Does the Brand of Inner Tube Matter? (2023 Edition)

I’ve been biking for as long as I can remember, so I’ve seen my fair share of inner tubes. Changing a flat on my bike, a friend’s bike, or a kid’s bike, whatever the case, I always seem to be the one to volunteer assistance.

After the years, I’ve realized that most riders could use insight into their inner tubes and which ones are worth the money and which will leave you stranded on the trail.

In this article, I will share what I’ve learned with you from my years of experience changing uncounted flats, blown or pinched tubes, and which ones are worth the money. I’ll talk about the brands available and which ones I trust on my bike.

Bike inner tubes are easily found, but not all brands are created with the same precision or even the same materials. Natural rubber is one of the best materials for inner tubes, but distinguishing the material composition can be challenging.

What to Consider When Choosing Inner Tubes

As I’m sure you’ve guessed, there are many types and sizes of inner tubes. Don’t worry; I will break it down for you, including the things that most people don’t consider but probably should.

Size

The size of the inner tube matters. Most people know this, so that I won’t go into too much detail. However, I’ve ordered the measurements by popularity because I think that from the people I’ve talked to, about 95% of people instantly understand that an inner tube size must correspond to the wheel size in terms of diameter, so we’ll start there.

Diameter

The inner tube diameter will correspond to the wheel and tire diameters. For example, a kid’s MTBs might be 20″ or 24″. Most teenagers will ride ‘adult’ bikes, so the next group is generally for those of adult stature. These sizes include the typical 26″, 27.5″, and 29″ for mountain bikes.

Width

Width is where we lose about 20% of the 95% who understood the critical nature of diameter for inner tube selection. There is a much wider variance in the different tube widths than in the tube diameter. Read more about tire widths in this article 👉 How Wide of a Tire Can I Put on My Bike

When shopping for mountain bike inner tubes, you’ll come across widths ranging from 2″ to 3.5″. The most common in the US is 2.15″ and 2.25″.

Thickness

Thickness chops about 60% of our remaining folks who look for inner tubes. Most people don’t consider the thickness of their inner tubes. I actually wrote a whole article discussing inner tube thickness, which you can read here.

To sum it up, the thicker the inner tube, the more it weighs. The more it weighs, the harder it is to accelerate quickly. Heavy wheels with heavy tubes and heavy tires make for very sluggish handling. Furthermore, once you get them up to speed, the extra weight holds your momentum, increasing the stopping distance.

How Size of Inner Tube Relates To Brand

From my experience, the only relation between bike inner tube size and inner tube brand is that some companies market to the road bike crowd. Many road bikes use metric sizes like the classic 700. With that in mind, plenty of companies try to attack both fronts so that you won’t find much correlation between size and quality.

Valve Type

Valves are a consideration you are best to keep in mind when you purchase new inner tubes. You’ll come across two distinct types in North America and a third in Europe. Again, I recommend you take a look at my in-depth article where I share my experience with the different types of tube and tire valves for mountain bikes.

For those of you who don’t want to bother reading about the different valve types, here’s the basic run-down:

Schrader

Schrader valves are those used on car tires and low to mid-range bikes. Further to the point, any MTB you find in a big box department store will likely use Schrader valves (on tires with inner tubes).

Presta

Presta valves have a better seal than Schrader, and they are slimmer. However, Presta valves are only typically used on high-end mountain bikes.

To install a tire or tube with a Presta valve, you’ll need a small adapter to fit air pumps set up for Schrader valves.

Woods, Dunlop, English, and Blitz Valves

Woods, Dunlop, English, and Blitz valves are all the same – just different names. I was hoping you wouldn’t ask me why they have other names, although my guess is geography. The Woods valve is like a hybrid of sorts.

Its concept resembles the Schrader, with a pressure-release piston inside the outer threaded cylinder. However, the outer threaded cylinder is only as wide as a Presta valve, which is less wide than a Schrader valve.

Woods valves require an adapter, much like the Presta valve, to use a common Schrader-style air pump like those found at gas stations and on 99% of air pumps.

What Valve Type Reveals About a Brand

If we are going to consider if brand affects the inner tube, then let’s consider, for a moment, the valve. As I mentioned above, the higher-end bikes, which means more than just mountain bikes, but also getting into road bikes, use mostly Presta valves.

Let’s consider that Presta valves have a better seal and tend to leak less than their Schrader counterparts. We can assume that the quality of materials might also be better as it runs in line with the upgraded valve type. After all, no one with a high-end bike wants to buy an inner tube that will blow up on the trail, potentially causing an accident or damage to a tire or rim.

The Role of Brand Reputation in Inner Tube Quality

Let’s talk about marketing for a second. Yes, it is relevant, so hear me out. When discussing brand recognition and reputation, these two are often synonymous with the company’s marketing budget depth. Case in point when you search on Amazon for a bike inner tube.

Brand reputation is slightly different. We rely on reviews and those who are neck-deep in the industry to steer us in the right direction. Furthermore, we also want to consider the depth to which a company that produces inner tubes goes in terms of quality control and research, and design.

Choosing a reputable brand of the inner tube is a wise decision because reputable brands often have better quality than their competitors. However, just don’t mistake recognition for reputation. It really make you wonder if all bike inner tubes are the same.

How To Tell If an Inner Tube Is Good (By Brand)

Hunting for the best inner tube, and the first thing that comes to mind (for me) is warranty. Sure, a company is going to say they aren’t liable because you could ride over something, but good inner tube manufacturers will offer a warranty on defective products. Here’s my general rule to test if a brand is trustworthy:

1. How long do I expect the product to last.?
2. Is the warranty period as long as the expected life of the product?
3. What is the cost of failure?

If the warranty is less than I expect the product to last, then the manufacturer does not have confidence in their product (don’t buy it). If the warranty is equal to, or greater than, the expected life expectancy of the product, then it’s trusted by the manufacturer, and therefore, as long as you can accept the price, it’s a good buy.

The Argument for Trying Lesser-Known Brands

Big brand or a little brand? Are we talking about David and Goliath here?

One thing I like to do is explore new things. That means when I go into a bike shop, I pick up new products and take a look. Here’s what I look for:

1. What makes a product stand out? Is it innovative or an improvement in some way?
2. Where was the product made? I don’t mean to sound biased, but I prefer supporting companies that are in my own country or at least one of our close trade partners. I’m not up for buying cheap goods from somewhere just because they are cheap.
   You often get what you pay for. So, when I see a new product, I look at the label to see if I’m buying something to benefit a company here or is it sending my money overseas.

One of the things I like about new and potentially innovative brands is that a new brand will often strive for two things.

First, they strive to have good quality (no new brand wants to tarnish their name right out of the gate), and second, a new brand needs competitive pricing to get started. Again, no brand is going to come out of the gate at a higher-than-market price point.

Top Inner Tube Brands: An Overview

There are a large number of bike inner tube manufacturers. However, some stand out above the others for their respected products, low price, or brand recognition. Here are some of the top-rated brands available for inner tubes:

Recognized Brands

• Michelin
• Continental (my favorite brand of the bunch)

If you’re like me, then the first thing that came to mind when reading the above brands is automotive tires. You wouldn’t be wrong either. In my opinion, these companies probably have the biggest source pool of data on rubber for the purpose of tires (and inner tubes).

I mean, each one makes (or has made) Formula 1 tires. My estimation is that if you’re making tires for Formula 1, you know a thing or two about rubber. So, you really can’t go wrong with these brands.

All three of these brands have more reviews than you can shake a stick at, and they are in the thousands to tens of thousands. All get mid to high 4.5/5 range scores, so all three of these are, in my opinion, best tube for your buck, so to speak.

Mid to High-End Brands

• Schwalbe
• Evo

If I’m going to be completely honest with you, I would consider the three big brands that you recognize from the automotive world as industry leaders in rubber technology. With that said, these two brands I’m mentioning are my ‘honorable mentions’ after the big three.

Both Evo and Schwalbe make decent inner tubes. You’ll find these brands in many stores and online, so replacing like-for-like isn’t an issue with these.

The plentiful reviews I read had very little to say about the poor quality, and we’re talking hundreds to thousands of reviews scoring these in the mid-4.5/5 range.

Budget Brands

• Bell
• Schwinn
• Slime
• Hapleby

Saving money might be a top priority over weight and performance. If that is the case (and I’m not knocking it, trust me) then you probably recognize one of these brands. Bell, Schwinn, and Slime are all heavy-hitters in the budget inner tube arena.

Frankly, there’s nothing wrong with any of these brands. What you’ll save in money, you’ll gain in weight. If you aren’t too concerned with acceleration, or if you don’t ride often, then just use one of these brands.

All of these brands have a lot of reviews online, with the first three coming in with literally tens of thousands. They all score in the mid 4.5/5 range, too, so none are a bad buy, in my opinion (although these are too heavy for my personal taste).

Real-World Experiences: Cyclists Share Their Thoughts

I know I told you about the reviews of the brands I’ve mentioned, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m going to pick a few to share that really stood out to me.

Michelin

My Thoughts On Michelin

Michelin is synonymous with tires. I lived in Toronto for a while, and you could say to someone there, ‘I need a set of Michelins for my car,’ and they would know exactly what I mean. Michelin has a proven track record, and they’ve been researching rubber for decades. The Michelin AirStop inner tubes (Butyl composite) are really light and decent inner tubes.

What Customers Say

Pros

Here’s a typical, recent review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

D. K.

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Good Price

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 8, 2020

Verified Purchase

Fast shipping great price held air, no problems.

Cons

Here’s a typical, recent poor review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Katie Edgerley

4.0 out of 5 stars

 Good for price

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 15, 2019

Verified Purchase

My husband used these for his bike tires. They are good for the price but need to be aired every once in a while.

4 out of 5 was the worst review I could find within the last three years. That says something about the brand’s quality.

Continental

My Thoughts On Continental

Continental tires are very much like Michelin tires in the sense that they have been manufacturing rubber tires for decades. I’ve had continental inner tubes before, and they work fine. They are actually my current go-to for inner tubes.

What Customers Say

Pros

Here’s a typical, recent review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

michael surrency

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Great tubes

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 22, 2022

Verified Purchase

Best tubes I have found for biking.

Cons

Here’s a typical, recent poor review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

David H

3.0 out of 5 stars

 They are not as good as I thought they would be

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 25, 2022

Verified Purchase

One tube has been fine. But the other one had a slow leak from the valve

Schwalbe

My Thoughts On Schwalbe

Schwalbe is a decent brand of inner tubes. I don’t use them myself, preferring to stick with my Continentals, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about the brand. I’ve even replaced like-for-like for a friend of mine who swears by Schwalbe inner tubes.

What Customers Say

Pros

Here’s a typical, recent review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Great value for money

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 25, 2022

Verified Purchase

Great value for the money for the genuine article.

Cons

Here’s a typical, recent poor review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Kevin

1.0 out of 5 stars

 Gefekt

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on March 28, 2023

Verified Purchase

The hoses are losing air

Evo

My Thoughts On Evo

Aside from the hip name, Evo is another decent brand when it comes to inner tube manufacture. I’ve not used them personally, but after reviewing their products and other reviews from other cyclists, I’d have to say this is a decent mid-line brand that probably won’t steer you wrong.

What Customers Say

Pros

Here’s a typical, recent review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Cal

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Lightweight and compact.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 16, 2016

Verified Purchase

This tube is good quality and arrived exactly how it was described. It took and held air just as it was supposed to.

Packaging was surprisingly simple, it was just in a zip lock back with a rubber band around the tube, perfect to just throw in your pack in case of a flat. I also noticed it is quite lightweight. There really isn’t a whole lot more to say about a tube, but I am really happy with it, and this was less expensive than the other tubes I bought from the local bike shop.

Cons

Here’s a typical, recent poor review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

bn

3.0 out of 5 stars

 1 out of 2 was good.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 17, 2017

Verified Purchase

One tube was sliced before I could even put it on my wheel. I was putting in a small amount of air to make the installation easier, and it looked like what would be a pinch flat was not allowing the tire to fill. The cuts were sizable, and the tube was never even put on the bike so it could not have been a pinch flat. The cuts were probably 1/2″ each. I’ll post photos later. Three stars because the 2nd one works. I actually had one of these exact brand of tubes I purchased from a bike shop here have the same exact issue but on a 26″ wheel. Buy some patches along with these tubes.

Bell

My Thoughts On Bell

Bell is the McDonalds of inner tubes (actually made by Kenda for the Bell brand). They are mediocre quality, but they are also very cheap and readily available. Worth the headache? Not sure. The verdict is still carrying their bike home due to a flat.

What Customers Say

Pros

Here’s a typical, recent positive review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Jake

5.0 out of 5 stars

 I like these better than slime

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 4, 2023

Style: Self Seal

Product Name: TubeColor: 26″x1.75-2.25″ Schrader – Verified Purchase

This is my go-to for self-sealing tubes. They work pretty well against thorns and seal right back up days later if you spin them after inflating. The sealant inside is white and not as obviously messy when it comes out and gets on clothing or hands etc… This is why I like it better than slime, performance wise it’s the same or better. There is a fibrous pulp inside it that can clog up valve stems after several inflate/deflate cycles .. it’s handy to have a few spare valve inserts if you’ve been running them for a while.

Cons

Here’s a typical, recent poor review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Glacier

1.0 out of 5 stars

 Don’t trust it

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 1, 2023

Style: Standard

Product Name: TubeColor: 700 x 35-43c Presta – Verified Purchase

I ordered two. At about $6 per tube, I figured it’d be ok if one was bad. I installed one, pumped it up, and it was fine overnight and on a 2 mile trip to school, but after when I was getting ready to go back I found it was flat. I figured it was fine as I had 2. Well the other one had the same issue! Both tubes developed incredibly small holes not caused by a puncture or any other issues than just being poorly made.

Schwinn

My Thoughts On Schwinn

Schwinn is like the top of the low-end. I guess that makes them a solid mid-range brand, does it? Schwinn makes bikes and accessories, including inner tubes. They are basic, run-of-the-mill, and cheaper than a lot of other brands. The Schwinn inner tubes I’ve worked with were pretty much on par with the Bell (Kenda) inner tubes.

What Customers Say

Pros

Here’s a typical, recent positive review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Nomad Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Good tube, works well

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 1, 2023

Style: Self-sealing

Size: 700c x 35-42mm – Verified Purchase

This tube installed and held air well.

Cons

Here’s a typical, recent poor review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Base Aware

1.0 out of 5 stars

 No good

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 11, 2022

Style: Self-sealing

Size: 27.5-Inch x 1.75-2.125-Inch – Verified Purchase

Ordered two of these tubes. Each one lasted a single ride (30 & 10 km). Both were flat the next day. Both had failed on the interior seam NOT punctured. Neither had green goo for supposedly self sealing. Possibly a bootleg and not a true Schwinn product. Will not but again.

Slime

My Thoughts On Slime

Slime is a very popular brand, like Bell when it comes to budget inner tubes. They use a proprietary sealant which is green in color and is the backbone behind their brand. If you’re in a big box department store that sells bikes, they probably sell slime tubes.

Slime inner tubes are great for kids or for those who don’t care so much about the added wheel weight. The rubber is okay, but I don’t get the impression they are using natural rubber, so I would assume it’s synthetic and their compensatory action is including the ‘slime’ sealant.

What Customers Say

Pros

Here’s a typical, recent positive review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Michael E.

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Yes They Work and Are Worth It!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 23, 2023

Style: 700 X 28-35mm PrestaVerified Purchase

I ride about 6000 miles a year for the past several years, all in an urban environment in and around NYC. I’ve tried all different tire types (gravel, gatorskin, 23-32mm, etc). I’ve tried all different types of tubes (pre filled anti puncture, manually filled anti puncture, no anti puncture liquid, etc). I’ve had my share of flats.

All that being said, these do work pretty well. I’ve never had an overnight flat or a slow leak flat when they are installed. What I have encountered is catastrophic instant flats with them. So they do seem to prevent small hole/leak flats, but they’re not going to stop a hole that is a few mm wide.

They are a bit of a pain to install and take a little practice. The 700s I got always seem to be a bit bigger than the wheel and sometimes it is a pain to get them to fit properly depending on the tire you use.

Pros

-Slow leak flats don’t happen

Cons

-Not easy to install

-Cost more than normal tubes

The bottom line to me is that if they stop even one slow leak flat in their lifetime, it is worth the extra cost and hassle to install.

Cons

Here’s a typical, recent poor review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Seth Waycott

1.0 out of 5 stars

 EXPLODED AFTER 100M!!!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 20, 2020

Style: 29in Presta – Verified Purchase

HI, I would not recommend buying these what so ever. I received these today pumped both tubes up to a low psi with the correct fitting method. I was impressed at first but after a few 100m, they exploded, with green slime going all over my rims. I’m not sure if they were damaged in shipping or something as the innertube box was squashed when I opened it up or if the product is simply a gimmick/ faulty.

If the manufacturers are reading this, I would be more than happy to try your product again if you send me another pair of innertubes, but I certainly won’t be spending any more money with your brand unless I see a change in quality.

Hapleby

My Thoughts On Hapleby

Hapleby is a budget brand when it comes to inner tubes. They aren’t horrible, they come with a couple of tire tools, making changing a lot easier. However, you get what you pay for (so I don’t use these), but people who don’t ride hard might have a better time with Hapleby tubes than I would.

What Customers Say

Pros

Here’s a typical, recent positive review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Jerome C Starr

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Very happy with purchase

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 26, 2023

Verified Purchase

Seems like quality tube. Tools came in handy. I would buy again.

Cons

Here’s a typical, recent poor review of the brand, courtesy of Amazon:

Making an Informed Decision: What Really Matters

At the end of the day the essential thing is that you can ride without a flat (caused by defect). You want to be able to ride comfortably knowing that your tires are held up by decent inner tubes.

Although I’ve recommended Continental as my top choice, that is not to say that other brands are inferior (even if they are, it’s a matter of perspective). Any of the inner tubes I’ve mentioned will be okay. Just make sure that you know what you want (is it performance, peace of mind, or do you want inner tubes at all).

With that said, there’s also tubeless if you’re feeling saucy. I switched my main XC ride over to tubeless and haven’t turned back. But after all is said and done, the brand of inner tube you pick will (hopefully) be with you for a few years, so pick wisely and have a safe ride.