Any long term TPU tube users on here

[AlanW]

With Ali Express selling TPU tubes at much more reasonable price that the Tubilito or the Pirelli ones, I keep thinking that perhaps I should give them a try?

Has anyone got any long-term experience using them?

 

[AlanW]

Was that a piece of tumble weed that blew past the thread......

 

[fossyant]

The answer is probably 'No' !

 

[AlanW]

The answer is probably 'No' !

I think you might be right which really does surprise me to be honest. I could understand it the Tubilito prices, but now they are down to a more realistic price and given the decent reviews that they get, I assumed that more people would have tried them.

I've just ordered a couple from Ali Express, as I'm really curious to understand how they feel. But if nothing else they do pack down really small, so ideal to carry as spares.

 

[vickster]

What's a TBU (TPU?) tube?

 

[wonderloaf]

I've also seen these on Aliexpress, would be interested to hear how you get on with them!
Tracevelo did a quick review of them on his Youtube channel, go to 3:20min to hear his comments:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pKEIp05koE&t=322s

 

[AlanW]

What's a TBU (TPU?) tube?

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/specials/tpu-inner-tubes

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/butyl-v-latex-v-tpu-inner-tubes-which-should-you-choose-295645

 

[vickster]

https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/specials/tpu-inner-tubes

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/butyl-v-latex-v-tpu-inner-tubes-which-should-you-choose-295645

Ah I don't race so of no great interest

 

[AlanW]

Ah I don't race so of no great interest

Neither do I, but it's always good to keep abreast of modern technology

 

[AlanW]

I've also seen these on Aliexpress, would be interested to hear how you get on with them!
Tracevelo did a quick review of them on his Youtube channel, go to 3:20min to hear his comments:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pKEIp05koE&t=322s

Yes, I watched that the other week that only served to make me more curious

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I think you might be right which really does surprise me to be honest

Punctures are pretty rare, and patching old school tubes is cheap and effective. I suppose if you run tubeless then the smaller TPU as backup might make more sense.

 

[vickster]

Neither do I, but it's always good to keep abreast of modern technology

It's an inner tube

 

[DogmaStu]

I tried Tubilito tubes on my Trek for awhile. Very light, can drop 100g per wheel but they puncture easily and while they can be repaired, I've never had one take to it very well.

If you want to use them on a race bike to drop some extra weight, fine, but for general riding, no.

I've long since gone tubeless and not going back to tubes.

Edit to add: I wouldn't use them as a backup for tubeless, personally, because TPU are very thin and need to be installed just right - not nice if you have sealant gunk to deal with on the road.

 

[wafter]

I tried Tubilito tubes on my Trek for awhile. Very light, can drop 100g per wheel but they puncture easily and while they can be repaired, I've never had one take to it very well.

If you want to use them on a race bike to drop some extra weight, fine, but for general riding, no.

I'm long since gone tubeless and not going back to tubes.

That's interesting - heard one of the benefits was improved puncture resistance over butyl... this drew me to the idea, but I'm put off by permeability and patching issues. If they're no better than a standard tube for puncture resistance that makes for an easy decision!

 

[AlanW]

That's interesting - heard one of the benefits was improved puncture resistance over butyl... this drew me to the idea, but I'm put off by permeability and patching issues. If they're no better than a standard tube for puncture resistance that makes for an easy decision!

That's what I thought as well?