Running latex created a very different feel in my bike's ride quality and handling. I paired these with a 320 TPI tire, and I'd agree with others who say this is combo is very close to a tubular setup...Latex tubes do slowly bleed air, but not dramatically. You should always check tire pressure before riding, and you may find that you need to top off the latex tubes by 5-10 PSI every 1-2 days.
A bit pricey, but worth the extra ride comfort.
And they're pink!
In the past, I've had some real problems with latex tubes lasting. I've been using this tube this entire race season. Works so great.
I know this sounds strange when everyone else is talking about using them for racing, but I switched two years ago and they've become my everyday tube. First I've never had a flat since switching over. Even when I decided to replace a Vittoria tire due to mulitple deep cuts, the tube was still fine and went into the new tire. Most importantly on 100 mile rides with 25mm tires they make a huge difference in comfort, I can run a little less air without fear of a pinch flat and not feel all beat up from hours of riding over broken asphalt (the comfort thing is just part of getting older but I still ride at a strenuous pace, I'm not a leisure rider)
Yes they lose air quickly and I have had a valve stem tear away, but I've had that happen a couple of times with Continental butyl tubes. Lastly, I do carry a butyl tube in case I ever do get a flat as it would be easy to install on the side of the road.
For me they've really been worth the money as I haven't had to buy them far less often that butyl tubes.
First latex tubes. Ride like I'm on a cloud (paired with 33mm supple tires).
Treated them like fine crystal during install, no issues. Did the typical inflate/deflate every 20 psi and thoroughly checked for pinches in the bead each step. Just a quick check and pump before each ride, so far so good!
These are top latex tubes. They share the pros and cons of all latex tubes. They leak air faster than butyl tubes, so one has to make sure that the tires are re-inflated every time they are used. They are not as resistant to puncture as butyl. But they are much lighter and the smoothness of the ride is unmistakable plus they also have lower rolling resistance, which makes them ideal for race day. They are patchable, although the process is not as easy as with butyl. A patch can be cut out of old latex gloves (biology labs and physician's offices discard tons of these everyday).
I love latex tubes in my Vittoria tires. I've tried some other, lighter latex tubes but had reliability problems. These are a little heavier, but they are reliable and don't sacrifice the great feeling of a latex tube. I pair mine with Vittoria Pave's or Open Corsa CX for the closest feeling to riding a tubular I have found. (A little bit less so with the Pave's, but with Open Corsa CX and a latex tube wow! Simply a great tire/tube combo. Fast, grippy, with great road feel. I love 'em.
OK, yes, it is 2021. Us dinosaurs are hard to change, and with the rolling resistance studies confirming these are the top rated (along with the appropriate tire of course), why go 2021? Tubeless vs. tube? I will take these 10 of 10 times....
Latex inner-tubes reduce rolling resistance and are also lighter than butyl ones. They are also more fragile when mounting a tire and it is more difficult (but not impossible) to patch them. Also, they leak air out much faster than a butyl inner-tube. You definitely have to put some air in before every ride. For all these reasons, I train on butyl inner-tubes, but put these Vittoria latex ones on race days. But the ride on latex is definitely worth the additional price. Smooooooth!
bought a bunch, one was unfortunately faulty but still a good price for latex
If you ride top level high thread count tires, latex tubes are the best bet to get the most out our your tire investment. They do lose air more rapidly between rides than butyl tubes but it's a small inconvenience compared to the benefits of a smooth supple ride. The higher price is the only downside but from a performance perspective they are 5 star tubes.
I use these tubes primarily for racing. It is a nice change to put these in with race specific tires. Whether placebo effect or not, they definitely feel like they roll better than a butyl tube!
Extremely high pressure, soft feel almost like a
Tubular . Very good feel . I like the suppleness the provide.
These tubes are well made and I've found them to be quite durable. Ride quality is nearly as smooth as tubeless. I have them in the larger size for 32mm tires and I run them at 60lbs, so I haven't had to pump them up every day like the 110lb folks. Every few days a couple of pumps and we're good to go.
I rode latex tubes on my mtn bike for 4 years on very technical and rocky terrain. We rode quite fast, with long, vicious downhills, and I only put in 22 lbs of air - I got 4 years and thousands of miles out of 1 single set of these tubes and not a single flat!!!
Fast forward to now, and my mtn bike experience made it an easy decision to put latex tubes on my carbon road bike. Like nearly all the other reviewers, I noticed a significant improvement in ride quality over butyl tubes, I saved about 1 ounce per rim, and I have yet to get a flat after 15 months and more than 3,000 miles of rides on poorly maintained city and country roads. Truth in advertising: I weigh 145 lbs.
So I'm not a heavyweight, but my cousin is a Clydesdale for sure. He checks in at 6'2 and 225 lbs, and he would get at least one flat EVERY ride we took, what a pain! A few months after I got my latex tubes, he made the switch and rode flat-free for 10 months before getting a flat from a pot-hole. Needless to say, he's a convert too, in fact, our whole 90-person cycling club is going to make the switch.
Comes in at 74gm for the 23mm and 80gm for the 25mm - and removable cores! Awesome and totally great that they offer a wider size (25mm) as most have hopefullly taken the leap to wider is better tires by now )
Talk them up and lay down the miles!
It's an okay tube, it does ride very smooth. However it loses pressure after about 3 days, so I'm constantly pumping it back up.
I used it for 100 miles and was happy with the weight reduction. Then moved the tire and tube to a different wheel. The tube had developed some brittle spots where it expanded into spoke-hole divots in the first rim. One of these quickly developed a crack rendering the tube useless. Won't buy again, but if you're the type who never moves tires around the weight drop is nice.
These tubes make you feel like you are on expensive setup tires. Absorb the road and are fast. I am now using 26 or 28 mm tires do these are perfect exciting times ahead
Since these were on sale, I bought them to satisfy my curiosity. They are wonderful. I was scared I would immediately have flats, but not so far. I air up my tires for every ride anyway, so the criticism that they lose air quickly doesn't matter to me.
