Tubes

[Andy_G]

Ive always used Specialized tubes because a friend recommended them ages ago, there ok but can anyone recommend another decent make.
Ill be using them for racing and commuting.

Thx

 

[ianrauk]

They are as good as any.
Halfords, Continental, Vittoria, Spesh, all much the muchness.

 

[VamP]

Vittoria latex. Removable valve core, faster rolling and puncture resistant.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Specialized tubes are great imho, for racing and commuting I would personally still use them.
For wheels which are being used exclusively for racing, I would use latex tubes such as Vittoria.

Latex tubes loose air pressure faster than butyl tubes as latex is porous, having to check you tyre pressure before every commute is not ideal for some

 

[screenman]

MTB or Road? None for MTB and Conti for the road, but only because I was given some. Must admit I cannot tell the difference once the tube is in the tyre and rolling between them, latex included.

 

[young Ed]

the tyres are way more important IMHO gator skins are good for tyres but only if you got the dosh
Cheers Ed

 

[Andy_G]

I've bought a pair of wheels for commuting and my bontrager ones I'm using for racing.
I'll have a look at the Vittoria ones but out of curiosity why use latex ones for racing are the lighter. ?

 

[screenman]

the tyres are way more important IMHO gator skins are good for tyres but only if you got the dosh
Cheers Ed

What are you comparing them with.

 

[young Ed]

What are you comparing them with.

all i'm saying is they are good tyres and i highly regarded by many
Cheers Ed

 

[screenman]

all i'm saying is they are good tyres and i highly regarded by many
Cheers Ed

So you have no personal experience of them.

 

[young Ed]

So you have no personal experience of them.

no personal experience i do admit but hearing from many many many reviews and comments they are good and not hearing many bad ones
so i drew to the view that they are decent from that
Cheers Ed

 

[screenman]

I use Gators and they seem to work well. Without trying every other tyre I would not offer an opinion on if they are better or not. Price wise I find them good value.

 

[fossyant]

Latex are great for your best bike so long as you have good tyres as well.

Most major tubes are fine.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I've bought a pair of wheels for commuting and my bontrager ones I'm using for racing.
I'll have a look at the Vittoria ones but out of curiosity why use latex ones for racing are the lighter. ?

BUTYL INNER TUBES
The vast majority of inner tubes sold for bicycling purposes are made from butyl rubber (full name “polyisobutylene”). This material is a synthetic rubber and is the most popular material type due to a combination of properties that tend to be the best overall compromise for training, racing, and overall general use. Butyl tubes are generally molded and vulcanized in a single piece construction that eliminates joining seams.

Pros
* Inexpensive
* Good air pressure retention – low air diffusion over time
* Durable

Cons
* Relatively inelastic – higher losses from flexing
* More susceptible to “pinch” type (i.e. “snakebite”) flats


LATEX INNER TUBES
A more specialized tube material that's typically used in “high performance” tubular tire models and is available for use in clincher tires is a form of natural rubber known as latex. This highly elastic rubber material is the same type of material as is used in common party balloons and some types of surgical gloves. The main advantageous feature of this material is it's elasticity, or it's ability to be stretched, or deflected by large amounts and then return to it's unloaded state with very little hysteresis, or energy losses, due to the deflection. Because of this property, the use of latex tubes in a bicycle tire tends to give the combination of tire and tube a lower overall rolling resistance as compared to the same tire with a butyl tube. Depending on the tire, the rolling resistance can be lowered by as much as 10-15%. This can result in a power savings of ~5W for a typical rider, which is not an insignificant amount. For example, over an Ironman distance bike leg (180 km) this would result in a time savings of ~1-1/2 minutes.

Pros
* Highly elastic – low energy losses from deflection
* Good resistance to flats from impacts (“snakebite” flats)

Cons
* Relatively expensive – typically 2X-3X the cost of butyl
* Higher air diffusion – need to check pressures more often
* More sensitive to installation technique for clinchers

Due to their higher cost and relative sensitivity to installation technique and rim tape condition, latex tubes are typically reserved for “race wheel” use.


HTH

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

To maximize results from a latex tube you have to match it with a tyre that has a low rolling resistance itself. Gators may be decent wearing and sturdy construction but they do not have a particularly good rolling resistance, they are not fast tyres imho as such Latex tubes would be wasted in them.
Get a fast tyre before a Latex tube imho