Tube Question

[uforgot]

I've purchased quite a few road tires for my Jamis, but I've had my Trek fx since Oct. and just had my first flat. The tire says 700 by 34c, so my son stopped at my lbs, (where he goes to school) with a note saying that I needed 700 by 34 tubes. Well, when I got home there were the 700 by 28-32c tubes that I usually get for my road bike. I thought he made a mistake so I emailed him and he assured me that this was the tire he uses on all bikes and it would go up to 34c no problem. I installed the tire, pumped it up and while I was putting the rear wheel back on, it exploded. And of course I had my face right next to it! I emailed him and asked him about it (after my hearing returned) and he said I must have seated it wrong on the rim. It was not the tube. I've gone to this lbs for several years, and have never had anything but great service.

Opinions? Is this what people normally get for 34c tubes? Why won't he just sell me the correct size? Just want to hear what you guys think...

[Veronica]

I often use smaller tubes in my tires - like 23s in my 27s. Sounds like maybe as you put the tube in, it got pinched between the tire and the rim.

V.

[DebW]

The tube size was fine. Tubes can stretch enough to accommodate a range of widths (even beyond the box label). The LBS guy was right. You need to be more careful with installing and inflating the tire. Blowouts are (almost) never the fault of the tube, but rather a problem with the tire seating. So remount the tire with a new tube. You should have a bit of air in the tube before you install the tire so that the tube holds its shape and stays out of trouble. Be sure that the tube is completely within the tire (not between tire and rim or bead and rim). After the tire is installed, inflate to about 25 psi. Now carefully check on both sides of the tire that the bead is seated evenly all the way around. If one part is too high or too low, let out air and reseat it and try again. Once you are sure that the bead is seated properly, inflate to full pressure. If you have repeated problems with the same tire, the bead may be damaged and the tire need replacement. But chances are that installing more carefully is all that's needed. Good luck.

[Dogmama]

Another thing I do is when the tube is inflated to ~25 pounds, I go around the sidewall & pinch it in, checking to make sure that the tube is not pinched between the rim & the tire. Be sure to check both sides.

A tire blowing up in your face! Yikes! Clean up by Maytag, eh?

[uforgot]

Thanks everyone, for your replies. Okay, okay, I'll give it another shot. Just one more question, though, is there a reason for putting a smaller tube in a tire? Why not just put in the correct size? I figure if others are doing it, maybe there is some benefit to it.

Thanks again, I can always count on you guys! oops, gals!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another thing I do is when the tube is inflated to ~25 pounds, I go around the sidewall & pinch it in, checking to make sure that the tube is not pinched between the rim & the tire. Be sure to check both sides.

My DH says that after doing that, you should also lightly bounce the wheel and tire on the ground while turning and rotating it at low pressure- this helps settle the tube inside evenly too, eliminating pinches or folds.

[KnottedYet]

I was under the impression that was the correct size. Tires come in gradations of every two mm or so, and tubes are in larger gradations. You get the tube with the range that suits the specific tire width.

(kinda like jeans come in sizes 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18, etc and underwear comes in S,M,L,XL)

I love my LBS, cuz they are willing to explain everything to me, even when all I'm doing is buying a tube!

www.recycledcycles.com

[uforgot]

I was under the impression that was the correct size. Tires come in gradations of every two mm or so, and tubes are in larger gradations. You get the tube with the range that suits the specific tire width.

(kinda like jeans come in sizes 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18, etc and underwear comes in S,M,L,XL)

I love my LBS, cuz they are willing to explain everything to me, even when all I'm doing is buying a tube!

www.recycledcycles.com

The tire was 35c, the tube was 29-32c. That is not in the range of the tire. That is why I was wondering why it seems to be normal to put a smaller tubes in larger tires.

[uforgot]

My DH says that after doing that, you should also lightly bounce the wheel and tire on the ground while turning and rotating it at low pressure- this helps settle the tube inside evenly too, eliminating pinches or folds.

Thanks Lisa! I installed another one, did what your dh said, and it worked. Tire is good to go. By the way, that tan Brooks saddle on your blue bike looks terrific! Every time I see your avatar, it makes me want to get my bike painted mint green (I've been thinking about this for awhile) and go with the honey saddle! Not something you see every day...I love it!

[Triskeliongirl]

I always prefer to install tubes a tad smaller than the width of the tire, just cuz they are easier to install without getting pinch flats as you experienced the first time.

[KnottedYet]

The tire was 35c, the tube was 29-32c. That is not in the range of the tire. That is why I was wondering why it seems to be normal to put a smaller tubes in larger tires.

Oh, got it now. Sorry.

[DebW]

Looking at some available tubes, there are 28-32 and 35-38 by Performance and 20-28 and 28-38 by Specialized, 25-32 and 35-40 by Michelin. So 34 is in between sizes in some brands. The guys at my LBS keep trying to get Specialized to change the labeling on their tubes because they use the 20-28s up to 32 (or something like that). Anyway, tubes are very stretchy and just expand to fill the tire volume, so the stated widths aren't exact. Better to use a tube labeled for a smaller tire than one labeled for a larger tire if your tire is in the middle.

[uforgot]

I always prefer to install tubes a tad smaller than the width of the tire, just cuz they are easier to install without getting pinch flats as you experienced the first time.

"easier to install"...AHA! I just KNEW there had to be a reason. If it's easier to install, then I'm in!

Deb, the guy at my lbs today showed me two brands of tires that were labelled different sizes, yet when he took them out of the box they were the same size.

Thanks Deb, Dogmama, Knotted, Veronica, Triskeliongirl, and Lisa. It's great that I have a place I can ask any question. Sometimes I feel like a total bike dork, but the forum always puts me at ease.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks Deb, Dogmama, Knotted, Veronica, Triskeliongirl, and Lisa. It's great that I have a place I can ask any question. Sometimes I feel like a total bike dork, but the forum always puts me at ease.

Hey I was a total bike dork only 4 short months ago! But now, thanks to this forum, my knowledgeable and patient DH, and applying myself diligently to the in-depth study of all things bicyclette for months, -I'm only a moderate bike dork!

I agree with you....I think a pale green bike with a honey saddle would be the most divine combination. Maybe one day I'll have to repaint my blue bike for some reason (the color of which I like well enough for now) and then I'll Go for it. I like a creamy pale green myself, sort of 1920's kitchen green...

[uforgot]

Hey I was a total bike dork only 4 short months ago! But now, thanks to this forum, my knowledgeable and patient DH, and applying myself diligently to the in-depth study of all things bicyclette for months, -I'm only a moderate bike dork!

I agree with you....I think a pale green bike with a honey saddle would be the most divine combination. Maybe one day I'll have to repaint my blue bike for some reason (the color of which I like well enough for now) and then I'll Go for it. I like a creamy pale green myself, sort of 1920's kitchen green...

Oh, but I LOVE the blue. I just didn't want to copy! I think that honey saddle on a Bianchi Celeste would look great also. Think we are reverting back to our childhood? My Sears & Roebuck bike was bright blue with a tan saddle and tan grips, and since I'm going to be 52 in a few weeks...maybe we have the same retro issues!