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Select optionsI went the whole summer with these, paired with the Continental GP5000s, and experienced no flats, despite some hard bumps and rough surfaces. I was also able to keep a low tire pressure, which made for a more comfortable ride. Did they make me faster? Hard to say, but I felt faster.
I have never had a problem with them and I've used them for many years. I love the feeling of the ride. When I get a new set of tires I usually put new tubes in also. I'm overly paranoid about a failure at speed. But sometimes I've simply reused the Vittoria tubes. No problem. I've tested the max psi on one of my wheelsets to the point where the brake area moved slightly outward from the pressure. I run them anywhere between 90psi and 110 psi. I ride consistently at 100 or so, depending on how my body weight is fluctuating and the road surface. And I recall a chart, maybe on the box, about recommended psi/bar for a given weight. I use them on both an Easton wheelset and a Zipp 303 wheelset. If I do get a problem like the other reviewers I will be back to this post for the update with pictures.
I've used these off and on for a few years. In short, they just aren't reliable enough due to a manufacturer's defect around the valve stem (see my response to a review below). After a few hundred miles, sometimes much less, a hole will develop that will lead to sudden deflation. Installation is not at fault. Other brands (Michelin, Challenge, Vredestein) do not have the same issue. I like using latex tubes with clinchers and recognize their benefits and limitations, but the Vittoria version is just not reliable.
Previous reviews, years ago, indicated Vittoria has unreliable Latex 700c tubes. There's still some quality control not being given, with 3 tubes bursting once at 90psi - Vittoria gives no indicators for max/min pressures, only what's on the side of the tires being paired-up.
What's happening with either the tubes in 25-28c or, just a production run, is the tube expands from one section of its diameter and, the 3 previous all burst inside an uninstalled wheel, but in the exact area of the unmounted tube with just 5psi in the picture. The tubes must act like the one pictured; all building pressure outward from a deformed section of tube. If running the pressures I'd had a month ago, one or both may have failed during operation and likely ended a ride - at the very least.
In no way can I recommend these tubes, even if running half the air pressure. Dangerous and unreliable.
Nothing to do as for CC being responsible, glad that this was something handled by them as opposed to anyone else.
I can't comment on the defect rate in those tubes but will say that any tube is likely to balloon out like that when inflated outside of the tire/rim. When installed there is no space for the tube to expand like that, the pressure is evenly distributed.
Mine ALL do that when blown up like that. NO problems when seated IN the wheel at all. Ive used these for over 3yrs and have had zero problems with them and dare i say it, very minimal punctures (i think had 3 in total!).
I am not one to complain about flats. The best tube or tire in the world can hit a nail or get pinched in a pothole in its first half mile, so this is not ever a metric of quality. But two of these tubes have had the same problem on different wheels: on the inside of the tube at the base of the stem, a hole appears and the tire goes flat. There is nothing in the rim at the location, and there is no puncture. The second incident occurred today while I was standing next to my bike. I heard a "whoosh" and the tire went flat. Glad I wasn't on a descent!
These are otherwise noticeably more supple than butyl, and did provide one and three months of riding, respectively. They do need to be pumped up every two days at least, but that is expected. But I'm not willing to risk this non-road-related issue.
I have been using these latex inner tubes for over a year and I did come by the same issue with one of them and it's a defect that should be addressed by Vittoria.
I've had that issue also. It's a matter how you install them. You need to be very careful and make sure you push the stem inside when inflating the tube after you installed them. After you have a somehow decent pressure, pull on the stem when inflating to desired PSI. I never had the issue again ever since I stick to this protocol
No, this is not an improper installation issue. I've used these over the years and this is usually where they develop a hole after a few hundred miles of riding (sometimes less). Most often, the tubes blow out while pumping them up (a "garage flat") but sometimes occur while riding. Sudden, catastrophic tube failure isn't fun, especially with a clincher. It's a design defect and has been present for some time. Yes, they give a faster, more supple ride and can make clinchers feel more like a high quality non-vulcanized sew-up (but still not in the same ballpark), but the Vittoria version is just not reliable enough.
This just happened to me a couple of weeks ago and I know it's not operator error. I'm been running vittoria latex tubes for years and know first hand how finicky they are with installation. I always push up on the stem and push down on the tire so it doesn't pinch. Prior to that I always throw talc powder in the tire. I air them up to 30 pounds, release, to 50 release, air to 80 release and finally to 90 or 100.
Just wanted to comment on the other posts. I can't speak to what's in Stan's, and whether it will "dissolve" the tube, but it may not work with Latex tubes. Check with the Sealant manufacturer. I can speak to Vittoria's in the pressurized can. Per Vittoria, it's for Latex tubes, and I have used it for an Ironman event. It has some interesting qualities, so give it a trial run before the race\events.
I purchased 2 of the Latex Tubes to use in my next TT, however all of my planned races have been cancelled for 2020. I have been told that they will help increase my speeds. So I will have to do a review in the future after being able to race with them. I will also have some Stans put in them too.
Don't put sealant in latex tubes - most sealants are basically latex dissolved in something that evaporates quickly - so it evaporates and latex is left to plug the hole. Point being, if you put the sealant in a latex tube, it will dissolve the tube as well, meaning your tube will be thin, or where sealant pools, stuck together forever.
"Normal" sealant may be a problem but Vittoria's Pit-Stop product is designed for use in these tubes: "Contrary to other options, the Vittoria Pit Stop uses latex foam instead of liquid latex, and it works on both butyl and latex tubes."
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/vittoria-pit-stop-road-racing-tube-and-tire-repair-kit
