Bicycle Tubes
There are three questions that must be answered when trying to find the correct tube. Unless you have a very unusual st up, it is pretty simple.
1. What size tire do you have? Tubes are sized similarly to tires. The one difference is that tubes are often sized for a range of tire sizes. A 700x23 tire usually uses a tire that is sized 700x18-23. Tubes stretch to fit tires, so even a tube that is slightly to narrow for your tire will probably work just fine, it wouldn't be unusual to run a 26"x1.75-2 tube in a 26x2.15 MTB tire. But having too wide a tube can be a problem as the tube will fold over on itself when inflated causing a puncture.
2. What kind of valve is your rim drilled for? There are two options: Schraeder and Presta. A schraeder valve looks like the valve on a car tire. A presta valve looks absolutely nothing like the valve on a car tire. Not even close. Presta valves are more common on bikes, so if you ask the bike shop for a tube with a normal valve, chances are it will be presta. Rims drilled for schraeder valves can be converted to presta using a Wheel Mfg Presta Stem Savers. Schraeder valves cannot be used with rims drilled for presta. It just won't fit.
3. What kind of riding do you do? Racing riders usually use lightweight tubes like the Michelin A1/B1 Aircomp Tube. Recreational road riders will be best served with Quality 700x35-43 32mm-Presta Valve Road Tube, which is considered 'standard weight'. Innova Thorn Resistant Tube are popular with kids' bikes and utility bikes (but are only available with schraeder valves). Our rule of thumb when selecting a tube is: 'Don't get the cheapest one, but you don't need the most expensive either.' Cheap tubes tend to be made with more pronounced seams and uneven rubber which can lead to blowouts. Mid-range tubes tend to be the best value. When you need the light (expensive) ones, you'll know.
Valve Length
As deep section aerodynamic road wheels become more popular, more riders need tubes with longer presta valves. Rim depth is measured in millimeters. Presta valves are also measured in millimeters. When shopping for a wheelset know your rim depth, some very deep rims will make finding compatible tubes very difficult!
You need a valve slightly longer than your rim is deep. So if you have a 46mm deep rim, 60mm presta valve will give you about a 14 mm of valve to clamp a pump on to. Which is about perfect.
Having too short a presta valve will leave you unable to inflate the tire. There is no functional problem with having too long a valve, but some riders would say it looks odd. Valve extenders, commonly used on tubular tires, can be used to extend the presta valves of tubes with removable valve cores.
More questions regarding tube selection? Contact us at (800)479-9350 or sales@bicycletires.com.