Staff, Courtesy of Vittoria
Most avid cyclists—whether mountain biking, commuting, road biking, or gravel biking—have punctured a tube or run into a flat tire somewhere on the road or trail. Carrying a spare tube—and knowing how to change out a damaged one—is an important part of bike safety and maintenance. These are our picks for the best bike tubes in a variety of sizes and for different styles of riding. Before you buy, make sure you know what type of valve your wheels are compatible with, as well as the dimensions of your tires.
10 Best Bike Tubes
What to Consider
Valve Type and Length
Valves come in two different types—Presta and Schrader—and varying lengths. Presta is more common, so we’ve listed more of those options. Presta valves are longer and thinner, with a screw at the top that you can adjust when you inflate them. Schrader valves are shorter and wider, and look more like car tire valves.
Make sure you know which one your bike is compatible with before purchasing. The wider Schrader valve won’t fit through a wheel rim built for a Presta, and a Presta is too narrow to fit tightly in a Schrader hole.
Sizing of Tube
This can be confusing as there are a lot of metrics and numbers to keep track of. Be sure to read all widths and diameters, and remember there are several ways of measuring (650b or 700c versus 27.5- or 29-inch models). Know what metric you’re using so you don’t wind up on the side of the road with a tube that’s the wrong size for your tire.
Road bike and gravel bike wheels will usually be listed as 700c, so you’ll need 700c tubes. Conversely, mountain bike and commuter bike wheels are typically referenced in inches. Common sizes include 26-, 27.5- (also listed as 650b), or 29-inch wheels.
To make it even more confusing, 27.5-inch wheels are the same diameter as 650b, and 29-inch wheels are about the same size as 700c, though they’re usually wider, so it’s harder to use that measurement interchangeably.
Material
Bike tubes come in a few different materials. The material or materials used will impact price, durability, and weight. Butyl rubber tubes are the most common and most affordable. They’re a bit heavier than latex, but also easier to repair.
Latex tubes are lighter and can be more puncture-resistant than rubber tubes, and the material creates less friction against the tire itself, so you’ll have more efficiency during long rides or races. It’s important to note that latex is more porous, so these can leak more air and you will have to inflate the tubes more frequently.
How We Evaluated
We looked at the different types of bikes, sizing, and riding, then narrowed down the categories to find the best options at a variety of price points and for different intended uses. We checked with bike shops, road cyclists, mountain bike riders, and casual bike commuters for their recommendations, then chose our options based on first-person use, specs, and reviews. There are a variety of sizes, weights, price points, and materials, and purposes in our picks.
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