Tubes Air thieves

[Mountainman]

Any specific rubber cement you prefer??

This is the only thing left on my tire setup I worry about failing...

sparky -- Be careful with this one -- never heard of putting rubber cement on or in a valve stem ??? I am sure it would seal once - but - after that it may be - shot out ! Happy riding from - Mountainman

 

[mark2yahu]

The thorn-proof inner tubes will stay at rated psi much longer, like 2 to 3 months. The Slime Smart tubes are similar.

Because I hate getting flats, I bought one of those Air Free Tires for my rear wheel. Their claims are true, it does ride-feel like a conventional pneumatic tire. Very expensive, though.

 

[sparky]

The thorn-proof inner tubes will stay at rated psi much longer, like 2 to 3 months. The Slime Smart tubes are similar.

Seems like I'm still losing more than 5psi a week with the thorn-proof tubes. Don't care, I've always known that bike tubes leak a lot.

Because I hate getting flats, I bought one of those Air Free Tires for my rear wheel. Their claims are true, it does ride-feel like a conventional pneumatic tire. Very expensive, though.

I would love to ride on a set of those to see how thye handle.

 

[Scottm]

All the kids in the neighborhood come to me to fill their tires or fix flats on their wal mart bikes. After submerging several tubes in water I see tiny pin hole leaks at the seams and never around the stems. No nails or thorns, just factory carp. It's funny, some tires will hold air for weeks and then won't hold air for a day. I try to replace them with above mentioned thorn proof tubes. I also save the old tubes, cut the stems off and slice them open. Then I stick the new tube in the old tube, then put it in the tire. Don't know if it helps as an extra liner or if I just like to think it does.

 

[sparky]

Using old tubes as tire liners is definitely worth it. Ya just gotta have some old ones first...

As for the leaking from the stems, I've never experienced this myself. But every time I air up my tubes, I see tiny cracks around the valve stems... and I know when I do eventually get a flat, it's going to because the cracks in the valve stem kept getting bigger and bigger.

 

[mark2yahu]

Seems like I'm still losing more than 5psi a week with the thorn-proof tubes. Don't care, I've always known that bike tubes leak a lot.

I would love to ride on a set of those to see how thye handle.

Hi Sparky; I bought just one Airfree tire to see how they ride. Like I said, it rides like a regular tire. For me, it handles like a "real" tire. The only difference is if you pick the bike up about an inch or two and drop it, it will only bounce a little and absorb the shock, compared to a pneumatic tire which will bounce pretty good and also absorb shock. Next payday I'm ordering the 2nd tire for the front wheel It's worth it...I go to the desert and out there, you can't afford to get flats.