Good question Brian. Evidently some brands do caution that their tubes should not be used with rim brakes. The marketing info for the WTB Nanoair TPU tubes I'm using does not mention any rim brake related restrictions. Interestingly, Rene Herse states that TPU actually has a higher melting point than butyl and is perfectly safe for use with rim brakes. Tubolitos website states they are safe with both carbon and alloy rim brake wheels.
I do recall reading rumors somewhere online about problems with early TPU tubes developing leaks at the junction of the tube and the valve stem (which may or may not have been related to heat build up). To answer your question - I am trying them on a bike with disc brakes. If I purchase another set they will be for my Platypus with 650b Velocity Quill rims. Much of my riding is on mountain roads, often with long and sometimes steep descents, so I suppose I'll be doing my own field testing at that point. Steve https://www.renehersecycles.com/tpu-tubes-are-here/#:~:text=TPU%20stands%20for%20thermoplastic%20polyurethane,are%20safe%20with%20rim%20brakes. https://www.tubolito.com/faq/ https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/tech/gcn-clinic/gcn-tech-clinic-tpu-tubes-rental-bikes-and-matte-bike-maintenance# On Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 7:25:30 AM UTC-4 Brian Turner wrote: > Steve, are you using them on your Riv or another bike? I was under the > impression that TPU tubes were recommended for disc brakes only - I assume > due to the heat generated by rim brakes? I’m curious about them, but don’t > really have the right application for them in my stable. > > Brian > Lex KY > > On Apr 19, 2024, at 10:41 PM, Steve <[email protected]> wrote: > > Last evening I mounted a pair of WTB TPU inner tubes under 700c x 48mm > knobby RH tires. I was pleasantly surprised by how easily they mounted up > with just enough inflation to plump them a bit. Easier than any butyl tubes > I've ever used. > > > Today I took the bike out on my usual graveled forest service road route, > bleeding the front end down from 27 to 25 psi about 1/2 into the ride My > first impression is that they compare favorably to the ride feel of a > tubeless setup. > > Before I sip the kool aid and start buying more of these things - given > the cost - I'm wondering if anyone has had long term experience with them > (not necessarily the WTB version). Any punctures, did they patch > satisfactorily? Longevity? Your impressions of the quality? > > I'll add that they dropped about 200 grams of ugly fat from the wheels - > but that wasn't my main objective. > > Steve > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/218df2dd-6d34-4732-a344-3d04910a67cdn%40googlegroups.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/218df2dd-6d34-4732-a344-3d04910a67cdn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/c58455ca-9d1b-42e5-853e-8398c5398c38n%40googlegroups.com.
