Hello everyone. How do you set up your tires?
I like lightweight setups, so I went with a Maxxis Highroad 28C + RideNow TPU combo and
happily rode about 3,600km, but the tire has hardened and started cracking...
The wear indicator line was faintly still visible, so I wanted to take it out for one last ride before retiring it,
but when I put it on the stationary roller in the morning in my bib shorts, the tire was completely flat!
(It was deflating more than usual, so I suspected a slow puncture)
Contrary to reviews that called it a dumb tube that punctures easily, it held up well for 3 years lol. I took it out to find the cause of the slow puncture,
and aside from the casing imprint on the tube surface, there were no tears or stretched areas,
and even when fully inflated, the valve joint was intact.
Ah, here it was. Air was very slowly leaking from the valve-to-tube junction.
That area is well known for being weak, and even though it was reinforced with a transparent material, a tiny air path had formed.
I think it was either an initial manufacturing defect that only became a problem later,
or tightening the valve lock nut hard the day before may have triggered the accumulated fatigue at the junction.
Next time I'll check the junction for defects before use, and be more careful when tightening the nut lol
(Top: used tube / Bottom: new one)
TPU tubes with durable metal valves were around 9,000–14,000 KRW each on AliExpress, which seemed slightly more expensive than CST or Maxxis lightweight butyl. There are many opinions on value for money,
but from the perspective of someone using them by personal preference — they look fine on the outside, and while you might want to reuse them like butyl, it's best to discard a used one.
Unlike butyl, TPU has poor elasticity and once stretched, it doesn't shrink back easily. If you reinstall it, it can get pinched between the beads without you realizing it,
or the stretched tube surface can fold and wrinkle, making rolling resistance terrible. It ends up blowing out around the 140km mark at the pinched bead area.
(Do not reuse a tube that has been used once)
I thought the rim would explode if the TPU burst, but whether TPU or butyl, when something sharp penetrates the tire it goes bang! and deflates the same way.
If you install it carefully and manage it well, it seems you can use it for quite a long time. You have to be as careful as handling a newborn — insert it so it doesn't get pinched in the bead,
and massage it while inflating so the tube seats properly, but if you do it carelessly because it's a hassle, it'll blow quickly.
Since the air deflates anyway, I let a little air out after each ride for storage, which seems to have helped maintain tube life.
On hot days, if I have to leave it parked in front of a restaurant or café for a long time, I keep it in the shade or spray water on the rim to lower the temperature — taking care like that and riding safely lol
[Usage review summary]
1. Check the tube valve junction for initial defects before use.
2. At 28C 80psi the tube is rock hard, so rolling feel is satisfying, but road vibration hits your whole body and after 6+ hours of riding you'll be sore.
(Though if you ride frequently you get used to it)
3. Hitting small bumps makes you bounce around, so you end up standing off the saddle more often — riding habits seem to change.
4. Climbing and acceleration feel great, but top speed on flat interval sprints is similar to butyl.
5. With careful maintenance you can use it through the tire's lifespan, but reusing the tube is strongly not recommended.
That was my subjective usage review.
Thank you :)
