If you’ve ever stuffed a bulky butyl tube into your rear pocket, alongside a phone, pump and house keys, and wondered if there was a better way, welcome to TPU.
Thermoplastic polyurethane tubes are the lighter, faster, smaller cousins of butyl and a practical alternative to latex. The pitch is simple: near-latex speed with much better air retention, at a fraction of the weight and size. And yes, given that weight at the rim is often the most impactful on overall ride quality and efficiency, you can indeed feel it when you're climbing.
Despite the homogenous material, not all TPU tubes are created equal. Some are true race-day specials that feel electric but need extra care. Others trade a few grams for reliability, better valves, and rim-brake safety.
Between my decades of road riding journalism, and the ultra-riding experience of Velora's Danny Bellion, we've had a wide experience of tube and tyre combos, so this guide focuses on what you’ll notice on the bike. I’ll walk you through key buying factors, price realities, and the best models right now, with clear picks for different riders.
TL;DR: TPU Tube Shortlist
- Best overall – Schwalbe Aerothan Tube Race
Light, fast, and genuinely rim-brake safe with strong puncture resistance. The “fit and forget” option for fast training and big days out. - Best value – Magene EXAR Ultralight (36g)
Mid-weight TPU at a sensible price with reliable valves, good air retention, and solid heat resistance. Everyday performance without drama. - Fastest for disc brakes – Tubolito S-Tubo Road (23g)
One of the very lightest tubes you can buy, with near-latex speed and tiny pack size. Disc-only and more fragile, so best for racing and big efforts. - Fastest versatile pick – Revoloop Ultra Race (≈25g)
Ultra-light race feel that works on both rim (remember those!?) and disc brakes. Ideal if you want the S-Tubo sensation but swap wheels or bikes. - Everyday durability upgrade – Tubolito Tubo-Road (38–40g)
Noticeably lighter than butyl with excellent air retention and a tougher construction. Great for riders who want fewer flats without going full weight-weenie. - Cheapest way to go ultra-light – RideNow Race Formula (24g)
Sub-25 g weight at roughly half the price of the big brands. Fantastic on paper, but quality control is more variable, so it suits tinkerers and backup spares.
Weight and rolling resistance
This is why TPU exists. Dropping from an 80 to 120 gram butyl tube to a 20 to 40 gram TPU tube takes real weight off the part of the bike that spins. That helps acceleration - dive into the debate on the impact of rotational versus static mass if you'd like to lose a few hours down the rabbit hole - and can help climbing as well as general ride feel. The fastest TPU tubes come in around 22 to 25 grams and test close to latex for rolling resistance. Mid-weight TPU options around 36 to 41 grams still feel quicker than butyl and are easier to live with daily.
What to look for:
Ultra-light: 20 to 25 grams. Race-day speed. Best for disc or high-quality rim brake sets depending on model.
All-round: 36 to 41 grams. Close to light butyl for speed, much lighter in the hand, and usually more durable.
Independent rolling resistance tests are worth reading because not every TPU tube is equally fast. No-one beats Bicycle Rolling Resistance on this front, and I highly recommend reading their TPU rolling resistance test if pure performance gains are your main goal.
If you’re chasing watts, stick to the 22 to 25 gram class. If you want fewer headaches, 36 to 41 grams is the sweet spot.
Puncture resistance in the real world
TPU’s elasticity resists pinch flats better than butyl, which is great if you hit potholes or run lower pressures. But the thinnest race tubes don’t shrug off tiny glass and thorns as well as thicker options. That doesn’t mean they’re fragile, just that they prioritise speed over small puncture protection.
Practical rule of thumb:
Ultra-light tubes: Fastest feel, decent pinch flat resistance, less protection against micro debris.
All-round TPU: Slightly heavier walls, better day-to-day puncture resistance, still far lighter than butyl.
If you ride rough lanes, gravel, or city debris, consider a 36 to 41 gram tube and the correct patch kit.
Valve type and quality actually matter
Here’s where a lot of budget TPU tubes cut corners. To save grams, many use plastic or composite valve stems. Some are good. Some aren’t. Lower-end valves can leak, snap, or play badly with certain pump heads, especially on deeper rims.
What to check:
Valve construction: Metal or robust composite with a removable core is ideal.
Core removability: Critical if you ever want to run valve extenders for deep rims.
Length: 60 mm and up for 40 mm rims, 80 to 100 mm for deep sections.
Pay extra attention to user reviews on valve reliability. It’s the number one complaint with cheap TPUs.
Size range and elasticity
TPU stretches a lot, which is why a single tube can cover a wide range of tyre widths. The upside is flexibility and tiny pack size. The downside is plastic deformation. If you stretch a tube in a 32 mm tire and later try to use it in a 25 mm tire, it might not shrink back properly.
Make it simple:
Buy the size labeled for your tyre width today, not the widest you might use later.
If you swap between widths a lot, own separate tubes sized for each setup.
Heat and brake compatibility
Rim brakes generate heat at the rim. The thinnest TPU tubes can be sensitive to that. Some ultra-light models are disc-only. Others are built to handle rim braking and even carry explicit heat ratings. If you run rim brakes, double-check the tube’s approval. This isn’t a “maybe it’s fine” situation.
Benchmarks:
Disc brake only: Keep it for disc setups. It’s printed for a reason.
Rim and disc approved: Look for brands that call out heat resistance. Schwalbe Aerothan is a standout here.
Installation and repair reality
TPU tubes don’t like drama during install. Inflate just enough for shape, keep it under 5 psi outside the tyre, and massage the tube so it isn’t pinched under the bead. A tiny bit of baby powder helps prevent the tube from sticking to itself or the tyre casing.
On repairs, your old butyl patch kit won’t work reliably. Use the brand’s TPU patch kit or a plastic-compatible self-adhesive patch. And be honest with yourself: patches are fine to get you home, but a patched TPU is best kept as an emergency spare going forward, not your ultra-endurance companion for life.
What you should expect to pay
Budget or value: $5 to $15 per tube (if you're UK-based like me, or European it's mostly the same in pounds and euros). Usually from lesser-known brands. The weight is brilliant and pack size is tiny, but valves and QC can be hit or miss. Great as a compact spare or if you’re cost-sensitive and willing to check for leaks on arrival.
Premium: $25 to $50 per tube. The major brands live here. You’ll see better valves, tighter manufacturing tolerances, clearer heat ratings, and models aimed at either pure racing or daily reliability.
Where’s the sweet spot? For everyday riding, $20 to $35 usually buys a mid-weight TPU around 36 to 41 grams with good air retention and fewer headaches. Diminishing returns kick in with the sub 25 gram race tubes. They are faster and lighter, no question, but you pay more for every gram and accept a narrower use case.
Product reviews
Tubolito S-Tubo Road
The S-Tubo Road is what you buy when grams are everything and speed is non negotiable.
At just 23 grams in the 42 mm valve version, it’s the lightest road tube you can realistically ride, and it rolls nearly like latex without the daily air loss. It also packs comically small, about 78 percent smaller than a butyl tube, which makes it the perfect jersey-pocket spare. Air retention is excellent for a race tube too, with only about 1 psi loss over 24 hours in testing.
The trade-offs are clear. It’s disc brake only due to heat sensitivity, and puncture protection sits at about standard butyl levels rather than the beefier TPU crowd. It’s also one of the most expensive tubes on the market.
As with many TPU options, and as found in Danny's personal experience of using these tubes, they can easily puncture while knocking around a saddlebag.
Buy this if you’re racing or chasing PRs on a disc brake bike, or you want the smallest possible spare with real performance. Skip it if you run rim brakes or want a tube for day-in day-out rough roads.
Revoloop Ultra Race
If you want ultra-light speed without giving up rim brake safety, Revoloop’s Ultra Race hits the sweet spot.
It weighs about 25 grams with a 40 mm valve, feels supple on the road, and sits in the fastest rolling TPU tier alongside the S-Tubo – in fact, despite the rim brake functionality, it was the highest scoring of our selection in Bicycle Rolling Resistance's testing. Revoloop’s high-strength TPU valve body with a removable metal core is clever, recyclable, and less prone to damaging the rim hole.
Downsides? It’s still a premium-priced tube and needs a specific TPU patch kit for repairs. Installation care is the same as other ultra-lights: keep pre-inflation minimal, place it carefully, and check the bead before going to full pressure.
Choose this if you want the ultra-light performance experience but ride rim brakes, or you just want versatility. It’s brilliant for road racing, hill climbs, and fast group rides where every watt and gram matters.
Schwalbe Aerothan Tube Race
Aerothan Race is the dependable pick when you want performance with puncture and braking peace of mind.
At around 41 grams for the 40 mm valve, it isn’t chasing the 20-something gram crown, but it brings class-leading heat resistance and standout puncture protection in the performance TPU category. Rolling resistance is solid for its weight class, and the Aerothan valve stem with a removable core keeps things simple for sealant or extenders. Multiple valve lengths up to 100 mm make it deep-rim friendly.
The catch is the price. You’re paying a premium for robustness and a big-brand name, and it’s heavier than the ultra-light rockets. But if you run rim brakes, or you care more about reliability than absolute marginal gains, this is the tube that lets you forget it’s there.
Tubolito Tubo-Road
Tubo-Road is Tubolito’s workhorse: lighter than butyl, tougher than the race stuff, and happy on rim or disc.
At 38 to 40 grams with the 42 mm valve, it undercuts a light butyl tube by a long way, holds air impressively well, and claims double the puncture resistance of standard butyl. It rolls a touch slower than the very best mid-weight TPUs, but still feels lively on the road, and the colour makes it easy to spot during installation.
The downsides are mostly about value. It costs near the top of its weight class and doesn’t quite match Aerothan’s speed or heat credibility, though it is approved for rim and disc. If you want the most durable feeling TPU from Tubolito, this is it.
Pick Tubo-Road for everyday performance rides where you want fewer flats and easy living, and you don’t mind spending more than the budget brands to get consistent quality.
RideNow Race Formula (24g)
RideNow is the budget disrupter that gets you ultra-light weight for a mid-pack price.
At a claimed 24 grams, it matches the premium featherweights on paper and costs about half. Rolling performance is good, grouped closer to the mid-weight TPU tier than the absolute fastest. Newer versions include a composite valve with a removable core, which fixes an early complaint and makes life easier if you run sealant.
Here’s the honest bit. Quality control has been hit and miss. Older stock had non-removable cores and more reports and forum complaints of valve leaks or defects on arrival. If you buy them, source from a reputable seller, check the tube in a sink before you ride it, and carry a second spare on big days.
Great as a super-compact spare or an inexpensive way to chase grams. Not the best choice if you want install-and-forget reliability.
Magene EXAR Ultralight (36g)
Magene’s EXAR is the budget all-rounder that trades a few grams for calmer daily use.
It sits at about 36 grams, which is heavier than the ultra-lights, but it’s priced low and widely praised for reliable valves and strong heat resistance. Magene claims minimal air loss over five days from 100 psi and testing to extreme temperatures, which aligns with its rim-brake-safe positioning. New batches use a composite stem with a removable core and come in multiple valve lengths.
You do give up some speed compared to a 23 to 25 gram tube, and the listed size range tops out around 28c. But for everyday riding, training, and long days with rim brakes, this is the budget TPU that people tend to keep riding, not just carrying as a spare.
Buy it if you want affordable performance with fewer QC worries than the cheapest ultra-lights. Skip it if you’re chasing the last watt or running wider than 28 mm.
How they compare head to head
The biggest divider is weight and heat rating. Tubolito S-Tubo and Revoloop Ultra Race live in the 23 to 25 gram tier. They feel quickest and accelerate the sharpest. S-Tubo is disc only, while Revoloop handles rim and disc, which makes Revoloop the safer pick if you ride mixed bikes or use rim brakes.
Step up to mid-weight and you get durability and lower stress. Schwalbe Aerothan at 41 grams brings best-in-class heat tolerance and strong puncture protection. It’s the tube you install before a mountainous rim brake ride without a second thought. Tubolito Tubo-Road at 38 to 40 grams chases similar use cases with a claimed puncture advantage over butyl but is a bit slower rolling than Aerothan and some other 36 to 39 gram options.
On the budget side, RideNow 24 gram is the cheapest path to sub 30 gram mass but comes with the most QC caveats, especially around older valve designs. Magene EXAR at 36 grams costs a little more than RideNow but earns its keep with better reliability reports and extreme heat claims, making it the more relaxed daily pick.
If you’re deciding between tiers, ask yourself how often you puncture and whether you run rim brakes. Racers and climbers will feel the 15 gram difference. Commuters and endurance riders usually prefer the calmer manners of the 36 to 41 gram tubes.
Clear recommendations
Best overall: Schwalbe Aerothan Tube Race. Why: the best balance of light weight, low rolling resistance, strong puncture resistance, and true rim brake safety. Buy it if you want a premium set-and-forget TPU for fast training and big rides. You give up the absolute lightest feel.
Best value: Magene EXAR Ultralight. Why: reliable valves, excellent air retention, rim-brake-safe, and around 36 grams for roughly twenty bucks. Buy it if you want performance with fewer headaches. You trade a little speed and a narrower size range.
Fastest for disc brakes: Tubolito S-Tubo Road. Why: 23 grams and near-latex speed with great air retention. Buy it if every gram counts and you ride discs. You trade rim brake compatibility and some small-puncture protection.
Fastest versatile pick: Revoloop Ultra Race. Why: ultra-light performance that works on rim and disc. Buy it if you want the race feel without the disc-only limitation. You trade a higher price and installation care.
Everyday durability upgrade: Tubolito Tubo-Road. Why: lighter than butyl with excellent air retention and a puncture resistance claim that’s tough to ignore. Buy it if you want fewer flats without going full race weight. You trade a bit of speed and pay a premium.
Cheapest way to go ultra-light: RideNow Race Formula 24g. Why: you get the mass savings for half the cost. Buy it if you’re budget-focused and comfortable checking QC yourself. You trade consistency and some long-term reliability.
What about commuters and gravel riders? Any TPU is an outstanding spare because it packs tiny. For daily tubes on rough roads, lean toward the 36 to 41 gram category for fewer flats and less stress. If you run rim brakes on hilly routes, stick to tubes clearly rated for heat like Aerothan or Magene.
Quick buying tips
Watch for sales around big race seasons and holiday events. Premium TPUs often dip under $30.
Size it right. Don’t stretch a narrow tube into a wide tyre if you might want to reuse it on something narrower later.
Install carefully. Inflate under 5 psi outside the tyre, dust a little baby powder on the tube, and massage the bead before full pressure.
Patch with the right kit. Butyl patches won’t hold on TPU. Use brand-specific or plastic-compatible patches and treat the result as a get-you-home fix.
Rim brakes need attention. If the tube isn’t explicitly approved for rim brakes, don’t chance it. Heat kills thin tubes.
Where to buy. Budget options are cheapest on AliExpress, but check seller ratings and expect slower shipping. Premium brands are widely available via major retailers with easier returns.
Conclusion
If you want a fast, light tube you can trust on almost any ride, Schwalbe Aerothan Tube Race is the easy pick. It balances performance with heat resistance and durability in a way few others do. If value is top priority, Magene EXAR Ultralight gives you most of the performance for far less money and fewer QC worries than the cheapest ultralights.
Chasing every last gram? Run Tubolito S-Tubo Road on disc or Revoloop Ultra Race if you need rim brake compatibility. Whatever you choose, install carefully, carry a compact TPU spare, and enjoy how much quicker your wheels spin when you drop that rotating weight.
Note: Some product images were edited using AI tools
