Tube woes

[vavavroom]

My friend, the guy with Parkinson's who has an e-trike, has worn out his front tire. I was ready to replace his tire and tube. The tube had leaked at some point and he put Slime in. Anyway, I drove to his place to swap out the tube and tire. He ordered a 18"x 2.50 tube. I took it out of the box, looked at the print on the tube, 18x2.50 and I always do before I install a new tube, I inflated the tube to make sure it was holding air. To my surprise it grew into a 26-inch by probably 1.75 tube. Alright, wrong tube in the box, maybe a return that remained unchecked and was sent to the next customer? But what about the misprint on the tube? Who stamps a 26-inch tube as 18 inches? Yes, it's Chinese. Yuen brand. Apparently only the Chinese make this tube size. I checked the Kenda site. They have 18x2.50 tires but no tubes. Weird.

Anyway, I drive home and he orders more tubes from two vendors on Amazon They only have Chinese tubes. A few days later I drive back to his house and he has two boxes with two tubes each. All boxes are labelled 18x2.50. I take all tubes out and get three different sizes. all but one are 26 inches, one skinny, two fat, and the fourth one is actually the right size. Even the labeling is correct on that one: 18x 2.50. I inflate the lucky winner and at 6 psi I can hear the tube leaking and find a hole.

I'm back home. I don't know what to tell him or what to order. I called a few LBS. None carry the size. They laughed at the mislabeled tubes. I fervently hope Trojan ships mislabeled products to China.

 

[Variant_S]

Perhaps it's just me, but I do not pay attention to the size of an innertube when I pump air into and it is not encapsulated by the tire and the rim. I often saw tubes that got several inches larger than the rated diameter when I was looking for a leak.

 

[zrxkawboy]

Perhaps it's just me, but I do not pay attention to the size of an innertube when I pump air into and it is not encapsulated by the tire and the rim. I often saw tubes that got several inches larger than the rated diameter when I was looking for a leak.

Same, and I've never had a problem.

 

[Number_35]

Perhaps an online bikes-only shop can help.

Bike Nashbar?

JensonUSA?

Edit: ebikeexpress.com has them.

 

[IndyIan]

Just get a local 20"x2.1 tube, or whatever a bmx bike takes, and run it. I have stuffed a 27.5" tube into a 24" mountain bike tire and it works fine. Now that I think of it, its probably still in there, a few years later.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

My friend, the guy with Parkinson's who has an e-trike, has worn out his front tire. I was ready to replace his tire and tube. The tube had leaked at some point and he put Slime in. Anyway, I drove to his place to swap out the tube and tire. He ordered a 18"x 2.50 tube. I took it out of the box, looked at the print on the tube, 18x2.50 and I always do before I install a new tube, I inflated the tube to make sure it was holding air. To my surprise it grew into a 26-inch by probably 1.75 tube. ... .

I'm back home. I don't know what to tell him or what to order. I called a few LBS. None carry the size. They laughed at the mislabeled tubes. I fervently hope Trojan ships mislabeled products to China.

I have actually had good luck with old fashioned tire patches. Wife picked up a hard to see staple in her sidewall. Went through same frustrations you have. Never do and can't cram a 26" into a 18" I have run 2.5 dia in skinnier rims in an "emergency" but I wouldn't play around with a "high speed" E bike though. Except for the patch. They work well if you apply them correctly. After the patch, I always dust the tube with cornstarch unscented "baby powder"

good luck

- Arco

 

[AZjeff]

I have actually had good luck with old fashioned tire patches.

Good luck getting a patch to stick when Slime has been used. Never worked for me.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Good luck getting a patch to stick when Slime has been used. Never worked for me.

Yep likelyl slime is ... NG.

O.P. said he had a new tube with a hole, maybe that.

 

[Number_35]

Just get a local 20"x2.1 tube, or whatever a bmx bike takes, and run it. I have stuffed a 27.5" tube into a 24" mountain bike tire and it works fine. Now that I think of it, its probably still in there, a few years later.

Cool! The biggest tube cheat I've done is to use a relatively inexpensive 26 x 2.75" In place of a pricy 26 x 4.0 - 4.8" fat bike tube.

 

[IndyIan]

Cool! The biggest tube cheat I've done is to use a relatively inexpensive 26 x 2.75" In place of a pricy 26 x 4.0 - 4.8" fat bike tube.

Yep, what I started doing when riding with the kids is just take a tube for the biggest wheel we have. I also tried just inflating a 26" tube outside the tire and it stretched length wise and width and stayed that way if you go over the elastic limit, so you can make a 29" tube out of a 26", in a "pinch"
On my newest mtb I went tubeless, which so far seems better for no pinch flats, but I haven't converted the boys bikes to it, as its a bit of messing around and they don't pinch flat with reasonable air pressures.

 

[Number_35]

@NYEngineer, you need to jump in here!

No doubt you've done some good workarounds.

 

[NYEngineer]

Maybe get a 16" tube for a kid's bike? Also, when putting air into a tube without being inside a tire, only add enough air give it some shape. Otherwise, it's going to get big fast. Then you'll never get it in.
I really only use tubes anymore to do split tubeless on fat bike tires. That's another thought IF the rim in question had a decent bead shelf.

 

[MRC01]

I would try a 20" tube. It's a standard BMX / kiddie bike size, much more common. Chances are, you'll be able to fit and mount it just fine.
Or, take a chance on this one: https://www.amazon.com/Bell-STANDARD-Tube-18-1-75-2-25/dp/B008HONE1I
Looks like it's Bell, a recognized brand.

 

[vavavroom]

Maybe get a 16" tube for a kid's bike?

Kenda has a 18x2.8-3.0 but they also have a 18x2.8-30.

Also, when putting air into a tube without being inside a tire, only add enough air give it some shape.

Yes. That's what I do. I should have taken a picture of the correct tube, of the incorrectly labelled tube and of the tire, and none of you would seriously suggest to get the off-size tube inside the 18"-tire.

Otherwise, it's going to get big fast. Then you'll never get it in.

I did inflate the tube simply to see if it would hold air. I always do that and it has saved me time in the past. Before installing a tube I deflate it to the point where the tube merely holds its shape. Not my first rodeo. I don't remember ever stretching out a tube past its elastic limit. I didn't inflate the tubes that were obviously way too large much at all. Just enough for them to hold their shape.

I really only use tubes anymore to do split tubeless on fat bike tires. That's another thought IF the rim in question had a decent bead shelf.

Not my bike. The wheels are not suitable for tubeless as far as I know. RAD was no help when my friend talked to them. They don't even sell tires or tubes.

 

[vavavroom]

I found Kenda 18x2.35.

 

[zzyzzx]

The only patches that seem to work any more are the Rema patches.