Latex Tubes

[Elvis]

I've come across these inner tubes. The people at Michelin claim it will make a big difference. They say they are more puncture resistant, weigh less and have better rolling. Anyone running them? Is there a big difference?

 

jpghttp://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/20486.jpg

[EigerSA]

Where did you find them?

 

 

[jmaccelari]

Here's some nice info from Schwalbe:

 

http://www.schwalbetires.com/tech_info/tire_tube

 

My interpretation is that latex is more puncture resistant, but

is a pain in the arse to use regularly...

 

As for the rolling, I'll keep out of that one!

 

[EigerSA]

So the latex tubes have actually been discontinued (according to the web-site)? So whoever selling them should perhaps mention that little fact.

 

 

 

jmac... why? I thought you and jb were doing a fine job, kept me entertained for ages

[jmaccelari]

 

So the latex tubes have actually been discontinued (according to the web-site)? So whoever selling them should perhaps mention that little fact.

Schwalbe have discontinued them. Michelin are still making them. I

suppose if you are looking for something to make your tyres more

puncture resistant they might be worthwhile' date=' but there are other options

(tubeless, slime tubes, ...) which might be "better".

 

jmac... why? I thought you and jb were doing a fine job, kept me entertained for ages

I can't answer "why" here - it's not something I can profess to have

any knowledge or expertise of. I can only give my opinion and for me it

looks like latex tubes aren't worth the benefit (they're probably also quite

expensive?)...

 

I suppose if you have a sub-6kg racing bike and are looking for

somewhere to shave a couple more grams (and it's in the best place for

energy saving - right on the extremity of a rotating mass) then they

could be a good option!

 

But I reckon they'd be a waste on my training bike. I'd rather buy some

good Conti Gatorskins.

 

The "other" thread has been really interesting, I must admit!

 

It would be interesting for someone to get a couple and try them out.

 

[bruce]

I use them on my TT bike.  I have a HED disc clincher.  Latex tubes provide lower rolling resistance than butyl tubes because they return more of the energy absorbed from the road surface (hysteresis).

 

Not sure about puncture resistance and weight - for TT application the primary issue is rolling resistance.

 

[Johan Bornman]

Latex tubes do have a role to play in cycling.

 

They are lighter than butyl tubes because they can be made thinner. Condoms and surgical gloves are made from latex (or vinyl for the pedants waiting for me to omit something) are a fine example of how thin they can be made.

 

Because they are thinner, they have less internal frictional losses (called histeresis, if you care) when rolling or bouncing and they therefore have less rollling resistance. The rolling resistance of a wheel, if we exclude aerodynamics,  is a combination of bearing drag and histeresis. The latter should be viewed as a combo of the tyre and tube.

 

 

Edit: Inadvertently repeated Bruce

 

All these benefits come at a price. Financial and....air loss. You have to pump them every single morning because they loose so much air - especially if you keep them very hard.

 

As for puncture resistance, that's an old-wive's tale. Puncture resistance in rubber and latex is simply a function of the thickness of the tyre and tube. It should be obvious that a small piece of glass will only go halfway through a tyre whereas a larger piece will go all the way through. That same small piece of glass will go right through a thinner tyre (and tube) though.

 

Latex tubes are generally thinner than butyl tubes by definition, and are therefore less puncture resistant.

 

Edit: Sorry Bruce, I didn't mean to repeat what you said. I only read the entire thread after posting.

 

 

Johan Bornman2010-01-10 08:20:43

[bruce]

Edit: Sorry Bruce' date=' I didn't mean to repeat what you said. I only read the entire thread after posting.

 

[/quote']

 

No problem from my side, my posting was a touch verbose

[droo]

Also, if you puncture them you throw them away - they can't be fixed. And they make an awesome explosion if you've got a tiny hole in your sidewall

[Monre]

I have been looking for a pair of these for a while.Where can get them,apart from importing from eg CRC.