New bike tire, same tube?

Question

I want to put slick tires on my mountain bike, and I am curious if I need to just buy the tires and use the tubes from my old tires, or do I need new tires and tubes. Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

If the new tires are approximately the same width as the old ones, then you can reuse the tubes with no problems. Generally, tubes for mountain bikes come in two widths: 1-1.5" and 1.5-2". There's a bit of leeway, of course; so if the tire is just outside the range, it's usually still OK to use.

Answer 2

The tube should be marked with the range of tire sizes that it's been designed to fit. If your slicks are within range, use the tube. If the tube is more than a couple of years old, replace it anyway. The last tube I bought was about $3.

It's a good idea to carry a spare tube in case of a flat. I carry two.

HTH

Answer 3

You can, but don't. If you're going to use slicks on an MTB, you must want to ride on the road and have less noise, rolling resistance (narrower tires) and weight.

You will see significantly better performance out of your new slicks by replacing the heavy, too-wide MTB tube with a narrow, properly fitting, lightweight tube. Read the box: you'll be amazed at the weight difference. The bike will handle much better and you can change the tires much more easily too.

Finally, be aware that slicks generally have higher pressure. Doesn't mean much to the tube--it can handle whatever you reasonably give it--but you need to ride differently with slicks and KEEP the pressure up, otherwise you're guaranteed a pinch flat.

Remember, there's a lot less rubber there and less protection. If you're a new commuter on these slicks, remember the streets have a lot more tire-puncturers than the trails. If your slicks don't have a kevlar belt, you may want to consider a puncture resistant tube.