First impressions from super lightweight TPU tubes as a spare for a road bike

Published at December 21, 2023

I ride tubes, but usually don’t carry a spare. Okay, I’ve said it. No, really, 99% of the time pre-glued patch kit is enough for me. I become so lazy, I’ve even stopped to dismount the wheel from the bike and get only pierced portion of the tube out. It looks like this:

Punctured butyl tire

For some reason I prefer to have my tool bag as lightweight as possible so I can put it into a back pocket. I have all necessary tools with me, but spare tube is just taking too much space. Of course this only works because The Netherlands is a such develop country, that cycle paths are perfect almost everywhere. The only time I really needed a replacement tube was when I had a puncture very near the valve and patch didn’t not work there well enough.

Then someone hinted me about those super-lightweight TPU tubes from oriental sellers on ali-every-body-knows-express-website. So I ordered myself some random stuff.

TPU tubes in a box

Well, they are really small indeed and I think I’m going to try them as a spare. That means no way I’m going to use them daily, but as a spare to take me home after unsuccessful enough ride - why not?

TPU tube small size comparison

Some things to consider about TPU tubes:

  • TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) material is pretty flexible and lightweight. But remember that those tubes are generally made with thinner walls, that’s where their reduced weight comes from. So I would not ride them daily anyway. For me it’s just a spare to continue ride and get home.

  • Manufacturers claim that they can be patched as well, but I would take it with a grain of salt. So please try your patch kit on those tubes before you start depending on them.

  • This stuff is okay for road biking, where minimising overall weight (and potentially enhanced acceleration and climbing capabilities) is a priority. However, they are not suitable for rough terrain or mountain biking, where durability is more important than weight.

  • Avoid over-inflating the tube when you’re installing it. I would make a gentle blow with the mouth to just put them into round shape before installation. TPU material may be more susceptible to bursting compared to thicker tubes. When installed I wouldn’t go over 100 PSI (especially considering place where I sourced them).

Have a nice ride!