| There is no rocket science to buying bicycle tubes, but | | | | tire. In fact some tires like the Slime Self-Sealing Tube |
| if you're the type that loves off-road riding or cruising | | | | come with a tire sealant already inside. The |
| 20 miles outside of town you may want to buy with a | | | | compressed air inside the tube drives the sealant |
| few extra features. Of course maybe your real | | | | through small puncture wounds and seals the hole on |
| passion in life is changing a tire in the mud hole on the | | | | contact with the outside air. You'll never know you |
| side of the highway or pushing your bike back to town. | | | | ever had a puncture. It can be added afterwards to |
| What features might keeps you riding? Here's a list. | | | | some tubes but it depends on the type of tube stem. |
| Size of Bicycle Tube: If weight is not a big issue, buying | | | | Presta valves are usually a no-no as the sealant clogs |
| a tire that is wider then you will need gives more | | | | the valve. |
| puncture protection. If the tube is not inflated to its | | | | Tire Liners: You can add a thin strip of Kevlar or plastic |
| maximum capacity the rubber wall thickness will be | | | | between the tire and tube to offer an extra layer of |
| greater than normal and thus less prone to damage. | | | | protection, but they can be a pain to get in place when |
| Material Used: The most common bicycle tube is | | | | changing your tube, so I'd prefer to use a tire sealant |
| typically made of butyl rubber, a synthetic version of | | | | or heavy walled tube to start with. |
| the real thing. It is much less expensive but not as | | | | Types of Bike Tire Tube Stems: There are typically |
| flexible, thus more prone to pinch flats. It holds its air | | | | two choices of tube stems, the Schraeder valve and |
| well and rarely requires refilling and easy to purchase in | | | | the Presta valve. The Schraeder valve is the old |
| any and all of the local bike shops and hardware | | | | fashion design you are familiar with on your car tire. It |
| stores. Butyl tubes typically weigh 100 to 150 grams. | | | | is readily available, can be filled up with the standard |
| There are some specialty ones as well. Some | | | | gas station pump, and always has a valve stem that |
| manufacturers make a thick-walled version with a | | | | can be removed if you wish to add tire sealant. |
| significantly thicker rubber layer on the tread side to | | | | Presta valves are newer; more aerodynamically |
| resist glass and thorn damage. Other tubes are made | | | | designed and require smaller port holes in the bike rim. |
| with more sophisticated technology to shave 10 or 20 | | | | This is particularly important to the road rim |
| grams off the weight. | | | | manufacturer. The road rim is so thin that the port hole |
| You'll pay twice the price for a natural latex rubber | | | | can affect significantly the rigidity of the rim, creating a |
| bicycle tube but with its greater elasticity it will last | | | | weak spot where the valve penetrates the rim. The |
| longer. Natural rubber is more resistant to punctures | | | | smaller the valve the smaller the hole. Thus presta |
| and pinch flats. As an added bonus it weights | | | | valve rule here! They do have other advantages as |
| significantly less giving you greater peddle efficiency. | | | | well, but also do have their own problems. Nothing is |
| Some, like the Michelin bicycle tube weighs as little as | | | | ever a clean win! |
| 65 grams when using natural latex. As with everything | | | | Visit for a more complete discussion of the pro's and |
| it has its down side. Natural rubber is somewhat more | | | | con's of the various types of bike tire tube stems and |
| porous than butyl, thus tends to lose air pressure over | | | | bicycle tubes in general, or for that matter anything in |
| time. Be sure to bring a pump for top ups! | | | | connection with bicycle riding. |
| Tire Sealant: Additives are available to inject into your | | | | |