Review of Vittoria Ultra Light Speed TPU Inner Tubes

Made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), Vittoria Ultra Light Speed inner tubes are among the lightest on the market, weighing just 30 g each. The Italian brand also claims they’re faster and more durable than traditional butyl inner tubes, and they’re fairly easy to install. At €29.95 each, they’re a relatively inexpensive way to save over 100 g on a pair of wheels. Let’s see on the road whether they live up to their promises of performance and durability.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©vittoria / ©3bikes.fr

There are several categories of inner tubes for road bikes, designed for tires with a 25- to 30-mm width. An entry-level butyl (synthetic rubber) inner tube weighs between 100 and 110 g. A more advanced model—often labeled “light” by many brands, though still made of butyl—typically weighs between 70 and 80 g. Continental has even been marketing an ultra-light butyl inner tube (the Supersonic) for about fifteen years, weighing 50 to 55 g. Next comes the latex inner tube, weighing around 80 g, but known for its comfort and excellent performance. Finally, some manufacturers have recently begun producing inner tubes made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), which are very compact and very lightweight. The Vittoria Ultra Light Speed is among the lightest on the market, with a verified weight of 29 g.

Of course, some will argue that a price of €29.90 for a single tube (which must be multiplied by two for both wheels) is far too high. For about €5, you can find a basic thick butyl tube. Still, the weight savings shouldn’t be overlooked. Here, they’re easily verifiable. Compared to basic inner tubes, the weight savings on the bike with two TPU inner tubes is 160 g, for an additional cost of about 50 € (60 on one side, 10 on the other). Compared to two lightweight butyl tubes, the weight savings is just under 100 grams, for a price difference of about 40 €. Finally, compared to two latex tubes, the weight difference is also around 100 g, but the price difference is reduced to less than 30 €.

There is currently no other component on a road bike where it’s as cost-effective to gain weight savings and performance improvements—all for a relatively reasonable investment. All of this, of course, assumes that these TPU inner tubes offer the same functionality as conventional ones and are durable. This wasn’t quite the case with the first models launched on the market a few seasons ago, which notably suffered from frequent leaks around the valve. But with these Ultra Light Speed tires, Vittoria seems to have the technology well under control.

Extreme thinness

The Italian brand states that the goal with the Ultra Light Speed was to offer the lowest possible rolling resistance. It even claims a 14% higher efficiency compared to butyl tubes, and at least equivalent to that of latex tubes. As a reminder, Vittoria’s latex inner tubes are often used as a benchmark for their excellent efficiency, which has been verified on test benches.

How can inner tubes affect a bike’s performance? In terms of rolling resistance, this can amount to as much as 2 watts per wheel at approximately 30 km/h. This is in addition to the extra inertia felt with heavier inner tubes on climbs or when changing pace. It’s a matter of thickness and materials. A standard butyl inner tube typically has walls that are 1 mm thick. Even at high inflation pressures, friction persists between the tube and the tire, and a thicker material is also less elastic and less responsive than latex, for example, which is known for its flexibility and its ability to better conform to the tire’s deformations. As for TPU, the Ultra Light Speed is manufactured using multilayer co-extrusion technology and is only 0.35 mm thick. The tube is then welded using high-frequency technology. Compared to latex, TPU is completely airtight, which helps maintain a constant air pressure for longer. This allows you to fully benefit from the characteristics of TPU, which stands out for its thinness, compactness, and durability.

Among the other advantages of TPU inner tubes are their ultra-compact size—which makes them easy to store as spares in a pocket or bag—and puncture resistance that is, in theory, superior to that of butyl. Manufactured in Germany, the TPU used in Ultra Light Speed inner tubes is also 100% recyclable (simply cut off the valve before disposing of the tube).

Easy Installation

Of course, with a price of nearly €30 per unit, you need to take a minimum of care during installation, especially with certain wheel/tire combinations that are difficult to pair without some serious know-how. That said, on Roval Rapide wheels, installation with 700×25 Michelin Power Cup tires, and then with the new 700×28 Vittoria Corsa N.EXT tires, posed no problems at all. A very slight puff of air into the inner tube allows it to take shape, and then you simply need to reduce the pressure slightly to slide it between the tire beads. Although the TPU is very thin, it doesn’t snag, unlike butyl or latex—both of which are easier to install with talcum powder for the thinnest tubes.

Ultra Light Speed tubes come only with 60-mm-long valves, but the valve stem cap is removable so you can add an extension if the rim is taller than 50 mm. For Roval Rapide rims, the original valve length is sufficient for the front wheel (51 mm high), but a valve cap is required for the rear inner tube (60 mm high rim).

Even at maximum inflation (within the tire’s recommended limits), there are no issues either. The tire snaps into place a bit in the rim, and you can inflate it up to 8 bar if necessary. The TPU inner tube retains its pressure for several hours, and we observed a loss of only 1 or 2 bar after three days. 

Be careful, however, with the type of brakes on your bike: the plastic material of the TPU inner tube is susceptible to thermal shock, so they are theoretically compatible only with disc brakes. The heat generated by the brake pads against the rim during hard braking can degrade the TPU or even cause it to burst.

Performance and Puncture Resistance of Ultra Light Speed TPU Inner Tubes

While Vittoria provides comparative charts on performance and puncture resistance relative to other types of inner tubes, we can only rely on the scale… and our own impressions. In terms of weight, we measured a savings of exactly 95 g per wheel set compared to Specialized Turbo inner tubes. This weight savings can be doubled for riders embarking on long rides with two spare inner tubes in their saddle bag.

As for the actual riding feel, it’s hard to detect a clear improvement in the bike’s responsiveness. If there is one, it’s barely noticeable. On the other hand, on smooth asphalt, the ride feels slightly smoother and lighter, with a whistling sound characteristic of lightweight tires. In terms of comfort, they’re a notch below latex tubes but a step above entry-level butyl tubes. They really come close to Continental’s super-light butyl tubes, the Supersonics, but are easier to install, as the TPU tends to get “pinched” less easily between the tire bead and the rim hook.

Puncture resistance depends primarily on the tire’s strength, but during the first 1,500 kilometers ridden with these inner tubes (using two different pairs of tires), we didn’t experience a single puncture. A nasty cut on the rear tire’s sidewall hastened the tire change, but the tube remained undamaged. And when it came time to change the tires, the tubes settled back into place without any issues. We didn’t notice any particular deformation.

The only pressure loss observed during this test was due to the valve cap on the rear inner tube, which had not been screwed on tightly during installation. It’s also worth noting that the connection between the valve and the tube is less “rigid” than with a butyl tube, and that when adjusting the pressure with a pump, you should avoid pulling it toward you.

Our take on the Vittoria Ultra Light Speed TPU inner tubes

While it’s difficult to make precise numerical comparisons in terms of performance with butyl inner tubes, there’s still the impression of a slight but noticeable improvement once on the road. The weight savings are remarkable in any case, for what is, all things considered, a modest investment. And these TPU inner tubes do not seem, at first glance, to be any more fragile than traditional models. We see no reason not to give them a try.

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