I like the smooth stems because they don't tear up the grommet in my floor pump.
The tubes are plenty lightweight enough. Too light and I get more punctures.
Michelin is one of the few tubes with smooth (unthreaded) valves, so they don't chew up tire pumps like the threaded ones can. The tubes themselves are light and strong, I haven't noticed any greater number of flats than with comparable or heavier tubes.
not impressive.
I have ridden these tubes for the past couple of years and have been very satisfied. The bond between the valve and tube never fails (a very common problem) and the valve has a nice, clean look. I like the anti-stick powder that comes on the tubes. When installing, this powder helps the tube to slide properly into place. In the past I had to pre-treat tubes with talc to get the same effect. I am a little surprised that other reviewers find this tube hard to patch. I have put a lot of patches on these tubes over the years and have only had the patch fail when I did a poor job (i.e. I was in a hurry). As with any tube, you need to thoroughly wipe off the area to be patched, rough up the area with a bit of sand paper, and let the glue dry for a few minutes before applying the patch.
I love this tube because it does not lose pressure over time like most tubes do. If you don't ride for a week, the tire pressure will be almost what it was on your last ride. This saves me the time and hassle of putting air in the tires every time I ride. I like that.
However, I've discovered that there is a downside. They cannot be patched effectively. If you get a puncture, just throw it away. Patches will leak no matter how carefully they are applied. I know riders that refuse to ride patched tubes anyway, so if this is you, it's a great tube.
