Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) — The New Material for Bicycle Tubes

The familiar products are being replaced by TPU tubes, now offered by several brands. TPU has many advantages over the traditional black rubber tube. But what exactly is TPU? Thermoplastics are plastics that can bemolded under heat and harden when they cool. This property makes them ideal for manufacturing bicycle tubes, as they can easily adapt to any tire size and width. On top of that, TPU tubes can be engineered to precise specifications. There is a vast range of different TPU compounds, each with different properties — in terms of elasticity, for example. This allows tubes to be manufactured almost tailor-made. The individual layers caneach have different material properties, resulting in virtually unlimited advantages. Depending on the desired application, they can be made multi-layered, equipped with more or less puncture protection, and even producedin any color.

Why TPU Bicycle Tubes for Road Bikes?

TPU tubes are fundamentally suitable for all cyclists and can be used not only in road bike tires, but also in mountain bike and gravel bike tires, as well as city and trekking bikes and even e-bikes. It is especially in the roadcycling segment that the new TPU material fully demonstrates its strengths. The advantages of an AERON/TPU tube compared to a butyl tube include the following: 

• Lighter weight 
• Lower rolling resistance 
• Smaller packed size 
• Better puncture protection 
• 100% recyclable

What Tube Options Are There for Road Bikes?

Butyl tubes have been used in bicycle tires for around 130 years. Nearly every cyclist has handled one at some point — at the latest when dealing with a flat tire. Latex bicycle tubes have also been around for quite sometime. Because they offer significantly lower rolling resistance than butyl tubes, they are particularly popular among competitive road cyclists. The downside of latex tubes is their air retention. They need to be topped off more frequently, which is not a practical option for the everyday rider. In recent years, tubeless systems have entered the picture. They are unbeatable when it comes to rolling resistance, but come with their own set of drawbacks (see below). 

What TPU Bicycle Tubes Are Available?

AERON/TPU offers bicycle tubes for almost every type of bike and every intended use. Specifically for road bike tires, you will find tubes in a variety of sizes and widths. To find out which dimensions are right for you, check out our article on choosing the correct TPU bicycle tube size. Once you've found the right size, all that's left is to choose the valve type and valve length you need. AERON/TPU tubes are available witheither a Presta valve (SV) or a Schrader valve (AV). The latter also fits rim holes originally designed for a Dunlop valve (DV) — a standard found on many road bikes. 

Are There Different Quality Levels Among AERON/TPU Tubes?

Once road cyclists have found the right size and width for their tube, they can choose between a lightweight option, a low-rolling-resistance option, an extremely flat-resistant option, or one that combines many of these characteristics — an all-around performer, so to speak. TPU tubes can be specifically tailored to your requirements. AERON/TPU offers the SuperLite Race and ExtraLite Protect models. The SuperLite Race combines extremely low weight with puncture protection comparable to butyl, while the ExtraLite Protect offers superior puncture protection while still being significantly lighter than a butyl tube.

Does a TPU Tube Actually Make Sense for Road Cycling?

We at AERON/TPU believe that choosing a TPU tube over a butyl tube makes sense in every case. The advantages are outlined above. That said, there are many different types of AERON/TPU tubes with very different characteristics. Competitive racers will certainly gravitate toward a very lightweight tube that offers the lowest possible rolling resistance. Randonneurs, on the other hand, will more likely opt for a slightly heavier product between rim and tire — one that guarantees a flat-free ride. Setting those qualities aside, AERON/TPU bicycle tubes pack down much smaller than conventional butyl tubes, making them a far better fit for any jerseypocket or tool bag. A TPU tube and road cycling — it's an absolutely perfect match. 

Tubeless or TPU Tube for Road Cycling?

This question isn't easy to answer. Let's work through it. 

In terms of rolling resistance, a tubeless setup edges out the TPU system by the slightest margin. In races, that might be an argument in favor of tubeless — but on training rides, it's probably negligible. 

Weight: The TPU system likely comes out ahead here. With a 25 mm wide tire, the sealant required inside a tubeless tire combined with its valve (whether Presta with a removable core or Schrader) and the tubeless plugs you need to carry ("bacon strips," or "tubeless plugs,") already weigh more than a single TPU tube. 

Packed size: Spare sealant (and tubeless tools) versus a TPU tube are roughly comparable in size. 

Flat protection: Tubeless has traditionally set the benchmark. If a small thorn punctures the casing, you pull it out and — after an initial puff of air escapes — the sealant seals the hole. It's fast and holds for hours, days, weeks, even months. Things get complicated when you need to repair a larger hole that the sealant alone can't handle. That's when the tubeless plugs come out. With a bit of practice, it's relatively manageable. But if a large gash — say from a piece of broken glass — tears through the casing and even multiple plugs can't save it, you'll be very glad you brought a TPU tube as a backup. Though it must be said: that's also when the sealant mess begins. And once your hands and clothing are covered in that sticky goop, more than a few riders will start wondering why they didn't just go with a flat-resistant AERON/TPU tube from the start. 

Can I Patch a TPU Tube While Road Cycling?

Of course! In addition to its wide range of tubes, AERON/TPU also offers a patch kit. The kit includes adhesive and patches that make repairing a TPU tube quick and easy. 

Interested in AERON/TPU tubes? Feel free to browse the full AERON/TPU lineup.