Does anyone out there have any experience using these? I know they let air out and are supposed to give a better ride, but I can’t find any info on how easy it is to repair punctures. I’m guessing a normal patch kit is no good.
I’d guess that since bike shops and online catalogs only sell one type of patch kit, that latex and butyl tubes can be patched using the same stuff.
I’d never heard that about latex tubes giving a better ride- I’d always heard that they were lighter. I’ve never been concerned about the difference(if I was, I’d lose pounds around my middle rather than sweating grams on an innertube!), so I’ve always got butyl tubes- they’re like half the price of latex.
Firstly.
Latex tubes give a much better ride, you can bang in more pressure and they still ride smoother, what is more, you tend to get better roadholding.
If you race then these are a must, they reduce your rolling resistance and give a more comfortable ride.
Next
Latex tubes are far easier to repair, patches stick straight on without the need to rough the surface with glasspaper.
I have seen heavy duty latex tubes for mountain bikes, and they are well up to the task.
One problem with them is that they are so flexible that it is quite easy to trap them under the beading of the outer casing with then leads to a puncture, you need to put a little air in first before fitting them, but they are more prone to this than the butyl tubes.
Make sure you have the correct width tubes for the tyres you are riding, you can get away with it to some extent on butyl tubes but there is less room for error with latex tubes.
Last
Natural latex is porous and over time such tubes would deflate.
I have seen latex tubes that have a coating inside them which almost completely stops the air bleeding through them, they cost more but not excessively so.
On balance the small hassle of latex is far outweighed by the benefits.
I see the competitive athletes in triathlons using a solid wheel, no inner tube at all. They are also smaller and lighter and cost $$$.