adhesion. I first tried Testor's model glue, but it didn't stick to the TPU at all. I tested some PVC primer on the TPU wrap that comes around a tube and it appeared to leave the surface tacky and it couldn't be rubbed off. I used the PVC primer on a punctured tube , put a Cyclami self-adhesive patch on, compressed with a heavy weight for 24 hours, inserted the tube into a tire and inflated. Flat again in less than 10 hours.
Is Cyclami's TPU formulation or surface finish different than other brands? Are their patches any good? Has anyone had success patching Cyclami TPU tubes?
I am a TPU convert for about 6months from 2y using tubeless. Some TPU pros vs tubeless from my experience:
no sealant no mess, no topping up, no need for valve removing tool, no special pump needed, no “dry boogy” after a year (living in tropical Indonesia). No need of rotating the wheels if not used for weeks.
I add another puncture resistance by using tubeless specific tires, but I can go lighter with normal clincher if i want to.
Pressure on Schwalbe Pro One TLE 28c seems to hold up just fine.
I use latex. They are sensitive to sharp objects and need blowing up before every ride. But I have successfully patched twice with butyl patches. Still going to try the TPU tubes. Many thanks. I think tubless is best for off road...
I ordered a set a few days ago! (They haven't arrived yet). I have been riding latex for years, and want to give TPU a try.
Latex are must faster than Butyl, I can't wait to see how TPU compares.
Brr have already done the test. Vittoria’s light speed tpu tube is the fastest tpu tube on the market. It’s .1 watt slower than the latex. ride now tubes are very close behind and are far cheaper. What they don’t go into is ride feel
Great presentation: well done ! I am currently riding on latex for cyclocross and light butyl for road. For the timetrial I am using TUFO tubular clinchers. Could you possibly expand on the latter?
Tubular clinchers are a good way to make tyres but the inner tube is very difficult to patch if punctured.
Thanks for the info! It looks like I'll need to revisit TPU tubes again. I tried Tubolito tubes a few years back when they first came out, and I wasn't too impressed. Mainly because of the steep prices, and the ride quality was not as good as butyl (more chatter). However, after seeing your "stretch test" it sure looks like TPU tubes have come a long way in terms of flexibility. Also, if the price is around the same as butyl now, I see no reason >not< to use them as I'm a sucker for saving rotational weight .
Yes , give them a go they work great now.
@@stevenleffanue The only thing that makes me think twice is that I assume not all TPU tubes are created equal. I'm not sure about if certain brands are better than others...
I have bought the cheapest ones and they're still going fine. Buy ones that are plentiful on Aliexpress.
Other question. What happens when you fill a TPU on the side of the road with a CO2 cannister? Will the extreme cold cause problems?
That’s a good question. Hopefully someone can give a answer.
We have done it multiple times and it worked fine but it's not advisable. Thermoplastic goes brittle when very cold so the tube can form cracks and leak air.
@@stevenleffanue Thank you!! I guess it's fine in a pinch to get home, then change out the tube.
I just tried it and it did not go well for me. Flatted in 2 mins. Need to go back to a small bike mounted hand pump!
I still can`t believe how many people say tubeless is messy and hard to setup. Aparently i`ve been lucky with something once in my life, been using tubeless since 2017, and its been a matter of mount the tire, pump it up with a floor pump to seat the bead, fill sealant thru valve, fill to pressure and ride.
Never had any problem.
I have had six pairs of TPU tubes, from Tubolito and more recently from RideNow. They are unbelievably light, and they hold air pressure very well. But I have found that they are extremely prone to punctures, in contrast to the claims made by the manufacturers. I've given up on them because of this. I wonder too if they really benefit rolling resistance because they are not supple.
One year later. I run 36 g RideNow TPU tubes with white valve stems. No further problrms.
It's your tires or you are getting pinch flats from improper installation. I use Corsa next and have never had a puncture. I run over all types of crap. The ridenows have been solid.
suggest your tyres are worn. also generally heavier riders get more flats,
@@kimwarner6050 I know how to install tirres and tubes so that they wont pinch. And these were on almost new 26 mm Pirelli P Zero Road. And i almost never get puctures with those tires and butyl tubes. I run anut 85 psi in front and 89 in back. Make of that what you will. That has been my experience.
@@stuartdryer1352 It's prone because you're a pressure too high. Since TPU has less expansion resistance than butyl ones, you should use less pressure. I don't know the exact number, but around 10 psi less should be fine.
@@hugosantana7253 That could definitely be a problem for some people but that wasn't my issue. What I have found in the meantime is that the earlier generations of TPU tubes had some manufacturing issues between the valve stem and the tube itself. I now run RideNow tubes (the ones with white valve stems, not black ones!!). With 30 mm tires I run them around 65PSI. I haven't had any problems since then and I only run TPU tubes now.
I finally got some TPU tubes and Continental GP5000 tires. Definitely a faster setup than the gravel tires with butyl tubes I had been running. However, after just 2 rides (50 miles) the rear tire popped. Luckily, not in a ride. Bike was sitting in the garage and just suddenly popped. Tried to repair with a patch and it failed as soon as I got up to 70psi. Going to give them another shot. I'm thinking I may have made an error on install.
Thank You
Very interesting information you, our bicycle god, has to offer. Im not into superlight bikes but into sturdy maintenance free ones. I have no punctures at all, although i ride every day. I use so called tire liners. There are a few tricks in order to use them troublefree. You have to put graphite powder into your tire in order to lubricate everything, and you have to use a very sharp knife to make edgy ends of them flat, or make them sharply V shaped instead of edgy U shaped, because thick edges will rub into the tube and cause a flat. But only on one side so the V shape is more like |/ . Because of that you also have to use high tire pressure. The only drawback is that it could be that the carcass of your tire gets damaged over time but it usually holds up until the tread is used up. Also using wax instead of oil or grease on the chain is a big gain of maybe 100 times, and lots of cheap micronised graphite powder will improve it to about 150-200x. I put the same stuff into my tires for lubrication in order to protect the tube from the tireliners.
Urethane tire liners really are better than pvc would be? Not sure about the v shape-u shape advice without a photo, no matter how you cut it there's gonna be an edge to it unless you cover the whole tyre inside.
yes. the important think is that the ends are thin, because if they are thick and have an edge, the edge will work into the tube. if they are thin and have an edge, they dont pose a threat to the tube@@ddg227
I have been using latex tubes for decades. I find them more durable than Butyl. Much more comfortable to ride on and easy to repair. I don't understand why people say latex tubes are hard to repair. Stop trying to repair them with standard butyl repair kits. All you need is a patch cut from an old latex tube and some rubber cement. The patch then conforms to the tube and you have hundreds more miles.
Great reviews. One factor I did not see in your review was how TPU behave when inflate using CO2.
TPU is a plastic. It will go brittle from the extreme cold from a CO2 inflation and will likely shatter.
As a chemical engineer, I recognize the potential flaws. It’s in the name, thermal polyurethane. Thank goodness that I haven’t had to use the CO2 cartridge that I normally carry in my seat bag. I guess I have to get a mini pump as a carry on! Thank you for confirming.
Switched to Tubolito's 5 years ago and never looked back. Can't remember the last time I flatted on a ride.
I am using TPU Pirelli tubes for about 1 week. So far so good. As a spare I have Chinese RideNow because they are even smaller than Pirelli :D
Are there any objective test on the heat resistance of TPU tubes? My only concern is whether they hold up under sustained high temperature caused by rim brakes and long decent. Nonetheless they're great for spare tubes in a minimalist repair kit.
You can't use 24g ones on rim brakes. The 36grams are fine
@@fred7921good to know. I also had the same concern with OP about rim brake and long descent. Perhaps just to be safe, should stop now and then between sections of long descent.
Great video, thanks
I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video. I'm always trying to help save the planet and make smart buying decisions. I wasn't even aware of these TPU tubes, only butyl and latex, and latex tubes just seem like an overpriced, underperforming option, so I never changed. I will be going over to Aliexpress and buying some of these TPU tubes and giving them a try. Thanks again and keep up the great work!
Excellent video, covers all aspects on the subject, thank you for this. My personal experience on using Vittoria TPU tubes on Next 28C tyres has been different though. On the first ride I had both front an rear tyre punctures on snake bites. Pressures were correct, same as using latex tubes. Both tubes were unrepairable, so had to try a second pair of tubes. So far so good ( 3 weeks of riding) but feel like my tyres are underinflated all the time. Seems like the profile is stretched more and the feeling is like floating, in fact as if the tyre is not stable lateraly.. I have to increase the pressure 5psi min to get a stable ride feeling but then I sacrificed the confort and compliance I used to have on latex tubes. As described in the video you feel like riding without tubes and the noise has increased. But overall huge gains on wheel weight and reactivity on accelerations.
It is _almost weird_ how sensitive ride quality & drag are, to side-wall pliability. Seems like each tire style + compound, hugely favors not just a given rider weight + inflation level, but also a specific tube thickness or lack thereof!
Most recently, I've noticed that _not only_ do the 2.8" tubeless-ready Maxxis eMTB tires on our biggest ebike, ride completely different with just ~20°F of temperature change, or ±5 PSI of air, but even switching between _brands_ of tube in the same size & approximate weight, noticeably affects the rolling resistance & ride handling. Especially noteworthy, to me: The low pressure version of _the same tire pattern_ handles _totally different_ & rolls much easier, than the traditional high pressure version of the same tire.
Big fat MTB tires with tall sidewalls, surely make tube-to-sidewall interactions more pronounced, but the somewhat higher pressure required for skinny low volume roadbike wheels, also seems to exacerbate tube feel, in some other regard that I haven't quite figured out yet?
@@prophetzarquon With 28 mm tyres I don't feel much difference between tubes. Also some people complain about TPU noises, but I haven't heard anything. That said I have thick tyres, Cinturato velo so that might be the explanation.
It also depends a lot on the road itself... on asphalt with a flat and smooth surface, higher pressure is more efficient, while the same asphalt with some bumps and gravel would make a lower pressure faster... of course the opposite is better for rough terrain, where tubeless and wide tyres allow lower pressures.
TPU is more rigid than butyl, it might make these tyres more appropriate for road, although their surface is smoother so it might create less friction on trails, too?
@@DR_1_1 Theoretically, the tube should be stretching _with_ the sidewall, not moving relative to it... but maybe? 🤔 Also: Holy smokes 28mm! 2.8 _inch_ is what I've been riding around town. I can't imagine feeling anything but road texture, on 28mm 😜
@@prophetzarquon I'd guess latex tubes might move/stretch together WITH the (sidewall) tyre, but TPU is more rigid, so it may not follow all deformations of the tube... and butyl somewhere between those two? As you said some tyres have rigid sidewalls - and are less comfortable I suppose....
2.8 inches would be for MTB, single track, descents, or a fat bike! but if you ride a big e-bike, 25+ kilos, 45 km/h, etc. I can understand that you need fatter tyres. I'm riding a CX bike, it came stock with 32mm cross tyres, and on the road 28 mm is fine, I used to ride 25 mm with higher pressure on my old road bike, so 28 mm is already comfy for now.
I wouldn't have enough power to ride 2.8 inches, or much slower, and I'm already slow... maybe in a few years, with some "nuclear" help!
@@DR_1_1 I ride 2.75" up front & 2.25" or 2.5" rear, even in the city; for traction & float (lots of sand pits around here) but also for comfort.
Weirdly (I did _not_ expect this), stiffer sidewalls make for a _softer_ ride, by allowing the tire to take the same weight at lower pressure. I thought tires made for low pressure would coast _less_ but boy was I wrong! The exact same tread patterns, roll _easier_ with modern suspension-bridge like sidewalls...
I'm _excessively_ tall, so as soon as I get on a bike, all the pressures need to be near max or things get busted fast; narrow tires have never been a good option for me, because higher volume supports the same weight at lower pressure. For that reason, I coast as far on my 29er MTB as I do on my friend's carbon road bike.
Tire tech is weird. It's no wonder investors keep falling for "airless" tire schemes.
Finding exactly the right fit, is probably part of why so much disagreement about what's "best" happens. The wrong size bike is a _miserable_ experience, on a long ride...
Good review! Thank you!
I bought five tubes off Ebay, unbranded and implore your viewers to buy branded ones. A number of the tubes leaked at the valve and needed re glueing with supaglue to stop leaks. I've had the odd puncture and the self adhesive patches fixed the leaks. However the big problem was a blow out where the tube failed instantly and took the tyre off the rim. Thankfully I held the bike until coming to a stop. The Tpu tube had only done around 250 miles up to the blow out. I'll just use the others as emergency spares and will try a Ridenow tube to see if it's more reliable.
Sorry you had such a negative experience.You might like to consult with the Ebay seller for compensation or at least advise them as to the fault.Tyre blowouts however are not caused by the tube but by the tyre either damaged or ill-fitting.
@@stevenleffanue I have contacted the seller, due to the dangerous nature of the tube. The tube was the weak link as a butyl tube runs fine with the same setup and pressure. Just glad I wasn't doing 50kph as I'd likely be recovering in A&E.
the ridnow ones cost about 5 euros/dollars off aliexpress when you buy in 4s. I have had one puncture but looking at the damage it would have punctured a traditional innertube too.
Wonderful video very educatìonal👍By any chance it is also the same chemical they use for those clear water bottle?👍✌️
I bought 4 x TPU tubes on eBay for < $8 AUD delivered and they arrived in about 10 days. Not on the bike yet. I haven't seen any discussion of reduced rotational inertia - I would have thought it would be an important factor?
Heavier tubes and tyres prolly help you go down hill faster and more stable.
@@stevenleffanue hehe, with my figure, the important factor on downhills is braking performance! I was thinking it should be easier to accelerate with lower rotational inertia, but I haven't been able to feel any difference. Already had my first flat though - think it might have been due to a kink/fold in my very stiff rim tape.
Great information, appreciate the time you took to do that video. I was a bit hesitant to try TPU mostly due to price. But I have a question, will the patches hold forever? or does it just hold long enough to get home then you have to replace the tube? The answer to those questions will make me slide toward or away from TPU, thanks again.
Patches are permanent just like on butyl tubes.
Love your channel !!!