Customer Reviews

Slime 26" SV Thorn Resistant Thick Smart tube 26 x 1.75-2.125 (Schrader Valve)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I changed my back tube to this tube last year because I could not patch it any more.
I have never had flat tire on the back tire since then; while I had to patch my front tube two times.
I am going to buy another one for my front tire.

WARNING:: If you relieve the air from the tube, beware that the green slime may leak out with the air.
You have to rotate the tube so that the valve is up high.

I finally capitulated and spent extra money for these tubes instead of the $3 specials I usually buy. I ride in the dry ranch land of central Texas and little fine thorns called goatheads work their way into the tire and tube over a period of time and cause slow leaks. So every other day I am patching a tube. Until now. I have about 100 miles now on these two tires and have not had one flat. I am happy.

As to the fellow who had the problem with the slime stopping up his valves, the slime is water soluble, so all you need to do is remove the valve stem, wash it off, and clean out the valve with a wet Q-tip.

This is a great tube. I got two punctures in my tire at the same time - a rather large nail and a second piece of metal. I pulled them both out and air escaped for about 30 seconds, but then the slime blocked the holes. I reinflated the tires and have biked 50 miles since then without doing any repairs on the tube or losing any more air from the tire.

Terrific tube well worth the money.

I live in downtown Phoenix and use my bike for alternative transportation. I ride around the streets, dirt lots, parks and other rough terrain. I was getting flat tires on an average of 2 times a week. After doing some research on blogs about cycling that recommended these tubes I purchased 2 of them. Ever since I have installed them I have not have had any problems with flat tires. I have found plenty of thorns in my tires but they would still be inflated. I simply would pull the thorns out and spin the tires and wouldn't have a problem. I even found a slim screw in 1 of my tires. I thought that would definitely cause me to have to replace the tube. Although, after pulling the screw out, re-inflating the tire I rode around for about a mile and it stayed inflated. I was impressed. The really great thing is even if you have numerous thorns in the tube. The tire won't go completely flat so you can ride home if you don't have a tire pump with you. Every time I see someone pushing their bike with a flat tire I tell them to purchase these tubes. I have had them installed in my bike tires for over 6 months and haven't had any problems. *********IMPORTANT INFO********* There is one important thing you need to know if you do purchase these tubes. Your pump will need to have a metal valve to pierce the Schrader Valve stem. I could not use a pump with a plastic valve because it was not strong enough to pierce the Schrader Valve stem. I kept thinking my pumps were breaking until I put 2 and 2 together.

Anyone who lives in the southwest knows what a goathead is, they will puncture ANYTHING. I even purchased a pair of aramid belted tires that were supposed to be virtually puncture proof, and got a flat on my first outing! I was reluctant to purchase these tubes due to the weight, and they did indeed add a whopping 5 LBS to my bike! But after 600 miles of flat free riding I`m impressed. Sure the added weight makes for a more vigorous workout, but that can be a good thing, right? I still find goatheads in my tire, but now I just pull them out with ZERO air loss. If top speed and lightweight are your top priorities, then these tubes are not for you. But if your like me, and just want to ride without the constant hassle of patching flats, then these are the ones to buy.

A name-brand tube that you buy at WhateverMart is a flimsy little thing - not even 1/32" thick (I measured with calipers). But this Slime tube --- this is one serious tube. The outer rubber is thicker than the inner (because the outer is where you need the most protection) The outer part is 1/8" thick - more than 4 times as thick as the WhateverMart tube. The inner part of the tube is 1/16" thick. The box it comes in is about 4 times larger than a WhateverMart tube - because the rubber is that much more thick and bulky. This is a seriously heavy-duty tube.

If the super-thick, high-quality rubber is not enough, it includes Slime.

I have ridden 100 miles a week on these tubes for two years. I've had one hole - because I completely wore a hole in my rear tire, exposing the inner tube to the road. Even then, the slime plugged the hole (a difficult hole to plug, because it has tapered edges and no protruding object to bind to). I was able to complete 4 miles to get home.

I had one other failure - I let the tire pressure get too low, and the tube slipped, causing the valve stem to lean at an angle. The joint between the stem and the tube eventually failed (and the slime won't help something like that - for one thing, slime can only seal holes on the outside of the tire, because centrifugal force forces the slime to the outside). I can't blame the tube - that was my own dumb fault for ignoring the slanted stem when I added air to the tire. I guess I was overconfident in the tube - but it won't make up for stupidity.

Before I discovered these tubes, I was getting an average of two flats per month - almost always the rear tire, of course, which bears most of the weight - and is naturally the hardest to fix (especially on the side of the road). In two years, I have avoided something like 48 flat tires. That means I've avoided 48 roadside repairs (of a rear wheel), or 48 phone calls to my wife to bring the car and the bike rack. Half of these flats would be in the morning, as I was hurrying to get to work. I would be late to work and miss a significant number of important morning meetings. Half of the flats would be in the evening - and in Oregon I ride home in the dark in the fall/winter. I hate trying to fix a flat in the dark.

Sure - they're expensive. You get what you pay for, and you're paying for a tube that is practically indestructible (and will get you home even when it isn't).

Make sure you have rim tape (spoke liner) on your wheel. Rim tape covers the ends of the spokes which protrude into the inside of your wheel. It protects the tube from rubbing against the spoke ends. It should already be on your wheel, but cheap factory-installed tape can fall off when changing a tire. Don't ride without rim tape - and use quality tape sized to your wheel that you get from a bike shop - electrical tape or duct tape is a poor substitute - but better than nothing.

The valve stem caps are bright green. Sometimes when I'm stopped at a light another cyclist will point to my bright green caps and give me a thumbs-up. He knows what I know (and his caps are bright green). My ride is heavily tricked-out, but nobody ever has commented on anything except my inner tubes.

Make sure your valve stems are straight and your outer tire is not completely worn out and you can't go wrong with these tubes.

Know what you're buying - not all Slime tubes are created equal. Slime also makes thin-rubber tubes with the Slime sealing agent. Better than the generic tube, but not as indestructible as this thick-rubber tube.

I would pay $50 EACH for these tubes. I would wince, but I would pay. They're that good.

I've always been leery of these tubes... my local bike shop swears by them so I had them installed ... I have a cannondale mountain bike & first ride I get a flat... I check the tube & the stem had separated, I go to shop they replace for free next week a thin nail pops it ... I pump up the tire & spin the tire so the slime can coat it & goes flat... The slime itself is too watery to stop anything but the most microscopic leak, this tube is not worth the more expensive price just does not work period....nothing against this seller though... Shipment was prompt

I am sure this tube will be durable because it it at least three times as thick and heavy as a standard tube.On the other hand this because of the added weight may not be in your best interest.I also had trouble filling one of the two I purchased.I had to remove the schrader valve and clean the coagulated slime from the valve in order to fill the tube.

Bought two of these. Replaced the front tire first because it was flat. Just ran through some goat heads the other day, and now I get to replace the back tire... Front tire didn't even seem like it lost any air. I probably pulled out about a dozen goat heads from it and no apparent air loss. I would recommend these to everyone that has a bike.

I had one thick tube from Slime with the green stuff in it that just split at the seam with 35psi in the tire. My roommate has went through 2 thick tubes same thing split at the seam this year. He usually has about 60 psi in his tube. Yesterday roomate got a flat and ripped the valve stem off his slime filled thick slime tube. I have never seen a valve stem come completely off, what cheap rubber they must be using.

I will buy another brand tube appearantly made with better rubber and just fill it with something maybe slime but I hear there is better stuff that doesn't leak out as easy so I will probably try that.