Hot answers tagged innertube
13
It's not unusual for narrower tires to need pumping up every day or two, but if they really are losing air after "a few minutes" then the tubes have been holed somehow.
Did anyone check the tires for small pieces of wire, etc, sticking in them? A tiny piece of wire can puncture a new tube within minutes. Did anyone check the rims to make sure that the ...
11
The inner tube has no significant effect on max pressure. The valve stem area is the only area sensitive to pressure, and in general the valve can withstand 200 PSI or better. (And if you exceed whatever limit there is the result is "catastrophic" failure, not simply the inability to pump in more air.)
What it sounds like you're noticing is the geometry ...
10
This kind of failure is typically caused by excessive wear on the brake surface of the rim.
Every time you apply your brakes, you are polishing small amounts of metal away from the rim. Eventually, the rim gets too thin and weak, and will crack, like you have seen in your photo, from the normal inflation pressure of the tire.
In general, this means tht ...
9
Schrader valve/Schrader tube
aka "American valve" or "Automotive valve"
The Schrader valve consists of a valve stem into which a valve core is threaded, and is used on virtually all automobile tires and most wider rimmed bicycle tires. The valve core is a poppet valve assisted by a spring.
8
This is common and is a result of the constant friction and increased heat of the small roller on the trainer. Larger diameter rollers will see lower degradation of the tire, but it will still be a problem.
Most riders I know use less expensive tires, or older tires that they no longer trust for use on the road when they switch to the trainer.
7
It's not going to be directly proportional. Leaving aside the quality of the tyre and what it will be rated for, the shape of the graph is likely to be a U shape:
at the lower pressures the tube will be susceptible to puncture because it cannot repel sharps adequately, in addition really low pressures might let you trap the tube between the road and the ...
7
The tube will last the life of the tire, and more, if not punctured too much.
The tire will last until it wears too thin and starts puncturing a lot, unless damaged.
Tires do, however, become brittle and crack in the sidewalls from UV and ozone exposure, and will need to be replaced every 10 years or so if not worn out first. White wall and gum wall ...
7
I don't think that you will have a problem with the patch ballooning out as long as the tube is inflated while fully mounted with rim and tire. To my experience there just won't be any room to balloon to.
If you fear that this will be a security risk, I would recommend a new inner tube when the old one has such a big hole. When you are on a ride and have no ...
6
As @GaryRay has stated trainers are tough on tires. One condition that accelerates the wear is low pressure in the tire and high pressure on the roller. Many riders would not think of going for a ride without checking tire pressure but forget about checking the trainer tire. The low pressure on the tire and high roller pressure generates heat from the ...
6
Trainers are notorious for chewing up regular tires.
They do sell trainer tires that are built to take the rubbing and wear that a trainer dishes out. What a lot of people do is buy a cheap wheel (Such as a neuvation or similar), throw a trainer tire on it and use that when they mount their bike to the trainer.
6
Your tire tube is still subject to the basic laws of physics and logic on this Earth. If air is leaking out of it, then there is a leak somewhere and it is perforated.
There is probably something in your tire causing the damage, especially if this continues to happen. It's also possible that the leak was close to the valve, and whenever the valve was up ...
6
Note: this calculation makes many assumptions, so it's only useful in an 'average use case', not some sort of exact measurement. If you find better information, please post it and I'll update the answer.
How many pumps you would need to fill up a tire depends on many variables. First, the volume of your inner tube, which can be approximated as a torus ...
6
The size of the tube is usually written on the box. Tubes stretch a bit so they fit a variety of sizes. For a 27 x 1 1/4 tire you would need one that says 700x32 which is the equivalent new size of tube, although both the old system and new system are usually written on the packaging. This size is very common and you should be able to purchase the tube at ...
4
The pressure has little effect on flats caused by sharp objects. Tire construction prevails here.
Pressure does have effect a big effect on pinch flats. The more pressure in your tire, the less it will deform when you hit a bump (or the very evil train tracks). If if can't deform enough to pinch the tube, no flat. As the pressure decreases, the amount of ...
4
I think the valve should be as short as possible while still allowing comfortable inflation of the tire.
On the other hand, a longer valve usually "won't hurt", specially if you have more than one bike or your group of fellows use to lend spare tubes to one another during rides (happens a lot to me, but in shcraeder-equiped mountainbikes).
Hope this helps!
...
4
In case of inner tube, difference between 1.90 and 1.95 is totally negligible. The tubes will be completely interchangeable.
Rather than carrying a few spare tubes on your bike at all times, experienced riders most often carry only one spare tube + patch kit. It takes less space and weighs less than multiple spare tubes. It's rare to catch more than 1 flat ...
4
You don't mention the type of bicycle you're referring to, but if you look at your wheels with the tube out and the tires off, you can probably see what the root cause is.
Bicycle wheels should have rim tape or a rim strip that protects the tube from the spoke holes in the rim. Of the two approaches, the rim strip is the more modern. The rim strip can be ...
4
I always carry a tube with me in my backpack on longer tours. I left it in the packet I bought it in, but only to protect it from being punctured by the other stuff I carry in the bag (eg a Leatherman and keys).
I doubt that this is necessary but with or without the carton, the tube fits perfectly at the bottom of my Camelback, and the bit of added weight ...
4
Two points:
1) Tubes are pretty cheap. Better to replace one with a large hole rather than attempt to patch it. (Though 2-3mm cut should be easily repairable with a standard quality patch.)
2) If you have trouble with the tube "ballooning out" then it's not being properly supported by the tire. You must have a cut in the tire that (if it doesn't ...
4
The usual cause of inner tubes exploding while being inflated is that part of the tube is pinched under the rim, or was damaged by a tyre lever while you were fitting the tyre (but manufacturing flaws can happen - I once had a puncture in a tube next the stem where it was difficult to patch, and my spare tube failed at the same place as soon as I inflated it ...
3
First of all: do not bother trying to patch too big holes.
If it is just too big, just trash the tube.
It is cheap enough and it's better than struggling and trying 10 patchings, wasting a whole patch kit all just to end up with it leaking and having a flat tire in the middle of nowhere.
Now, I have already successfully patched a hole as big as 5 mm. It was ...
3
Basically, the tube box will list the sizes it covers. Make sure your size is within those parameters (and ideally not "on the edge"). Beyond that you'd generally pick the lighter tube for road and the heavier one for off-road. And a heavier tube will generally provide a slight improvement in puncture resistance.
Avoid very light tubes unless you're a ...
3
The most likely cause of the increase in difficulty at higher pressure is the mechanics of the pump. You have to work harder to squeeze more air in the tube. The tire rating is the controlling factor in constraining the tube. The tire construction supports the tube to allow it hold the air at high pressure. Pressures higher than the tire rating cause the ...
3
I'd say that ideal is about 1.25" sticking out of the rim. That's enough to accommodate most pump chucks without being so long that it increases the risk of damage.
But mostly an over-long stem just looks ugly.
I've seen a tendency in the last few years for the stems on the tubes at your LBS to get (much) longer (they generally only stock one or two ...
3
Tyre lifespan very much depends on a tyre, use and rubber quality. Some high end tyres for MTB racing have very soft compound and they do not last long. A season of riding, if lucky. On the other side you can get hard-rubber commuting tyres that can last you more than 10K miles.
Tubes are good as long as they hold air. In my student days I used to have ...
3
It doesn't matter.
The difference in weight is practically non-existent, and puncture resistance is a property of the tire.
You may be able to pack an 18/25 in your spare parts kit a little easier than the 25/32, but that still isn't much of a big difference.
Just get whichever is cheaper.
3
No. For patching punctured innertubes, you must use vulcanizing rubber cement. Vulcanization which crosslinks the polymers in the tube with those in the patch. Most types of rubber cement, which are used for crafts, are not vulcanizing. Aluminum rim cement is designed to bond aluminum, not to vulcanize rubber.
2
That innertube would be slightly undersized -- it would probably work, more or less, but you might have a low spot (and a bump every tire revolution) in the valve area because the rubber is thicker there and doesn't expand as readily.
Generally the tube's box will list the range of sizes it can accommodate.
2
You want to get the tube to match the tire as close as possible. Nowadays they make the tubes smaller and allow them to stretch out, and for the most part it isnt a problem, but this is to save the company money and not because it doesn't matter. Anyway, I would suggest a slightly smaller tube over a slightly larger tube (in comparison to the tire) because ...
2
I have used the stick on patches. The durability is conditional with proper installation.
1-scuff the tube
2-try and have the tube the same size as the inside of the tire.
3-after placing the patch on the tube take a smooth object and rub aur out from under the patch. This is the most important step!
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