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Tire Tube


What is a bicycle tube made of?

A bicycle tube is predominantly made of Butyl rubber. Butyl is a very elastic and airtight synthetic rubber, but as with the tire, other fillers are necessary to make up the rubber compound. The quality of a tube can vary significantly depending on the rubber compound. For instance SCHWALBE tubes have very good air retention and are very elastic. This high elasticity allows a wide range of different tire sizes to be covered.

There is a difference between heat molded and autoclave tubes. Vulcanizing in a mould improves the uniformity of wall thickness, thus reducing weight and improving air retention. This is why the inferior yet more easily produced autoclave tubes have become increasingly less popular in recent years. SCHWALBE tubes have always been made using the heat molded process.

Every tube also needs a valve, which is bonded to the tube during the vulcanizing process.

What are the advantages of latex tubes?

Latex tubes have a higher elasticity than normal butyl tubes that allows tires to roll better, but the greatest advantage is the high level of puncture protection they provide. The highly elastic latex material is very difficult to puncture.

The drawback is poor air retention, as tire pressures with a latex tube must be checked and adjusted before every ride. This explains why latex tubes are ill suited for everyday use.

In addition, latex tubes are very sensitive to oil, daylight and heat. The tube must also be replaced every time a tire is changed. This susceptibility has led us to discontinue latex tube production.