TPU tubes - should we all be using them?

[SignorLuigi]

Very nice overview of the three types of inner tubes. 👏👏👏 Over a year ago, I bought a TPU inner tube as a spare due to the size and weight savings. Then I decided to go 100% TPU and replaced the butyl tubes on my wheels with TPU ones. What I could notice immediately was something not mentioned in the video, the reduced rotational inertia of my wheels when accelerating. Rotational inertia depends not only on the mass of the wheel, but even MORE on the distance of the mass from the axis of rotation (hub of wheel) as the distance is squared in the formula for rotational inertia. Reducing the mass of your inner tube by up to 100 grams, because the inner tube is at the outer most location/radius of the wheel, will have a noticable impact on the rotational inertia of your wheel. Especially if you do a lot of changing speed in you're riding. This can be another plus for TPU tubes. I bought my TPU tubes on AliExpress and purchased the RideNow brand. Free shipping to the US. I have been thoroughly delighted with their performance on my DT Swiss hooked, alloy, rim brake wheels.

[newttella]

Great video on TPU tubes. I'll be sending this to my riding buddies. We seem to have just as many flat repairs with tubeless. No one maintains their sealant enough and even if sealant is topped up, someone always gets a sealant shower. Not to mention how messy putting in a tube is or how crazy stuck to the rim a dried out sealant tire gets.

[alexanderbolton]

Great that you go in-depth about the environmental impact! Good on you!

[valmorell]

Just completed first 500 miles on RideNow tpu tubes with zero issues. 100% agree with all your points. I feel you maybe understated how much easier they are to fit, also in part due to the very low bulk so the tube takes up less space in the wheel well. The weight saving increases with wheel size as the same tube fits a 32 and a 25, not the case with butyl.
Spent 2 years on tubeless. Will NEVER go back to all that hassle and mess. Just replacing the sealant every 3 months meant I was taking tyres on and off (2 each time, front and rear) more often than I ever did thru punctures. Yuk.

[Captinfun]

I’ve been old school inner tube all my life . I just got a new build happening mainly for the disc brakes. Was looking into tubeless, watched a lot of info on them and decided I couldn’t be fafed with that goopy stuff. TPU looks like a great in between for weight and rolling . I’m sold .

[ZavyalovCycling]

Another thing to note. A TPU tube stretches to your tyre size, but it doesn’t shrink back. Tubolito covers this in FAQ. E.g. once you use the tube in a 32mm tyre, you cannot put it in a 25mm tyre anymore. Actually, you can, but it will be wrinkled. Tubolito doesn’t recommend going this way.

[ra-ofbz]

Excellent presentation! Well done. I'm sold.

[aureliobruno]

Excellent video, as always.
I've been using the TPU tubes on my MTB bike for over 9 months now. I've been out with her on all terrains and so far there hasn't been a single puncture.
In addition, they are lighter than using liquid sealants.
The only restriction is that it took me a while to get it right was the ideal pressure for the tires. Using the same pressure as with the butyl tubes, the tire with the TPU tubes is very hard and shakes a lot. If you use little pressure, the tire "grabs" more and the drag is greater. So it was an exercise in patience until the ideal pressure was reached. After this more than approved test period, I will also use it on the road bike.

[tomcruz]

So far this is the only video I've seen that actually talks about the supply chain involved 💯

[steveindorset]

This is a really great informative video, always keeps me coming back! Great stuff Oz bloke!👍👍👍

[earltnm]

Simply the best video on bicycle tube choices out there. Well Done!!

[michaelclements]

Good presentation. At @6:50 my experience disputes the durability difference. I find latex more durable and flat-resistant than butyl. Also @7:25, I have been repairing latex tubes with a standard butyl patch kit for years, no problem. Regarding slow leakage, you should be checking tire pressures for every ride anyway. That said, TPU looks like a good alternative, this latex fan will give it a try.

[MrBillboeing]

I am using TPU tubes since a year I am mostly happy with them. Here and there still a snake bite like on all other tubes. In my opinion they are the best tube option. The plastic valve option can fail when pumped with a hand pump and the force is too strong on the valve, it snap’s. I recommend to pump it a bit up before installing. I see only advantages over other options. Tubeless is for me not an option since you need to refresh the sealant every 6 month, I rather change a tube every six month.

[DalstonVinyl]

Great stuff! I recently started using 700c tpu tubes, and I agree with your findings, except I'm finding my tpu tubes don't quite hold air as well as butyl, requiring a top up of air every 3-4 days, but perhaps that's just the brand (Cyclami) I'm using.

[ddahstan]

Dang, got me sold on the TPU with flat head screw driver test. Enviromenrally, it's a bonus as well Thank you!!!

[markk]

Great video. Please let me add. If you use the Continental light butyl tubes as spares, it reduces the used space by about 50%. Anyhow, I'll give TPU a try the next time I buy some tubes. Low weight and small packing size sounds perfect for bikepacking.

[MarcelloMongiardo]

Very good professional and accurate review, thanks! I just bought TPU tubes and I am looking forward to trying them

[mikeh.]

5 guys repairing the tubeless bike...says more than 1000 words!
very nice video about the most discussed "technology". I will try soon the TPU´s as the hard season in the Alps is coming soon and I can easily save weight without changing my heavy Conti 4 season tyres or with a loss of safety (puncture wise).

[TroubleshootGamingMeds]

Such a comprehensive and well made video, thank you!

[tee_ef_em]

You did it again, mate! Best reviews in town. I always look here first.