700c x 18-23 tube in 25mm tire

[Louis]

Will a tube (Michelin) listed as good for 18-23 mm tires work safely in a 25 mm tire (PR-3)? I would think so.

What if the wheel rim is a 23mm wide rim + 25mm tire (instead of the usual 19mm wide rim)

TIA

[eBAUMANN]

absolutely, you are A O K.

[Fixed]

It is what I used to use
Cheers :)

[MattTuck]

Will a tube (Michelin) listed as good for 18-23 mm tires work safely in a 25 mm tire (PR-3)? I would think so.

What if the wheel rim is a 23mm wide rim + 25mm tire (instead of the usual 19mm wide rim)

TIA

In a situation where it needs to fit, yes. As in, an emergency situation.

But I wouldn't ride it regularly without being ready to change some flats. I think the extra volume will just require the tube to stretch more which will eventually expose weak points and lead to punctures more often.

The big indicator to me is that the bigger tubes weigh considerably more than 18-23mm tubes. In the world of cycling, I don't think people will add weight unless they need to.

PS. I'm riding my front tire with a 23mm tire and tube, and my rear with a 28mm and tube, and only carry one spare tube in the 23mm variety. Not looking forward to a puncture in the rear.... that'll be a very tense rest of the ride.

[Ken C]

I have used michelin 18-23 mm tubes in 25mm tires for years and have never had a failure as a result.

[weiwentg]

I've used 18-23mm tubes in CX tires before. without much problem.

[Black Dog]

No worries. I have done this for years. 1 flat in five years and the pot hole that caused the flat also destroyed my rim. Ride and be merry.

[FlashUNC]

Yes. Fun fact I've learned recently, a 650c tube can work in a pinch if need be. Have a pair in a set of Parigi Roubaix clinchers that were just impossible to mount with 700c tubes, and those are 700 x28c tires.

[lhuerta]

If you are talking about butyl tubes, then the answer is YES. If you are using latex, then a 23-25c tube is optimal for a 25c tire. Lou

[Louis]

If you are talking about butyl tubes, then the answer is YES.

Yup. Butyl only guy here. No latex.

[buldogge]

Hey Louis... I use 18-23c tubes in all my 25s (and 23s of course)...My 28s, 32s, and 35s I use 25-30c tubes.

Also, I use the regular 'ol QBP or Sunlite ones...they all come from either the Kenda or Cheng Shin factories anyway!

-Mark in St. Louis

[Louis]

Thanks guys. I'll use the 18-23 tubes without fear of problems. :)

[professerr]

Somewhere on the web I saw a test showing the same tire with two different sized tubes rolled more slowly with the smaller tube. It was in the single digit watts. FWIW.

[Louis]

It was in the single digit watts. FWIW.

In my case that may be a large % of my total watts...

[oldpotatoe]

Will a tube (Michelin) listed as good for 18-23 mm tires work safely in a 25 mm tire (PR-3)? I would think so.

What if the wheel rim is a 23mm wide rim + 25mm tire (instead of the usual 19mm wide rim)

TIA

Take a tube, not in a tire and inflate it....it gets REALLY big...sure, use it in a 25c tire, no problem.

We have 2 guys who ride 29ers and carry and use 26 inch tubes..'cuz they are lighter'..no kidding...

[tannhauser]

Not a fan of "it gets bigger" but hey do what you want.

[crownjewelwl]

studies have shown that mismatched tubes result in more rolling resistance

[buldogge]

Hey...Considering the range of real world sizes for 25c tires (think GP4000) I think any level of worry of 2-4mm in either direction is, well, over the top.

What is the circumference of an 18-23c tube at 90psi? What about 120??

Wouldn't you agree???

-Mark in St. Louis

Not a fan of "it gets bigger" but hey do what you want.

[tannhauser]

Hey...Considering the range of real world sizes for 25c tires (think GP4000) I think any level of worry of 2-4mm in either direction is, well, over the top.

What is the circumference of an 18-23c tube at 90psi? What about 120??

Wouldn't you agree???

-Mark in St. Louis

I wouldn't.

I'd match the real-world tire width to the closest fit of tube, erring on the smaller size.

My feeling is there is greater elasticity in a tube that is the proper size versus one that is being unnecessarily stretched, whatever that means.

2mm? No big, but we all know what's on the sidewall isn't the true tire width. I'd also do the hand scale to see which tube weighs 10x as much as the other.

Whatever. To each his own.

[Der_Kruscher]

FWIW - I have used 18-23mm tubes in my 34mm (true to listed size) 'cross tires for 5 years now without problem.

[DRietz]

Take a tube, not in a tire and inflate it....it gets REALLY big...sure, use it in a 25c tire, no problem.

We have 2 guys who ride 29ers and carry and use 26 inch tubes..'cuz they are lighter'..no kidding...

This is what I do. Ultralight 26" tubes work great!

[JAGI410]

I use 20-25c tubes in my 28s, no issues. I use 26x2.4-2.7 tubes in my 26x4.0s. Also without issue. Rubber stretches.