shubonker

The tube is marked 700x18/23, my tire is 700x25. I'm afraid to pump it up... Is it possible?

10 Wheels

No Problem use it.

shubonker

Cool thanks!

X-LinkedRider

I would get the 700x (25-35) tubes. Probably proper size.

operator

No need.

The 23 will work fine.

10 Wheels

Your tires say 700 x 25, but they may be 23's if you measure them.
Don't worry, just ride.

fuzz2050

yes, anyone who tells you otherwise is just trying to sell you something (probably inner tubes)

benajah

so the tube will stretch a little more, 23 to 25 is nothing. A lot of 25mm tires are like, 24.1 actually and a lot of 23s are like, 23.9. Not much difference

AnthonyG

The 18-23c tube is exactly the size you want to use with a 25c tire. In my book the 25-35c tube is TOO big. The tube will stretch easily to size. Try pumping up a tube free from a tire and see how far it will expand (don't go overboard though).

When fitting a tube to a tire its MUCH easier to have a small tube which expands rather than a larger tube which your trying to stuff into the space available. You are MUCH more prone to pinching a larger tube when fitting rather than a smaller one.

Anthony

shubonker

Thanks guys, i put the tube in and it seems fine. I'm going to go out and ride my bicycle now.

mzeffex 

Well as you figured out it works. We don't stock 25 tubes. We have 18-23 and then the next size up is 30-38 or something.

Metaluna

Also, the way manufacturers rate tube sizes seems to be all over the place anyway. I've often seen tubes that might say something like "20-25mm" on the box, but if you look at the actual tube there will be "18-23mm" molded into the rubber. I even have tubes where there will be one size range molded into the rubber and another size range stamped on it in ink.

Also, since xx-23mm tubes are more common, it's easier to find them with the features you want, like long unthreaded presta valves.

m4ximusprim3

HA! best OP thanks ever.

"Thanks for fixing my problem, I'm leaving you nerds to your interwebs and actually doing something. Bye!"

FBinNY 

It's rubber, it stretches to fit.

This is an area where precision is meaningless. First of all, tire widths aren't precise, and one brand's 700X23c will be the same width as another brand's 700x25c (or wider or narrower than 23). The width of the rim also affects tire width, regardless of markings. Likewise with tube widths. The maker has to allow for expansion, and different manufacturers make different allowances.

So obviously, it can't matter too much if there's a difference between nominal tube width, and nominal tire width. As a rule try to buy as close as possible, but tubes up to 35% narrower, and 20% wider will usually work without any problem at all.

Note- Ultralight polyurethane tubes are less forgiving, and should be bought as close as possible.

shubonker

Yea i'm back after 22miles.

I think they fit better than the old tubes i had. I conquered a few sidewalk ledges today, no problems.

matic

didn't want to start a new thread for my question.

but will my 23c tube work in my 28c tire? i have bunch of extras lying around that i want to use up.

achoo

Only one way to find out for sure...

cny-bikeman

What do you mean by "will it work?" It will go into your tire, it will inflate, it will hold air and it will be slightly thinner from stretching. It might need air more often - that is the only appreciable difference.

10 Wheels

If it holds air, it will work.

fuzz2050

i'm running 23 tubes in my 35 tires, not a bit of difference once they are installed. It's been thousands of miles, and no pinch flats, and no more punctures than usual.

steven84

Hi let's say if my tire is 700x 23c but my tube 25c, would it work also ??

cny-bikeman

Either you are joking or you are not following the discussion above, especially FB's post 14. Again, "will it work" has little meaning. How well it will work depends not only on the actual size of tube and tire, but also on your ability and care installing the tube and how willing you are to push the limits to avoid buying a better sized tube. Nobody here is able to determine all of that for you.

MauiWowwee

I didn't want to start a new thread and I know I'm digging up an old one. After being told by a lbs that the 18-23 tube will indeed inflate a 25 tire, I went ahead and purchased some Gatorskins in 25 for my bike. I'm actually going up in size from a 23 to a 25. Front tire went on and inflated fine, the back tire ended up having a sidewall blow out. Seems as if the tube gave out and caused the blowout. Sucks that I wrestled with the tire to get the rest of the bead over the rim, and when I finally did and got it aired up, psssssssssh. Any input to this? ****ty tube perhaps? I'm quite hesitant to use another 18-23 tube to inflate a 25 tire at this point.

ThermionicScott 

More likely you pinched the tube between the bead of the tire and the rim somewhere. A tube by itself can't blow a tire off a hook-beaded rim unless you use insane pressures.

Once you have the second bead on, you should put a couple psi in the tube, and work your way around the wheel, pressing the sidewall away from the rim to make sure the tube isn't caught in between.

FBinNY 

+1, a tube bursting within the tire while the tire is still mounted would b the tube's fault. But if the tire fails or blows off the rim, that's a tire or operator error.

If you inflate any butyl tube outside a tire you'll see that it can easily stretch to 2-3 times it's unstretched width without bursting.