Replace latex tube every season?

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

User avatar
spytech
Posts: 1657
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 12:34 pm
Location: New York City
Contact:

by spytech

i use both michy and vredestein (lighter of the two) both are excellent. ive had a michy tube last 3 years and only because of a nail, if not i am sure it would have gone much longer.

Whats the deal with michy making them green and people talking about vred latex as natural latex is there a difference? fdegrove can you shed some light on this.

fdegrove
Tubbie Guru
Posts: 5894
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 2:20 am
Location: Belgium

by fdegrove

Hi,

Whats the deal with michy making them green and people talking about vred latex as natural latex is there a difference? fdegrove can you shed some light on this.



Sure.

Natural latex inner tubes are not very uniform in wall thickness yielding a product with a rather "unindustrial" look.
On top of that latex is slightly opaque making the lack of uniformity of the product rather obvious, especially when the material is stretched a little.

To make it all more presentable to the public and to hide the discolouration of latex as it ages, some manufacturers decided to add pigmentation (same thing they add to colour tyres really) so the inner tube would look more even, smoother. More like a butyl one.

This extra processing however, makes latex more brittle, less stretchy. It also tears up more easily. Hence the "baggy" Michelins etc.

You won't find those pigmented latex inner tubes in tubulars as there the inner tube is hidden from the customer's sight so there's no reason for the extra processing.

I have no idea if there are measurable differences between the coloured and natural latex inner tubes but it wouldn't surprise me if there were. To me and some other users I talked to, pigmented latex loses a little of the typical qualities latex inner tubes are reknowned for, i.e. a plush, comfy ride making you feel "in touch" with the road surface.
Much like a fine tubular in fact.

Ciao, ;)
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
ave
Posts: 2136
Joined: Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:15 pm
Location: Hungary

by ave

I found out not too long ago that in my front wheel I pinched the Michelin latex between the rim and the Pro 3 outer.
I used it like this for a year, daily, without problems. Amazing what they can take.
I only realized it after I crashed the wheel in an accident.

User avatar
Kjetil
Posts: 2853
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:17 pm
Location: Hamar, Norway
Contact:

by Kjetil

O Resident Oracle fdegrove! :mrgreen:
What does a latex tube inside a Veloflex (tubular) look like?
Bianchi-Campagnolo
The Specialissima
Gylne Gutuer, the UCI 1.2 bike race I invented.

fdegrove
Tubbie Guru
Posts: 5894
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 2:20 am
Location: Belgium

by fdegrove

Hi,

The latex inner tubes as used inside tubulars are natural latex ones just like my fab fav Vredesteins.

Greetings, O Reindeer Rider, ;)
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

1415chris
Posts: 1433
Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:59 am
Location: Surrey UK

by 1415chris

Indeed, recently was opening extreme, inner is like vred ones.

User avatar
Kjetil
Posts: 2853
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:17 pm
Location: Hamar, Norway
Contact:

by Kjetil

Thanks. Now where can I get some Vredesteins?
Bianchi-Campagnolo
The Specialissima
Gylne Gutuer, the UCI 1.2 bike race I invented.

User avatar
spytech
Posts: 1657
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2003 12:34 pm
Location: New York City
Contact:

by spytech

Kjetil wrote:Thanks. Now where can I get some Vredesteins?


http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?pag ... 1&minor=31" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.realcyclist.com/vredestein-l ... ube-presta" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

stock up... i usually buy 4 or 5 at a time.

another thing to note, you can change the valve core in the vreds. but you can not on the michy latex.


User avatar
djm
Posts: 1403
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 12:19 pm
Location: Norway

by djm

I seem to remember seeing a green latex tube inside a Zipp Tangente.. ? Hmm

fdegrove
Tubbie Guru
Posts: 5894
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 2:20 am
Location: Belgium

by fdegrove

Hi,

I doubt it as the Zipp tubs are made by Vittoria (Lions Thailand) and they use "unpigged" natural latex inner tubes AFAIK.

Ciao, ;)
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

ajmit3
Posts: 205
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:36 am

by ajmit3

When you say 'season' you mean 3 weeks ??

fdegrove
Tubbie Guru
Posts: 5894
Joined: Tue May 03, 2005 2:20 am
Location: Belgium

by fdegrove

Hi,

That would imply we'd have 17.3333333333 seasons in a year..... :mrgreen:

Ciao, ;)
Being a snob is an expensive hobby.

User avatar
Kjetil
Posts: 2853
Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:17 pm
Location: Hamar, Norway
Contact:

by Kjetil

Thanks for the tips on sourcing Vredestein tubes.
Bianchi-Campagnolo
The Specialissima
Gylne Gutuer, the UCI 1.2 bike race I invented.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Zachariah
Posts: 270
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:49 am
Contact:

by Zachariah

Replace only if the tube walls gets too thin. Find out by removing the tube and inflating it to 40psi. If it looks like a snake just ate a football...then replace it. What happens is that the bubble can actually separate the tire bead from the rim, resulting in a catastrophic and suddenly random blowout. Ask me how I know....
Due to the urging of all the ladies...I do NOT shave my legs!

Post Reply