Xt600e heavy duty inner tubes
 

Hello

Need a bit of advice about hd tubes.

Are they worth the extra cost?

If they are, can anyone recommend a good make and place to purchase from?


Thanks,
Ben

Yes, Michelin & no.

(no because haven't bothered filling out your profile so we don't know where you are?)

Mezo.

I use them aswell, for peace of mind, and not having to stand trailside with a flat, wondering about if a fatter tube would have prevented it.

The 21" front should be availible a lot of places, the 17" rear can be slightly harder to source. My local MX shop sell'em, I believe they're michelin.

I'm just ordering some spares too actually.. so any 17" MX tube will fit?
Cheers.

Get the size as close to the tiresize youre using. No problem in being a little of tho'

I ran a MX heavy duty 21" front tube on my XT600E on various terrain through Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, running Tourance's and TKC80's, Thankfully did not get any punctures, so for me, it was worth it.

Who is to say if it made any difference?

Ran a standard 17" rear and had no issues with that...

Although everyone who saw it before and during the trip was always impressed by its thickness/weight...:thumbup1:

I asked my local tire shop if I should have these fitted and the owner advised against it (thereby doing himself out of a fair bit of business), his reasoning being that a sharp object that can penetrate a steel ply tire will also go through any kind of inner tube.

I followed his advice and just bought two normal ones to carry as spares (as well as a puncture repair kit).

I can see the logic of this, but the logic works the other way too. If the tube is thicker, it takes a longer/bigger object to penetrate it, so the % likelihood of getting an object long enough to cause a flat is reduced (but not eliminated).

It's a bit like the way that new tyres get fewer punctures than worn ones. More rubber to get through.

Yeb, and you wont get pinchflats as easely.

Hi.
Yes, well worth it sometimes.
ZEN Overland - Everything Adventure & Off Road
Ask for Gabe.
Dave.

That does make sense. I think I agree.

However, there's a lot more to an inner tube than resisting sharp things. Think about the durability when fitting/removing and ability to resist pinch punctures and debris inside the rim.

I also believe that the heavy duty tubes are less likely to shred themselves up if you get a big puncture and are riding flat on it.