Tubes - How Long do Yours Last?

Who doesn't love a little Stan's money shot every once and awhile???

 

I have been tubeless for years with very little effort or issues. Any spare tubes I carry are always filled with a few ounces of Stans. The first tubeless tire I wore out had over 35 half inch thorns through the tire plus tons of smaller ones. This was after a season riding Palm Canyon and AZ lots. If you have to put in a tube you don't always get all the thorns. If you don't get all the thorns and your tube doesn't have sealant you aren't going to get very far.

Found the pics I took:

 

Too much Stan's?

 

Wouldn't a tube be lighter than that?

 

Who knew that this was gonna turn into a tubes vs Stans debate?

 

2oz. Is all I've used per tire. I lose a couple psi every 3 to 4 days. After seeing that photo above, are you guys using about the same as me or doing a double or triple dosage? What's the standard or norm?

 

The Conti sealant I'm using doesn't make boogers and animals inside the tire... And I've been flatless since starting with it...

 

I pick up quite a few at Chino Hills...especially in the back part of the park.

As the Russian Thistle dries out, it becomes just as bad as goatheads.

PCE I really never see the thorns out there....my concern is more running over the cactus.

 

So true and I have found out the hard way too. Problem (for me anyways) was taking the tube out of the box. I have found if you leave the tube boxed the seat sack won't wear a hole in it. You can crunch the box a little if you have a small sack.

 

Eventually yes. A typical 29'r tube weigh 200 grams. 20 oz of Stans is 60 grams. I imagine if you continue to add Stans with out cleaning out the tire, the weight would exceed a tube's weight.

 

To avoid this!


I just cracked open my fourth box of these 100 count boxes.

 

I get that but why are you getting so many thorns? What are you doing different than me? Do you ride off trail a lot? I've ridden all over and 98% of my punctures are from pinch flats. Very rarely is it from a thorn.

 

It's roughly 28 grams per oz. 20 oz is closer to 600 grams or 3 of the tubes.

 

Our trails out here are covered with them. My son and I both flatted two days ago. I think it's because most of the trails/open space are in former agriculture areas, and that's where these are the worst. My only guess, as I definitely don't intentionally go after them!!!

 

Oops, I meant 2 oz .

 

Whoever invents the affordable Kevlar (or equivalent) tire that satisfies both weight weenies and weekend warriors on weight and price will be richer than Bill Gates.

 

And you can crunch the box a lot if you have a large sack!

 

I just had a brain cramp...can you intertwine carbon nanotubes in the shape of a tire? Will they hold said shape? Will they hold air? Can you use a tire lever to mount/dismount? Will Stans adversely affect them?

Paging Dr. Varaxis....Dr. Varaxis. I can't be looking this stuff up. Please assist in Lab 3.

 

There are 1-3 mm thorns I've seen many of in my tires in the last few months. You have to find every single one and pull them out one by one. Not sure if they're the tips of the goatheads or different. Stickers I've never even heard of. But goatheads I've hit in La Tuna and Cherry Canyon. They're probably all over SoCal I imagine.

I've thought about going tubeless but in the Lopes/Lee book, I think Lee gave up on tubeless and he's a trainer/pro. I've heard PITA for tubeless with burping, installing, etc but honestly either way is a PITA.

I literally no longer ride the 4 miles on streets to the trailhead anymore due to the goathead and thorns issues.

Also, strangely enough, I had 3 goatheads on front and 1 goathead on rear and left them in as an experiment (b/c I've noticed when you remove them it immediately leaks air). They came out by themselves (all of them) and apparently no leakage for days. Seems strange.

I've bought 4 slime tubes. They seem pretty heavy but maybe worth a try.

 

Tubeless are not a PIA if you set them up right. I've been running them since late 2012 and can count the number of flat issues I've had on one thumb.

 

I'm not going to debate the issue. This thread was suppose to be about how much use people get out of their tubes. Not a discussion on going tubeless. If you like tubeless, that's great! I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. I on the other hand, through my own personal experiences have come up with my own conclusions. I ride in all the same places as every one else does and I just don't have the same issues with thorns that everyone else seems to be having.

Are there advantages to tubeless? Yes.
Do I feel the negatives of tubes are exaggerated? Yes.
Do I like paying $90.00 for a Tubeless tire? No
If you get a flat with Stans what do you do? You still put a tube in it but now you have to deal with a mess and hope the Stans didn't locktight the valve stem on.

This is just my opinion and the last I will comment on the subject.

 

$90.... ?!?!?! What the hell are you buying for $90?!?!?

 

I like my tubeless setup (Mountain Kings and Conti sealant), but in all honesty, the Slime tubes were just as reliable for me. I haven't ridden my FS bike in a year, and the tires with slime tubes are still holding air. I also use them in my road bike, and have not had a flat in the last couple years, when paired with Conti Gatorskins.

The basic principle is the same between Slime tubes and tubeless... A sealant will find a leak and repair it when needed. The last time I changed a tire (new tire install) with a slime tube, it was apparent that it had saved my bacon several dozen times.

 

Ohh, you are just baiting him to comment just one more time...

 

And to think all I wanted to know was how long all y'all's tubes tended to last. I specifically excluded you tubeless fanatics at the get-go! Ain't this place great? A lengthy debate over tubes vs tubeless.

I still want Varaxis to answer me on the carbon nanotube tire thingy though.

 

I can't say I've ever worn out a tube, just destroyed them with pinch flats and thorns.

The main reason I went tubeless was to end pinch flats. With slime tubes you can still get those. Tubeless, I have only had it once (most recent Moab trip) where I hit so hard the tire got snakebit. And zero problems with thorns. I don't consider tubeless discussion irrelevant to OP's question.

 

Two tubeless tires and sealant.

 

I get years on a tube. The road has been good to me only have had to change 3 or 4 in 50 years of riding. I do run slime when riding Arizona trails. I have pinched in rocks but I carry a patch kit and should have been running higher pressure. Does it count if I continue to use the tube after patching. I run a tube until it develops old age cracks.

 

I think patched tubes counts in the age criteria. Bottom line is how much bang for the buck and as @rojomas pointed out, this is not a tube vs tubeless thread, it's all about lifespan of tubes. Thanks for the input!