Tyre Toobs

I am looking for recommendations on tubes. I plan to change out my own tires so was thinking of going with the Kenda Tuff Tubes. They are extra thick, so I figure it will help with potential pinching with the irons. They are actually intended for off-road use. Is this a bad idea? They would add rotational weight, but then I am running stock rims so the percentage is not a great additon. Also they are butyl rubber. I see some manufacturers claim that natural rubber is a better choice. Jeepers! What is a shopper to do?

Searched the forum but wasn't able to find much on this detail and frankly didn't give it much thought until I started shopping around.

Thanx
Russ

From my bicycle wrenching and racing days I never used anything made by Cheng Shin or kenda. The tires were shit and so where the tubes. That said, I'd never use or trust their products for motorcycles.

I use Michelin.

Hi rvich,
Here's my two cents worth, over the years I have installed many many tubes of many different brands and sizes and never noticed any one being better or worse than the other. Regarding the heavy duty tubes I suppose they do offer a benefit to dirt riders (enduro/desert/cross-country) as they pound the hell out of their tires and rims, but for normal street use I can't see it, if you run over a nail it will go just as flat as a normal tube. Regarding natural vs other rubber, when I was a young kid the old guy at the BMW shop advocated the natural rubber tubes, but then added that they were more porous, so you had to add air more often (I remember thinking...say what???). As for pinching the tube, put a little air into the tube so that it will hold form, use dish soap, and work carefully and you will not pinch them.

GB

Coco said:

From my bicycle wrenching and racing days I never used anything made by Cheng Shin or kenda. The tires were shit and so where the tubes. That said, I'd never use or trust their products for motorcycles.

I use Michelin.

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That settles it for me. I was looking at the Michelin tubes but the site I am shopping at failed to have the right size, so will probably go to Bridgestone or Metzler.

Usually I am not a brand name shopper, but tires are one place I have loyalties, so I guess I will add tubes to my list as well.

Thanx for the replies.

I have always used European brand name tubes (Metzeler, Pirelli, Dunlop or Michelin) and never had any problems. It's worth noting that the last Pirelli and Metzeler tubes I bought this spring were made in China.

I avoid heavy duty off-road type tubes in streebikes as I have found these thicker tubes generate noticably more heat than regular tubes. I know others will disagree with me but that's my experience.

FWIW I used some Japanese made Dunlop tubes when I installed my new AM26s last week - they were not expensive and looked to be good quality.

I found over the years that baby powder works better for me than soap and water as soap and water tends to rust the inside of your rims
Phil