TPU inner tubes

[super_davo]

Ok - so for the first time ever…..I’m turning into a weight-weenie with my new wheels I’m having built. And of course Tubes comes into that. I’ve currently got some Cyclami in my basket (Just waiting on the valve length I’m going to need from the wheel supplying shop);

But why the insistence (from many) on getting with metal valve body ? *To be fair I’ve never do much as seen one - so don’t know what any others are made of !

**Not bothered over a few g’s. Just genuinely interested on the ‘why’…..

A few reasons...
* The plastic valves are smaller so they can rattle about in your wheel.
* They are more fragile so possible to break if going crazy with a direct connection mini pump.
* They can warp / melt if using an electric pump where the head gets hot.

I think all are possible to mitigate to some extent but now metal valve versions exist and only weigh a couple of grams more, why would you want to have to.

 

[sevenfourate]

A few reasons...
* The plastic valves are smaller so they can rattle about in your wheel.
* They are more fragile so possible to break if going crazy with a direct connection mini pump.
* They can warp / melt if using an electric pump where the head gets hot.

I think all are possible to mitigate to some extent but now metal valve versions exist and only weigh a couple of grams more, why would you want to have to.

Awesome. I guessed at security / sizing / stoutness compared to weakness of plastic type. I also considered valve workings sealing better in the metal body version (?). Hadn’t considered heat when inflating though !

But pretty much as I imagined - for the extra quality / strength / assurance - it’s not the place to skimp on a thimble full of grams 😁

Thanks for your education 👍

 

[VinSumRox]

I've used Tubolito ones for road sized tyres and Schwalbe ones for the bigger ones , mainly because I got the ones that were on best offer at the time.
I tried Ride Now ones but I found them too thin and easily damaged.
I patch them with the glue from a Tubolito repair kit, using the supplied patches or ones cut from an old TPU tube. As they are so small I carry 2 spares in my seat pack rather than 1 butyl one.

 

[sevenfourate]

I've used Tubolito ones for road sized tyres and Schwalbe ones for the bigger ones , mainly because I got the ones that were on best offer at the time.
I tried Ride Now ones but I found them too thin and easily damaged.
I patch them with the glue from a Tubolito repair kit, using the supplied patches or ones cut from an old TPU tube. As they are so small I carry 2 spares in my seat pack rather than 1 butyl one.

Thankyou ! These get decent reviews. And my LBS agrees. I think buying a few at a time - the metal valved versions come down to not much more than £3 a piece.

I’m not sure how much of time I’ll allocate to repairs at £3 replacement cost……

 

[VinSumRox]

Thankyou ! These get decent reviews. And my LBS agrees. I think buying a few at a time - the metal valved versions come down to not much more than £3 a piece.

I’m not sure how much of time I’ll allocate to repairs at £3 replacement cost……

View attachment 808800

Not seen those ones before, report back on what they are like!

 

[sevenfourate]

Not seen those ones before, report back on what they are like!

Will do. They are everywhere on eBay, Temu, Ali Express etc. Knowing nothing about them I asked my LBS today by sending them the same picture - and got the reply “We’ve used these - perfect”. No need to spend ££££££.

As ever……we’ll see 😉

 

[derrick]

been using them for a year or so, no problems at all. can't remember my last puncture.

 

[sevenfourate]

been using them for a year or so, no problems at all. can't remember my last puncture.

That’s great hear !

How often / how far do you cycle on the bike with TPU tubes ? Do you have plastic or metal valve bodies on yours ?

 

[derrick]

That’s great hear !

How often / how far do you cycle on the bike with TPU tubes ? Do you have plastic or metal valve bodies on yours ?

40 miles probably biggest ride i do now, was riding a couple of times a week with them, a year ago. now about once a month. metal valves.

 

[Webbo2]

That’s great hear !

How often / how far do you cycle on the bike with TPU tubes ? Do you have plastic or metal valve bodies on yours ?

I have one of those tubes in the front wheel of one of my bikes, it’s been in there over 2 years not sure what the valve is made of though. It’s done a few 60 to 80 mile rides.

 

[Webbo2]

Just been out to check and it’s a metal threaded valve. I did have one in the rear tyre but that punctured and spare tube was butyl one and I’ve never got round to putting one of the other TPU tubes I bought.
I bought 4 from Temu and at the time the more you bought the cheaper they were but as I never used them before I didn’t want to spend too much in case they never arrived. I think they took a few weeks to arrive.