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I don't really want to debate the pros and cons of tubeless, it used to work for me and I still run it on my MTB, but I think my 40mm tyres and narrow rims on the gravel bike just prevent me really taking advantage of the system (lower pressure just results in rim strikes or burping tyres), which just leaves me with the disadvantages (since, frankly, neither Stans nor Juice Lubes sealant have lived up to the fundamental promises of actually sealing small holes 🙄).
I stuck a latex tube back in and enjoyed half a ride of trouble free performance until picking up three Hawthornes, despite still running reasonably thick tubeless tyres. So it's back to that age old question of what's best for preventing thorne punctures.
I'm seeing a few recognised brands (Tubolito, Pirelli) offering reinforced tubes that are tougher than butyl but still lighter. Anyone using this sort of tube? Not totally averse to going back to butyl of course, it's always been there for me! 😄
I don't know anything about TPU tubes, but before tubeless I always used Slime tyre liner strips and very rarely got punctures. Adds a bit of rotational weight of course but it worked for me.
TPU-curious but a bit put off by the reports of valves coming off - mostly on cheap tubes, but I want to buy the cheap ones!
I’m TPU curious, but for MTB, not gravel. I don’t think there have been many recent threads.
But for the OP, im sceptical that any tube will protect against thorns.
I use sealant inside a tube with a removable valve core.
I’m TPU curious, but for MTB, not gravel. I don’t think there have been many recent threads.
Not sure if genuine comment or sly dig about number or recent TPU threads... 😉
I know nothing will be panacea against thorns, and I might have just been unlucky on my last ride. Will check out those liners, I think I had dismissed them previously for some reason, perhaps the additional rolling resistance...
I've never had much luck with tubeless on the road bike (fine on the gravel and mtb), never seems to seal fully and I get sealant all over my bike and clothes, guessing due to the 70psi I run, So I run Pirelli TPU tubes on the road bike and carry two spares also
TPU are more puncture resistant than butyl, the valves are more fragile given that the stems are plastic so care is needed when inflating, if they do puncture then its best to fit a new one and repair the old one at home as TPU repairs need to be done in a clean environment and it takes much longer for the glue to cure before you can refit the tube
@13thfloormonk: it was a genuine comment. Recently I tried to search on the forum for opinions on TPU tubes, and the only threads I found were years (or many months at least) old. And I notice that since those threads, there are more types of TPU tubes available, and they seem to have become more robust.
Maybe im just rubbish at using the search function?
(edit: I just tried the search function again, and didn’t see much that was more current than about a year old. I think there was a thread about road tubes, and this one about gravel).
t was a genuine comment. Recently I tried to search on the forum for opinions on TPU tubes, and the only threads I found were years (or many months at least) old.
Ah OK, apologies, my comment was meant in jest for what it was worth, I felt I had seen a few TPU threads but they weren't specific to the reinforced tubes, might have been elsewhere 👍
To be honest, I had a really good run doing big rides in rough terrain running latex tubes, it might just have been bad luck that my most recent attempt met with immediate punctures. I think my sort of gravel riding increases the chances as I'm more often riding hedge lined farm tracks where I might encounter Hawthorne trimmings. Will try again this weekend before deciding if I need to do the tubeless dance again having rebuilt wheel.
I use sealant inside a tube with a removable valve core.
I think that's the only sensible option if not running tubeless. If a thorn etc. can go through the tyre casing then it will likely go through even a reinforced TPU tube
the valves are more fragile given that the stems are plastic so care is needed when inflating
The first gen TPU tubes had plastic valves with non removable cores but there's quite a few options with metal valves and replaceable cores now (RideNow for example, they even do them with black valves now if hot pink isn't your thing...)
Could you not run normal tubes with some sealant in them? My wife did LEGOG about 10 years ago with some Joe’s No Flats tubes that came with sealant in them. Never had a flat. When I changed the tyres 2 years later there turned out to be about 20-30 tiny punctures that had all sealed without her noticing. Since then she’s always used them.
I’ve also put slime in tubes to good effect.
Schwalbe or conti tubes with 60ml of stans in
The other thread on this subject today
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/bike-forum/aliexpress-tpu-tubes/
I never had any issues with ridenow valves coming out, Maybe I'm cheap and buying old stock but all but two of mine have the plastic valves? Some came with a little barbed collar, to hold the plastic stem some didn't which I never needed to use. Ironically the only one that makes a racket is the metal one in my track wheels 😂
I've had 1 puncture in ~1300miles on my current bike, it was a massive shard of glass/ceramic. Thats in WTB Expanse 32c, not sure how much specific puncture protection they have, but there's a substantial amount of tubber in the tread area.
I've never tried them properly off-road.