Is it time to leave the patch kit at home for your bike rides?

Some bicycle riders may have patched their last inner tube.

Michelin has put a bike inner tube, called ProTek Max, on the market that seals itself in the event of a puncture. It's aimed at those who ride on wider road or mountain bike tires.

I have not tested this product, nor have I seen, felt, sniffed or hefted it first hand. I might be willing to give it a try, although with all the “puncture-resistant” tires on the market, it may be a little redundant.

If you're planning to ride in Western states where goathead plants (aka puncture vine, caltrop, ground burr-nut, and Texas sandburr) make their home, however, some redundancy might not be a bad idea. Ditto if you ride through urban road debris.

Unusual design

Based on photos and videos (see German-language video above) of the bike tube, its appearance is very unusual. The tube is box-shaped with knobs. Michelin says that square shape helps position it correctly in the bike tire without twisting.

More importantly, Michelin says the uneven surface compresses the puncture hole, compared to standard tubes in which the tire pressure spreads open the hole. Also, sealant in the tube plugs the puncture hole shut.

Weight vs. less trouble

Searching around this morning, I couldn't find any tube weight information. Those who like to travel light might want to consider weight.

In my own quest for puncture-less riding, I have graduated from Mr. Tuffy bike tire inserts to Kevlar and  Armadillo or similarly branded puncture resistant tires. They all add a little weight, so they probably slowed me down, but not half as much as the time I used to spend replacing or patching an inner tube at the side of the road.

The Michelin inner tubes come in Presta or Shrader style valves. The 26-inch inner tube covers 1.5- to 2.1 inches and 700 road tires provide the 32-42c range.

Tires

Michelin also makes commuter-style and mountain-bike bicycle tires in the Protek Max brand, featuring 3-dimensional anti-puncture technology. They've been known to be a little tight and difficult to install on a rim and a little heavier than standard tires, but also puncture resistant.

Related: Also see “All out goathead assault in Idaho”, Oct. 4, 2005.