Tyre Tubes

If your bike has tyres that require a tube, then it will need to be able to maintain the air at variable speeds and temperatures without any changes in pressure. The construction and thickness can also be better resistant to punctures or pinching. Adjusting the air pressure in the tube allows the tyre to work in different ways depending on the conditions and also provides an air cushion to offer protection to the rim.

What can having the right tube mean for me?

The right size tyre tube is important for a few reasons. The obvious ones are if the tube is too small it will be almost impossible to fit on a rim that is too large and if the tube is too big for the rim and tyre it will cause the tyre to move around on the rim. This will create excessive wear on the tyre and the bike's handling will be very poor as a result. There is an instance where this is not an uncommon scenario. Trail riders will often carry one spare tube, a 21” front tyre tube which can be fitted to the rear as the last resort. This will allow a rider to minimise the weight and bulk of carrying two tubes but will mean when fitted to the rear, the bike should be ridden on at low speeds and only to get to an area where the right tube can be fitted.

Tyre sizes vary with not only diameter but also the width and sidewall height will determine which tube is the right one to fit.

Different types of tubes.

Tubes are normally rated in three categories or thickness, the standard is normally 1mm thick, Heavy-duty are usually 2.5mm and ultra-heavy duty or more commonly, UHD tyre tubes are 4mm thick. The thicker the tube is the harder it will be to fit but the thickness determines the resistance to puncturing and sidewall tyre compression which causes pinching of the tube.

Another option for riders is the use of a Mousse tube. These are tubes made from a solid foam and are produced by many tyre manufacturers as well as a few specialist companies. These are designed to retain their shape and form regardless of anything that may puncture them. There are now different consistencies of foam that better replicate the differences between tyre pressure ranges

There is also the newer technology of tube-less systems made by Tubliss. This takes the need for a conventional tube and is designed to create a 360-degree rim lock with a rim-protecting inner bladder pumped to 100psi which seals the tyre to the entire circumference of the rim. This offers great protection to the inner rim and allows an outer chamber of air in the tyre to be from 10psi all the way to zero if needed. This allows the sidewall to work better and when required, give a much larger footprint of tread from the tyre. If the carcass of the tyre is punctured or torn, the tyre can easily be repaired quickly with a tyre plug, saving time and effort.

Related Categories

Be sure to check out our huge range of tyres, and tyre maintenance products such as pumps, gauges, valves and caps, tyre repair kits and compressors.