Which size inner tubes to buy?

Asked by: Sandra Gonzales

The best way to check what size inner tube you need is to look on the sidewall of your tyre. Tyre manufacturers print the size on the sidewalls, so look out for numbers such as ‘700x23c’ for a road bike, or ’26×1.

Does inner tube have to be exact size?

While your diameter measurement needs to be exact, your width measurement does not. Because inner tubes stretch, they typically come in a range of widths. For example, one of our most popular tubes is the 26 x 1.75-2.125” which means it fits a 26-inch diameter tire with a width in the range of 1.75 to 2.125 inches.

Should my inner tube be the same size as tires?

A narrower inner tube will balloon out to fill a tyre a few millimetres wider than its recommended width – but don’t take it too far or it might explode. Likewise, a tube rated a bit wider than your tyre will usually fit, although it can be awkward to fit one that’s a lot wider than the tyre.

What is the most common bike tube size?

Finding the Right Inner Tube



While you can find a variety of bikes with wheel sizes ranging from 16 to 27.5 inches, the most common sizes include 26 inches, 27.5 inches, 29 inches and 700c. Tubes can range anywhere from 1 to 3 inches or 19 to 45 millimeters, depending on the type of wheels you have.

What size is a 700c inner tube?

Then there’s marketing. Road wheels are normally described as 700c, on mountain bikes this same size is called 29 inches. On-road, smaller tyres are 650b, whereas when they come with knobbly off-road treads they’re known as 27.5 inches.

How do I choose a bike inner tube size?

The best way to check what size inner tube you need is to look on the sidewall of your tyre. Tyre manufacturers print the size on the sidewalls, so look out for numbers such as ‘700x23c’ for a road bike, or ’26×1. 75′ which is for mountain bikes.

What happens if you use the wrong size inner tube?

Cons: Using a narrower tube means that when it is fully inflated to the tire size then it is over-inflated. This leads to more stress on the rubber and it is thinner than it should be. This added stress to the inner tube means that it will not last as long as one that is the correct size for your tire.

What does 700c mean?

The term “700c” is the tire size according to the French system. The “700” is stating the diameter of the bicycle tire and “c” is the width size of the tire. However it’s not 700 millimeters it’s 633 millimeters. Also, another common mistake is that often riders confuse “c” with centimeters.

IS 700c same as 29?

29″ / 700c (ISO 622 mm)



Here we have two more common wheel sizes that are in fact, exactly the same! The standard modern road bike wheel has an ISO diameter of 622 mm and is referred to as 700c (makes sense, right? /s).

Is 26 inch tube the same as 700c?

What Is The Difference Between a 26 Inch and a 700c Wheel? This brings us around back to the same answer; they are the same diameter, but a 26-inch tire will fit onto a 700c rim but not the other way around because of the difference in rim thickness.

How do I know my tire tube size?

Quote from video: If you check along the sidewall of your tire it'll tell you your size. So for example this my road bike tire is 700 by 32 that first number is the diameter of the tire.

What does 700x28c mean?

700 refers to the diameter of the wheel. Almost all road bikes have 700c wheels on them. 700x28c means a 700c tyre which is 28mm wide. 700x32c means a 700c tyre which is 32mm wide.

What does 700x40c mean?

What Size Bike Inner Tube Do I Need? || REI

Is a bike tube supposed to be bigger than the wheel?

A tube should not have excess length, and doubling on itself will cause the tire to feel uneven while riding, as well as increase the likelihood of flats.

Can you use a bigger inner tube in a smaller tire?

Yes, you can, as long as you don’t go more than one size smaller, or the differential is not too extreme. A 1.25 in a 1.5 is fine. A 1.25 in a 2.25 is likely to have issues with flats.

Can I put a smaller tube in a bigger tire?

No, tubes and tires don’t need to match exactly. Tubes are made from butyl rubber which can stretch. Bike inner tubes will accommodate a limited range of sizes. Larger tubes may be more susceptible to getting pinched between the tire and rim.

Can I use a bigger tube in a smaller tire?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe to use the next larger size tube in a smaller tire. It’s a common trick used by bike messengers to reduce the chance of flats. The only downside is a slightly heavier wheel since you’re using more tube that you really need.