Not all inner tubes were created equal, and today with the rapid proliferation of lightweight TPU options on the market that’s never been clearer to see. Just like with many things in the cycling world, there’s no one champion option that’s the very best, but rather a selection of great choices to suit different riding disciplines, goals, priorities and budgets.
From race-ready latex to quality butyl options, compact TPU spares to extra puncture protection designs, there’s a whole raft of inner tubes to choose from for your ride, whether you’re a committed commuter, road cyclist or gravel rider. Here we talk you through some of our favourite models, ranging from budget to high performance.
Read on for our buying advice, so you can make sure you’re selecting the right type of inner tube for you.
The best inner tubes 2025
- Continental Race 28 (700c) Wide
- Schwalbe Aerothan Tube 700C Endurance Race
- WTB Nanoair TPU Tube
- Specialized Standard Presta Valve Tube
- Michelin Protek Max Road Inner Tube
- Pirelli Cinturato SmarTube
- Vittoria Competition Latex
- Decathlon Bike Inner Tube – Presta
- Silca Latex Tube
Keep reading for more on each tube and our detailed buying advice.
Related questions you can explore with Ask Cyclist, our new AI search engine.
Why trust our advice?
Here at Cyclist, we’ve fixed a puncture or two in our time. Testing bikes and kit means a lot of time spent out on the roads and trails, which inevitably (and unfortunately) means the odd puncture here and there.
While riders may be divided on the use of tubeless setups for road and gravel use, inner tubes are the one thing that both systems require – even if it’s just as an emergency backup.
Below you’ll find options that we’ve collectively had the pleasure of trialling over the years, from the pocket to the tyre. It’s one of the few bits of kit that it’s imperative to either use or carry on every ride, so we’ve had plenty of time to get to grips with the humble inner tube.
Best inner tubes for road and gravel bikes
Continental Race 28 (700c) Wide
RRP: £7.49 | View offer
- 42mm or 60mm valve options
- Quality standard butyl tube
- 134g per tube
German brand Continental has a class-leading reputation when it comes to producing road cycling tyres and its inner tubes are no different.
There are a dizzying array of types and sizes on offer from the brand, including schrader, dunlop and presta valve types, different valve lengths, different wheel sizes including 650b, and of course, tubes to suit different tyre widths, such as 18-25mm and 25-32mm.
These tubes are made from butyl, a synthetic rubber material that’s regarded as the standard for inner tubes. While you can pick up butyl tubes cheaper, these Continental tubes give you the peace of mind that you’re kitting out your bike with a good quality product.
Schwalbe Aerothan Tube 700C Endurance Race
RRP: £27.99 | View offer
- Non-threaded 60mm plastic valve
- 100% recyclable construction
- 53g per tube
Schwalbe’s transparent plastic Aerothan tubes were designed in collaboration with international chemical and materials giant BASF. Crafted from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), the tubes are claimed to be 40% lighter than the brand’s lightest butyl tubes, yet still retain good puncture resistance.
In rolling resistance testing, the Aerothan tube is placed in the mid-field of TPU and latex tubes, and shows a rolling resistance improvement compared to butyl tubes.
The tubes are repairable, using Schwalbe’s Glueless Patches (available separately, RRP €5.90), and as the inner tubes are fully plastic, they are also recyclable.
WTB Nanoair TPU Tube
RRP: £30 | View offer
- Lightweight TPU tubes for road, gravel and MTB
- Supplied with two repair patches
- 36g per tube for 18-32mm
I’ve had one of these in my riding toolkit for the best part of a year. My only gripe is that it’s so compact that I can no longer use my favourite Wizard Works saddle bag with it, as the tube is not big enough for the straps to fit properly on the saddle rails anymore!
WTB’s tan-coloured TPU tubes are available in three sizes, intended for MTB, road and gravel, with the latter two for 700c tyre sizes between 18-32mm and 32-47mm. These latter two options both retail at £30 and weigh in at 36g and 49g respectively.
Unlike many other TPU tubes, WTB supplies each tube with two repair patches and alcohol wipes, so you don’t have to purchase your TPU-friendly patches separately.
Specialized Standard Presta Valve Tube
RRP: £7.00 | View offer
- Options for different wheel sizes, tyre widths and valve lengths
- Synthetic rubber butyl construction
- 133g per tube for 28-38mm
Specialized’s Standard Presta Valve Tube is just that – a butyl inner tube that’s designed for road and gravel riding. According to Specialized, it uses a moulding to construct each tube individually, which it claims gives the tube a consistent thickness throughout for improved quality.
The tubes come in 700c and 650b wheel sizes, with options for tyre widths between 20mm and 50mm, plus other options for mountain bike tyres.
For the most popular tyre widths, 20-28mm and 32mm-50mm, you can choose between 48mm or 60mm valve lengths, or an even longer 80mm valve for the 20-28mm option to accommodate the deepest of aero rims.
The Specialized Standard Presta Valve Tubes are nothing special, nor are they designed to be – just good quality that’ll do the job, and do it well, without breaking the bank.
Michelin Protek Max Road Inner Tube
RRP: £12.99 | View offer
- Self-sealing liquid inside for puncture protection
- Presta or schrader valve options
- 248g per tube
If you’re looking for a super durable inner tube option where weight isn’t an important factor, consider the Michelin Protek Max tubes. These chunky square-shaped tubes look like an octopus’s tentacle, with round and pill-shaped raised bumps on part of the tube’s external surface.
Inside, there’s a small amount of green liquid with tiny solid particulates that act just like sealant in a tubeless tyre, designed to seal any small holes in the tube before you lose pressure.
For minimising punctures and pressure loss on your commutes or road rides, these tubes might be worthy of your consideration, but at nearly half a kilogram for a pair, they’re far from lightweight.
Pirelli Cinturato SmarTube
RRP: £29.99 | View offer
- Lightweight TPU tube
- Designed for gravel and endurance road cycling use
- 53g per tube for 33-45mm
Pirelli has certainly embraced TPU tube technology with both arms, with no less than six TPU models from the most lightweight race-ready P Zero SmarTUBE EVO to options prioritising puncture resistance.
The Cinturato SmarTube falls somewhere in the middle of the range and is designed for endurance road cycling, adventure riding and gravel, with options for 700c and 650b tyres with a 60mm valve length.
Not only are these tubes lightweight in the tyre, but they are very compact, so spares pack down really small in your standard toolkit or bikepacking setup.
If you need to repair a Cinturato SmarTube, you need to make sure you use a TPU-specific patch kit, which, just like the tubes themselves, tend to be considerably pricier than standard alternatives.
Vittoria Competition Latex
RRP: £16.99 | View offer
- High performance latex tube
- Range of sizes available
- 98g per tube for 30-38mm option
Vittoria’s Competition Latex tubes rate very highly for minimising rolling resistance, scoring top of the charts on a test by Bicycle Rolling Resistance comparing different models of latex and TPU tubes.
The soft, supple pink tube is cut and glued, rather than moulded like a butyl tube. The latex is also coated in white talc, which stops it from sticking to itself in its packaging, nor in your tool roll.
Weight-wise, the Vittoria Competition Latex tubes sit right between butyl and lightweight TPU tubes at 98g per tube, and with a price to match.
Decathlon Bike Inner Tube - Presta
RRP: £3.99 | View offer
- Pared back, incredible value butyl rubber tube
- Non-removable valve core and non-threaded valve stem
- 115g per tube
For great value basics, Decathlon’s Bike Inner Tube is hard to beat. At just £3.99 a pop, these really won’t break the bank.
A few features have been simplified to achieve this rock-bottom price point. The valve stem is non-threaded, with no locking nut, and the valve core is non-removable.
Neither of these will affect your tube’s performance in the short run, though they could limit its versatility in the long run. For example, if there was a problem with the valve core, you wouldn’t be able to replace it with one from another tube.
This 23-32mm presta tube should suit most road bikes, and is also available in longer 60mm and 80mm valve lengths for the same price.
For a claimed 24.8% weight reduction, check out the ‘lightweight’ version of this tube for an extra £1, saving 85g.
Silca Latex Tube
RRP: £35.00 | View offer
- Lightweight latex inner tube
- Removable presta valve core and 42mm stem
- 78g per tube
Silca’s latex inner tube is suitable for up to 30mm road tyres and is one of the lightest latex models on the market at 78g per tube (claimed weight 85g).
Just like the rival model from Vittoria, the tube is cut and glued rather than moulded to shape. Unlike the latex tubes from Vittoria, the Silca option is only available in a single size.
The inner tube has a smooth alloy valve stem that measures 42mm (so be wary if you’re running deep section wheels) and a removable valve core.
- Buy the Silca Latex Tube at Sigma Sports (£29.90)
Inner tube buying advice
What are the different types of inner tubes?
Largely speaking, there are three different types of inner tubes, based on the material used; butyl, latex and TPU.
For a very long time, bicycle inner tubes have been made from butyl – a black synthetic rubber. This is a fairly thick material that’s usually combined with a metal valve stem and usually available in a huge range of sizes to suit all types of bikes. Butyl tubes range from budget options to premium quality and lightweight models.
Latex tubes used to be the gold standard in racing, formerly used as a lightweight tube inside tubular tyres for road and cyclocross racing. They’ve since been usurped by featherweight TPU tubes in terms of weight, but remain a more favourable option in terms of minimising rolling resistance. The downside of latex as an inner tube material is that it is slightly more porous, so you may find that you lose pressure between each ride.
TPU tubes have become widely available in recent years, which stands for Thermoplastic Polyurethane. These tend to be much thinner than butyl tubes, resulting in a lightweight and compact tube.
Which is the best material for inner tubes?
The best material, or type of tube, largely depends on what you are prioritising. If budget is your number one concern, then you can’t go wrong with a standard butyl tube. If you’re looking for the most lightweight or compact option possible, then TPU is likely to be your best bet. And if rolling resistance is at the top of your inner tube agenda, then latex could be a wise option, although a tubeless tyre has still lower rolling resistance.
Each material has its pros and cons, so you’ll need to weigh up which is best for you or experiment with a few different types.
Which valve type do I need, schrader or presta?
Most road and gravel bikes these days run on presta style valves, with mini pumps and track pumps that work accordingly.
Schrader valves tend to be more commonly found on older-style mountain bikes and some hybrids.
Schwalbe has also pioneered a new type, which it calls the Clik valve, designed to eliminate niggles associated with presta valves. This can be used with any pump with the addition of a pump adapter.
Why are there different valve length options?
You’ll notice that some tubes are available with different length valve options, for example 48mm, 60mm and 80mm. These longer valves are for accommodating mid-section and deep-section wheels, as the valve needs to be longer to not only travel through the wheel’s rim, but also to leave enough exposed for inflation.
If your tube’s valve isn’t long enough, you can use a valve extender. This can be a really handy piece of kit to carry if you run aero wheels, allowing you to convert standard tubes into ones that you can use.
Make sure that your spare inner tube has a long enough valve to extend through your wheel rim and allow you to fit a pump!
Can you repair punctured inner tubes?
Yes, mostly! Repairing a punctured inner tube is one of cycling’s fundamental skills, whether that’s using a glue and patch kit or opting for stick-on patches.
Complications arise when punctures are close to the valve, or particularly large – in this case, the tube may not be able to be patched effectively. In that case, remember that old inner tubes can be useful for all sorts of things, including chainstay frame protection and on workstand clamps.
Remember that most TPU tubes need to be patched using TPU-specific kits, so you’ll need to make sure you are kitted out with those if you’re opting to run TPU tubes.
Are tubes with removable valve cores better?
Often more expensive tubes are kitted out with removable valve cores. This means that if you have an issue with the valve core, for example the tip gets snapped off while inflating the tube, then you can simply replace it with the valve core from another tube, without having to ditch the whole tube.
Cheaper designs often don’t have a removable valve core, as well as some models that are designed to minimise weight.
How do I make sure I buy the right inner tube?
If you’ve still got questions about finding the right model for you, check out our guide to buying the right inner tube.
