Does it matter which Inner Tubes you get?

Rezident

Sorry, new to all this and getting plenty of punctures. Got some great Tyre advice in other threads but I want to get some inner tubes too instead of paying the bike shop 10 or 15 a go.

I have a conondale badboy bike that gets regular punctures so I just want to stock up on inner tubes, does it matter which ones I get? Sorry I have never bought inner tubes myself before.

Also getting that kevlar liner and decent tyres, maybe those marathon ones,

Thanks,

Wishbone Ash

They would have to be the correct size, with the correct valve type and valve length (if applicable).

OldBean

Crap ones' valves tend to fail. Which is a pain in the arse.

Also keeping the box away from direct sunlight/severe changes of temp/cold is advised.

I'd recommend getting one or two tubes at a time until there's a brand that you are sure is reliable. I bought a box of tubes about 6 months ago and they've turned out crap, valve keeps failing after one or two re-inflations when I'm transporting the bike.

Lining both sides of the tube is definitely going to help, but keeping correct pressure in the tubes is a huge factor.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I bought a box of 10 lifeline tubes from
wiggle 2 years ago. Two of them are in/on my bike, 1 in the saddle pouch and 7 still in the box. They were €15 delivered on an offer they had running at the time. Cheap in price doesn't always mean cheap quality.

JBokeh

Get ones with a removable valve core, and a bottle of Stans tubeless sealant, pull out the valve core, fire in around 50ml of the sealant, and refit the core. This won't stop punctures, but you won't get a flat tyre if something like glass goes through it, the sealant plugs most holes.

I'm not 100% sure on the quantities for a road bike, but I do the same on my mountain bikes, and it makes life easier, however when you do remove the tube you'll find it is filled with little holes from thorns that the sealant has filled

Alanbt

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I bought a box of 10 lifeline tubes from
wiggle 2 years ago. Two of them are in/on my bike, 1 in the saddle pouch and 7 still in the box. They were €15 delivered on an offer they had running at the time. Cheap in price doesn't always mean cheap quality.

Same here. I get these too and have found them as reliable as much more expensive continental ones.

Rezident

Do "self-healing" tubes work? Sounds a bit mad:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/slime-self-healing-mtb-inner-tube/

martyc5674

If your planning replacing the tubes on the side of the road make sure you check they work with your small roadside pump, when fitted to a rim.
1 time i punctured I couldnt for the life of me get my small pump onto the slightly shorter valve stem on the replacement tube i had...ended up having to ring the missus to bring the track pump out to rescue me.
Turns out my saddle bag pump needed to swallow considerably more of the valve stem than my track pump before it could get enough grip on it to make a seal.
Not sure i explained that very well!
Marty