Road Bike Tubes

Road Bike Tubes

Road bike tubes tend to all look the same, but when you delve a little deeper, you’ll find that while they’re similar, there are several differences. At BikeExchange, we have many inner bike tubes to choose from, and you’ll find the perfect size to match your bike in our store.

When replacing inner tubes for bicycles, you must get your bike’s correct size and type. You may need to replace these more frequently than road bike inner tubes with a mountain bike inner tube. When looking at inner tubes for sale, the size, valve type, and weight to puncture resistance are some of the variables you’ll encounter. Choosing the inner tube best suited to the style of riding you do is the best way to get the most value when you buy bike tubes.

If you’ve spent time repairing push bike tubes, then you should be reasonably confident in replacing inner tubes. Inner tubes are very affordable, and some riders will pack spare racing bike tubes when they head out for a training session. Replacement cycling tubes should be part of your gear, and regular inspections should tell you when the tubes are ready to be replaced.

How to choose road bike tubes?

Choosing the correct road bike tubes for your bike is essential for a good fit and for the tube to work effectively. You need to know two dimensions to pick the correct tube: the diameter of your wheel and your tyre width. You can find these dimensions by looking at your bike wheels. They’ll usually be marked as diameter x width.

When looking at your bike tyre, the first number recorded is the diameter. You’ll find that many road bikes will use 700c. However, other standard sizes include 20, 24, 27.5, and 29. The exact size of your wheels will depend on the size of your bike. The following number marked on the tyre is the width, and this number is often between 1 and 3 inches.

The diameter measurement is most important when choosing your road bike tubes, whereas the width measurement does not. As inner tubes can stretch, they’ll often be sold in a range of widths, so provided you buy bike tubes that cover your tyre width, it’ll fit perfectly.

You may find that some bike tyres have the dimensions marked in millimetres, but they are marked in the same manner. For example, your road bike tyre may be marked as 700c x 18mm. The 700c tyre is standard in many road and gravel bikes, often marked in millimetres. The 700c tyre is of French origins and was used to standardise road bike tyre sizes, as 700mm was close to 28-inch tyres. This French system of measuring tyres has mostly fallen away, but the 700c remains because it is the most common metric size used in road bikes.

How to change road bike tubes?

The first step of replacing road bike tubes is removing the wheel from your bike frame. After you have the wheel off, you can get your tools organised. You’ll need a bike tyre lever, a replacement tube, and an air pump.

With the wheel removed, you can unscrew the valve cap (deflate the tube if it is not currently flat) and then stick the screwdrivers or tyre lever between the tyre and the rim. You can slide the levers around the tyre and pull out the tube as you go around the circumference. Taking the tyre completely off isn’t necessary, as only one side needs to be free from the rim.

After the old inner tube is released, you can check the tyre for any punctures that may harm the new tube. Once you inspect the tyre and it is clear, you can insert the new inner tube. When the tube is halfway in, and the valve is in the correct location, you can inflate the tube to around 50% capacity. You can work the tyre back into the rim with the tube half-inflated. You may need to use your levers to get the last section into the rim. You can use reasonable force, but you still want to be careful at this stage as too much pressure may pop your new inner tube, and you’ll need to start over with a fresh one.

Finally, use an air pump to inflate the tyre, then you can replace the valve cap and put the wheel back on your bike.

How often should you change road bike tubes?

Road bike tubes will lose air during normal usage, and you should regularly check your tyre pressures. Riding both on high and low-pressure tyres is the quickest way to get a puncture and ruin your inner tubes. Additionally, the riding you do will affect how long the inner tubes will last.

It is possible to get a flat tyre for various reasons, and most cyclists will have a few road bike tubes on hand so they can be replaced at any time. If you are reasonably skilled and have the correct gear, you can replace a tube in a few minutes. However, even if you don’t get a puncture, your inner tubes will wear out over time, and they’ll need to be replaced.

As a guide, you may need to replace your road bike tubes once every five years under regular usage and every two to three years in demanding riding conditions.

At BikeExchange, you can find all types of road bike tubes to suit any bike in Australia. In addition to quality cycling tubes, you can find brake pads, bottle cages, handlebar tape, clip-in pedals, cycling computers, and other accessories. We also stock Liv bikes and Lazer helmets suitable for all riders. Shop today to find your best cycling accessories.