AERON-TPU in detail

What is an AERON-TPU airtube?

TPU is the acronym for Thermoplastic Polyurethane. TPU are plastics that deform when heated and solidify when they cool down. TPU combines the high durability of plastic with the elasticity of rubber, making it the ideal material for applications that require repeated bending or compression. This makes TPU an excellent material for AERON-TPU airtubes.

Are AERON-TPU airtubes lighter than conventional butyl bicycle tubes?

AERON-TPU airtubes are significantly lighter than butyl tubes. While a road bike inner tube typically weighs around 120 grams, a comparable tube from AERON-TPU is between 25 and 40 grams (including valve).

How good is the rolling resistance of AERON-TPU airtubes?

In terms of rolling resistance, the new TPU inner tube is well ahead of the familiar butyl rubber tube. Cyclists riding with a butyl tube lose around four watts per wheel compared to those who use a TPU tube. It must be said that tubeless riders are slightly ahead here with a minimal power saving of one watt. However, tubeless is a heavier system and suffers the handicap of tricky and messy installation.

What makes AERON-TPU airtubes so special?

How light are AERON-TPU airtubes compared to tubeless systems?

AERON-TPU airtubes perform better in comparison test vs a tubeless system, in which between 30 and 150 grams of sealant plus valve are used.

How puncture-resistant are AERON-TPU airtubes compared to butyl tubes?

TPU is more resistant to tears and cuts compared to conventional rubber tubes. If you want to puncture an AERON-TPU airtube with a needle, you need three to four times the force to make a hole in the material compared to a butyl tube. Even when it comes to the risk of so-called snakebite - when under high pressure, the inner tube is punctured on the rim flanges and two holes are created – AERON-TPU airtubes impress with their greater inherent stability and perform significantly better than butyl tubes.

Which AERON-TPU airtubes are available and for which riding applications?

AERON-TPU airtubes are suitable for all cyclists and can be used in mountain bikes, road bikes, everyday bikes, gravel bikes and the corresponding e-bike variants. The type of use is also variable. Whether for racing, touring or everyday use – AERON-TPU airtubes have many advantages everywhere and in combination with all kinds of tires, according to all test labs, professional athletes and other users.

What's the difference between AERON-TPU airtubes and other TPU tubes?

AERON-TPU airtube production is fully automated by an experienced manufacturer in Austria. This means that the entire production process, from the raw material and production of the tube to the welding of the valve stem and gluing of the valve core, takes place on a single production line. This avoids sources of error, such as the manual gluing of the tube ends and the gluing of the valve stems. All AERON-TPU tubes are produced and controlled at the highest quality.

Are AERON-TPU airtubes also useful as spare tubes?

An AAERON-TPU airtube is the optimal spare tube vs a butyl tube, because it is not only lighter than the rubber product, but its packed size is also much smaller. This is an advantage for all cyclists, but especially for bike- packers who must carry a lot of gear on their bikes during long journeys.

How comfortable are AERON-TPU airtubes compared to butyl tubes?

Due to the high surface tension and strength of the TPU material, the tube develops good stability even at low air pressure. It is therefore well-shaped even at less than one bar of air pressure, whereas a butyl inner tube is still flabby at a comparable pressure. With the TPU tube, lower pressures can also be used in the tire, which significantly increases comfort when riding.

Where can I buy AERON-TPU airtubes?

AERON-TPU airtubes are available from your favorite local and online bicycle dealers.

How durable and sustainable are AERON-TPU airtubes?

AERON-TPU airtubes are very durable. If you want to replace them, they can be easily recycled. TPU is unmixed, so AERON-TPU airtubes can be turned into air tubes again (butyl inner tubes, on the other hand, can be turned into floor mats or other items, but not new bicycle inner tubes). TPU products leave a significantly lower CO2 footprint durin production compared to conventional
butyl inner tubes. This is due to the single-origin raw material and the lower weight. The production of AERON-TPU airtubes also uses significantly less water than the production of butyl tubes and AERON-TPU airtubes are manufactured in Europe using green electricity.

Are AERON-TPU airtubes suitable for use in racing?

AERON-TPU airtubes are suitable for both recreational and competitive riders because they can be designed and produced precisely for every purpose. Those who place particular importance to puncture protection will find what they are looking for at AERON-TPU, as will those who are primarily interested in lightness or improved rolling resistance.

Are AERON-TPU airtubes more expensive than conventional butyl bicycle tubes?

Yes, TPU tubes are generally slightly more expensive than butyl tubes. However, if you consider the advantages of AERON TPU airtubes (durability, puncture resistance, rolling resistance, weight, etc.), the investment in an AERON-TPU airtubes is well worth it.

Are AERON-TPU airtubes suitable for rim brakes?

Most AERON-TPU airtubes are also suitable for rim brakes. Exceptions to this are the SuperLight Race tubes for all applications and all mountain bike tubes. However, rim brakes have been outdated for years anyway due to their inadequate braking performance compared to disc brakes.

Are AERON-TPU airtubes more expensive than other TPU tubes?

No. Precisely because AERON-TPU airtubes are produced fully automatically, we as a manufacturer can also keep the price in an affordable range. AERON TPU airtubes, although of the same or better quality, will be less expensive than other TPU tube brands.

Which company does the AERON-TPU brand belong to?

AERON-TPU belongs to RTI Sports. The Koblenz-based company, founded in 1990 by Franc Arnold, manufactures premium products for the bicycle market. The grips and saddles brands Ergon and Terry for example are well known worldwide. With its Ca Go brand, the Koblenz-based company produces e-cargo bikes that are unrivalled in terms of safety, quality and functionality. RTI Sports also distributes trusted brands such as Topeak, React, MET and Bluegrass.

What do I need to bear in mind when traveling with my bike by plane?

No special precautions are needed. Although the air pressure at cruising altitude is lower than on the ground, this will not cause a tire to burst under normal circumstances.

Are AERON-TPU airtubes multi-layered?

Most AERON-TPU airtubes are produced in multiple layers. This allows us to give the individual air tube certain attributes and capabilities. But be careful: the motto ‘the more layers, the better’ does not apply. In fact, a single-layer inner tube such as the AERON-TPU City/Tour Performance Protect can be ideally suited to its specific area of use - durable, puncture-proof.