Inner tubes-are they all the same quality?

[Spiderweb]

I’ve always found Michelin & Specialized tubes to be good. Planet X not so good.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I just stock up on Halfords own when they're on offer (5 for £10, etc), not had a problem so far.

Snap.

 

[Gravity Aided]

I've found all brand inner tubes to be all right, but those off-brand ones have varying quality control. I like the Goodyear and Michelin.

 

[Ajax Bay]

maybe there are different quality tubes

I thought I'd list the points made by posters above (about butyl inners of the correct specification for the tyre), regarding factors to consider:
Apparently slightly thicker
Cores which don't come loose
Cheaper
"Ones [valves that] don't hiss at all when being inflated"
Design/manufacture of the rubber on the valve shoulder - liability
Well-respected brand (inferred quality control)
Seams which make patching more work (and enhanced risk of patch failure)
Smooth (as opposed to threaded) valve stems
"Avoid any described as lightweight"
Any other factors to consider that are not listed
Apologies for not noting on this post all the attributions.
I think it is good practice to inflate an inner tube you buy and leave it overnight, and then repack it (acknowledging that it's a pain) - and @Globalti and @youngoldbloke have given sound ways of doing this.

 

[mjr]

So not a design flaw at all, just a case of tightening them up. Major issue if you’re unaware and caught out in the road.

Not major: just use your adjustable spanner to tighten it up, or even some multi tool spoke keys will.

 

[bonzobanana]

There’s no way in the world that Poundland are selling you 50 cent tubes. No question that they’re 20 cent versions or even cheaper.

Their inner tubes are probably the same that are used for the value range of inner tubes you get at big retailers. Companies like Decathlon, Halfords etc operate on a far higher margin for their accessories than poundland. So their £2 value inner tubes are pretty much the same I would guess. The important thing is poundland inner tubes do seem to work well enough. People aren't complaining about how bad they are. The main problem is they fly off the shelves and there is a limited range. Often they only seem to have 24" tubes that few people want and other sizes like 26" and 20" disappear quickly. I don't think I've seen any others outside those sizes. I've been happy with the 26" and 20" tubes anyway.

 

[bpsmith]

Not major: just use your adjustable spanner to tighten it up, or even some multi tool spoke keys will.

I have a valve tool myself, which goes in my bag. What I meant was that it would be a major issue if it flew off, like suggested above, whilst you were out on the road.

 

[bpsmith]

Their inner tubes are probably the same that are used for the value range of inner tubes you get at big retailers. Companies like Decathlon, Halfords etc operate on a far higher margin for their accessories than poundland. So their £2 value inner tubes are pretty much the same I would guess. The important thing is poundland inner tubes do seem to work well enough. People aren't complaining about how bad they are. The main problem is they fly off the shelves and there is a limited range. Often they only seem to have 24" tubes that few people want and other sizes like 26" and 20" disappear quickly. I don't think I've seen any others outside those sizes. I've been happy with the 26" and 20" tubes anyway.

You could be right. I doubt anyone would actually complain if a tube wasn’t great though, considering it cost them a quid.

I am happy with my Continental Race 28’s, which can be had for £11.50 if you buy 5.

 

[vickster]

Just avoid tubes from Wilkinsons, I found them rubbish which split as soon as air was added. Not even that cheap

 

[Ajax Bay]

And beware the cheap inners that Lidl sometimes have on the shelves (mostly 26" and 24"). When you need them, my experience is that they've split on the tight fold (having been stored as sold, rolled in the box, and out of sunlight).

 

[jefmcg]

Avoid continental with their flying valve cores!

There have been a couple of bad batches sent out with loose cores. Easily fixed once you realise but extremely annoying until then.

No, we had a different problem (I was "helping" @vickster).

So, usual faff: replaced tube, screw on lezyne pump and pump up, unscrew and valve unscrews - oh no. Screw it back in, tighten with tiny spanner - that's always been all that was required when this happened to me before. Repeat. Valve unscrews again. So far, so annoying. Tighten it again. Swap to my Topeak pump, which pushes on, so there is no way we can unscrew it again. Pump it up, remove the pump with a slight tug, and the valve - which was screwed in tightly - flies out like a bullet and lands several feet away. At that point I retrieved a Michelin tube from my bag.

 

[bpsmith]

I can totally understand why that would be annoying!

 

[vickster]

I can totally understand why that would be annoying!

And it's happened on every Continental tube I've had the misfortune to use. I bought maybe half a dozen a few years ago, fortunately they are all now knackered in this way (I hope)

 

[bpsmith]

And it's happened on every Continental tube I've had the misfortune to use. I bought maybe half a dozen a few years ago, fortunately they are all now knackered in this way (I hope)

I use a push on track pump and never had this issue at all, hence the questions.

Amazing how your experiences are vastly different to mine.

 

[vickster]

Who knows, the were cores coming out simply while unscrewing the valve caps, not even time to push on the track pump! @jefmcg has relayed about the only time it happened in the wild!
I won't buy another continental tube. I don't think I'm alone in this, maybe you're just lucky!