Been using Vredestein over velopugs and had failure at the junction after 6 months.
Used Challenge before - they loose air fast. Inflate brand new latex innertube a little
and if you see irregularities, like one portion is larger, those are thinner places and
will not hold air well. Choose the most consistent innertube, use a lot of real talcum
powder (most of baby powders is @$#% corn starch now). Use packing tape to cover
anything inside the rim that will chew up latex and you will be rewarded with nice feel
that butyl will never give you.

Hi,



I doubt you'd notice any difference between a latex and butyl inner tube with that type of tyre (except in you pocket that is).

Besides that, neither Michelin's or Vittoria's are particurlarly light. Both are of the pigmented type which isn't all that great either.
If you just want to save weight go Vredestein and use an aluminium extender if you need one. They're much lighter than a long stem valve anyhow and when mounted correctly they do not leak at all.

Ciao,

_________________
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

+1

_________________
Wilier Cento Uno
Colnago Master X-light
Wilier 18carati

Thanks for the replies to an older topic.

Okay, so you think on alloy wheels that aren't super light and with GP 4000s the switch from butyl to latex is kind of worthless, unless I want to spend money?

I think the current ride quality of the whole bike is pretty darn nice, but have read latex can make things even better.

But, if it is just a waste of money for a lateral move in ride quality, I'll save the money and spend it on other bike parts;)

Thanks!

Pick up some veloflex master 22s then add latex. Great combo. The GPs are a stiff tire nothing will help the ride quality of those things.

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the reply. I have the Veloflex Masters on one of my bikes, a nice steel Tommasini.

I use the GP 4000s on my high-mileage carbon LOOK. Prefer the mileage and anti-flatting I get out of them, and still a decent ride.

I agree that the Masters are really smooth, great tires, just don't last too long, in my use. Also really like the Vittoria Evo Corsa CXs, but again, not that durable.

Okay, looks as if I should just stick with butyl Michelin tubes with the GP 4000s. Thanks.

Hi,

Based on experience I just do not subscribe to this notion that tyres build around stiff casings and outfitted with relatively soft compounds wear out less fast than tyres build around supple casings and durable natural compounds.

Put in simple words all of my Conti Comp tubulars look quite worn whereas none of my Veloflexes do....I ride my Veloflex tyres about 10 times as much as I would the Contis.....Go figure.

Key with those handmade tyres is proper aging under proper storage conditions. After that: much reduced wear. No or only very few puncture and, best of all, a ride quality none of the competition comes close to.

IME, Amen.

Ciao,

_________________
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

That's an interesting take on it & one I can see being true. I'm also guessing you've been at this much longer than I have, since "aging" to me is trying to get a few extras in stock and putting them in the bottom of my closet.

What is your aging technique?

Just curious - are we talking strictly Veloflex tubulars or clinchers as well? I've never ridden tubulars, just clinchers.

I rarely flat, whether on GP 4000s, Masters/Records, or Open Corsas. I'm also pretty light & get pretty high km's out of all my tires.

Maybe I'll have to ditch all my stiff tyres and move to nice, soft, supple ones...

Michelin Aircomp is junk. Try pumping a new one up without tire and see it look like a snake ate a squash ball. That's the weak walls, that will eventually be a likely failure point. It is no wonder why Michelin has discontinued them. Get Vittoria, Bontrager or Challenge Latex instead.

_________________
Due to the urging of all the ladies...I do NOT shave my legs!

Latex tubes of any kind suck. They are puncture prone and give about a 0.00000001% improvement in ride quality. Anyone who claims otherwise has sniffing tubular glue.

Latex is good for one thing, and it definitely is not inner tubes.

Pretty much true. Don't ever pack a Latex spare tube...because it will blow, due to improper installation 99% of the time.

_________________
Due to the urging of all the ladies...I do NOT shave my legs!

My new Vittoria latex tube did just that today, did barely inflate it at all before a portion looked like it just ate a mouse. My Michelin latex doesn't do that. Go figure... FWIW I've had lots of butyl tubes do that too, Conti and Schwalbe (among others) ön my MTB, they never failed because of that or at that point.

_________________
Roadbike
Kinesis RaceLight T2

Mountainbike
Van Nicholas Zion Ti

How about Panaracer R Air?

Hi,



I am sure you're very good at maths.

Ciao,

_________________
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

Hi,



Latex inner tubes should not be tested without a proper supporting envelope.
What you see is by no means a sign of lack of quality. Liquid latex is notoriously hard to distribute uniformly so well it cures it will always exhibit variable wall thickness.

Yes, there are better latex inner tubes out there but the ones you mention are quite likely all made at the same factory and not necessarily better than Michelin's.

Ciao,

_________________
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.