TPU Tubes

[Peruvian]

I'm a little surprised how there has not been much discussion about these tubes. They seem like the newest 'tech' in tires. Besides Tubilito, Aerothan (Schwalbe), Vittoria, and Pirelli there seems to be a slew of new, cheap, Chinese brands that sell for a fraction of the price and have the same mixed reviews (RideNow, Cyclami).

Who has experience with actually using them (not just carrying a spare in your pocket or pack)?

[GeorgiaSnow]

I had a tublito I carried for a year. By the time I needed it I pulled it out to discover it had a cut in it. They seem more fragile outside of the tire so careful how you store them. I’ve flatted with one once but it was a pretty gnarly piece of steel wire that would have taken anything out. Have had one in my front wheel on my road bike without problems for about 500 miles now. I’ve only bought the thicker tublitos, which are still stupid light. Can’t imagine the lighter ones are worth fussing with.


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[Roxtar]

Is the 100 gram savings in your pack really worth the $25 premium over a regular tube?
I mean, you can save 100 grams by choosing a different multi tool, leaving two keys in your truck, or taking 4 oz less water.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

If you store a spare tube in your pack, I can't really see TPU making sense. But carry them in a jersey pocket, saddle bag, in-frame storage, etc., and IMO, their small size becomes a bigger selling point than weight.

[goldenboy]

Is the 100 gram savings in your pack really worth the $25 premium over a regular tube?
I mean, you can save 100 grams by choosing a different multi tool, leaving two keys in your truck, or taking 4 oz less water.

As noted above, it's the size more than the weight. A regular tube is 4X the size of a tubolito. Since I rarely ride with a pack anymore, the space savings made all the difference.

[Benneke10]

I've used Tubolito and Cyclami, quality seems similar. Cyclami are like $3 on aliexpress with free shipping, no brainer. I only ride tubeless but they are really nice to have in the repair kit. They do require more attention when installing compared to butyl tubes, you have to inflate them a little more before installing them and take care to make sure they don't get twisted.

[Dumbest Known Time]

This could easily be cross posted in the ask an idiot thread but the only time I’ve put one in a tire it flatted again in minutes. It had been so long since I had put a tube in I completely spaced on the whole step where you pull all the sharp shit out of your tires first. After a year of southern Arizona riding, there was a lot of sharp shit in the tires. So idiot tip, look before you install.

If this post came as a wake up call for you, please also remember to wipe after you poop and not before.

[Peruvian]

This could easily be cross posted in the ask an idiot thread but the only time I’ve put one in a tire it flatted again in minutes. It had been so long since I had put a tube in I completely spaced on the whole step where you pull all the sharp shit out of your tires first. After a year of southern Arizona riding, there was a lot of sharp shit in the tires. So idiot tip, look before you install.

If this post came as a wake up call for you, please also remember to wipe after you poop and not before.

Name checks out.

[XXX-er]

This could easily be cross posted in the ask an idiot thread but the only time I’ve put one in a tire it flatted again in minutes. It had been so long since I had put a tube in I completely spaced on the whole step where you pull all the sharp shit out of your tires first. After a year of southern Arizona riding, there was a lot of sharp shit in the tires. So idiot tip, look before you install.

If this post came as a wake up call for you, please also remember to wipe after you poop and not before.

also why its a good thing to instal the tire with the logo at the valve stem,

so if the tire flats again you know where the tire was on the rim

and therefore where the tube was in the tire

so you can pinpoint sharp things sticking in the tire casing

Some wankers think its^^is being overly anal but there is a real reason

and on that subject you can retro fit a bidet for 67 $ on Amazon

[jhyatt]

.

If this post came as a wake up call for you, please also remember to wipe after you poop and not before.

Wait what?

[Peruvian]

I've used Tubolito and Cyclami, quality seems similar. Cyclami are like $3 on aliexpress with free shipping, no brainer. I only ride tubeless but they are really nice to have in the repair kit. They do require more attention when installing compared to butyl tubes, you have to inflate them a little more before installing them and take care to make sure they don't get twisted.

I just ordered a few of those Cyclami tubes for $6/each. I figure the alloy threaded stem would be a better option. I guess we will see.

[GeorgiaSnow]

If you store a spare tube in your pack, I can't really see TPU making sense. But carry them in a jersey pocket, saddle bag, in-frame storage, etc., and IMO, their small size becomes a bigger selling point than weight.

Yeah, tublito I was referencing was Jersey pocket road tube. I think in all the taking it in and out if a pocket, jostling, throwing other stuff in the pocket, etc. it got cut. Still think it’s great for that because if the size but be careful. Hopefully the one in my in frame storage bag is fine because everything in there is so tight and rarely used. I probably should check it though.

I did have a sliced tire at Trestle this summer and, though I had said in frame bag with me, I bummed a typical tube from a buddy. Wasn’t messing around with lighter in that moment.


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[nickwm21]

Add me to the list of people who carried a tubalito for a year before actually having to use it only to have it fail…


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[summit]

Most bike components are about $1 per gram saved, so 4g per dollar is a good deal for weight weenies. But yea, size is what the bigger gain is... if it works

Add me to the list of people who carried a tubalito for a year before actually having to use it only to have it fail…


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Me too

[bagtagley]

No personal experience, but know a couple people that have had to use one and it had a hole or failed quickly.

I've carried roadie tubes for a while. Same idea, small and lightweight, but never had an issue when putting them to use and they can be patched. Definitely an emergency fix, not something you want to use other than to get you rolling.

[Benneke10]

How did the Tubolitos fail? In many ways they seem more durable than Butyl tubes.

[GeorgiaSnow]

I think they might be just as durable once properly installed. But loose and hanging out in a pack or pack I would say mine and others experience seems to be they are easier to cut or puncture.


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[nickwm21]

Mine failed at where the valve stem meets the tube body. 1/4mile down a rough trail after install.


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[nickwm21]

As noted above, it's the size more than the weight. A regular tube is 4X the size of a tubolito. Since I rarely ride with a pack anymore, the space savings made all the difference.

This. A standard butyl 2.4 29er tube is massive bundled up. I’d pay the $35 for a smaller profile spare tube that works.


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[plugboots]

I have twice used a tubolito on the trail and they worked perfectly and are back in their appropriate saddle bags.
I would like one in 27.5 X 4.5 or whatever for my fat bike, but last I looked it didn’t exist.

[singlesline]

Has anyone tried storing the TPU tube inside some sort of pouch and still had it damaged/leaking when you eventually had to use it?

I'm thinking like a small child's sock, or vacuum sealer bag (use the heat-seal to custom-size a little bag that just fits your rolled up tube and then put a piece of tape around the stem to keep debris out). Seems like that should protect it well enough.

And how stretchy are they? With butyl tubes you can get away with running a too-small tube in a big tire.

[summit]

Mine was in a ziploc baggie that didn't have apparent damage, and strapped under the top tube with a velcro strap along with a tire lever and CO2. I'm wondering if a year of vibrations + tight velcro caused the valve to rub where it was sealed into the tube?

[plugboots]

Mine was in a ziploc baggie that didn't have apparent damage, and strapped under the top tube with a velcro strap along with a tire lever and CO2. I'm wondering if a year of vibrations + tight velcro caused the valve to rub where it was sealed into the tube?

Dirt acts like repetitively sandpapering the thing. So maybe some got inside the ziplock. BTW I’ve had a couple regular old fat, thick, black tubes fail in my saddle bags over the years. It makes sense that a thinner tube would suffer more easily. So what? I keep mine in the original thicker ziplock it came in. They work perfectly for what they are.

[El Chupacabra]

The best bags I've found for holding a spare tube are the plastic ziplock type ones that Quaker granola breakfast cereal comes in, at Costco. Cut off the top to shorten the bag to a suitable size. They're really sturdy. I've never had anything rub a hole through one.

[frorider]

Long term Tubolito user here on 2 bikes. Have installed them several times, no issues, but I am careful to roll and store them in a way that minimizes stress on the stem / tube junction.

Interested to hear if those cheaper options work.