AEROTHAN TUBE
DIFFERENT BY CONVICTION
Aerothan is a material that completely redefines bicycle tubes: extremely light, with maximum puncture protection and designed for minimum rolling resistance.
DEVELOPMENT
In the development of Aerothan Tubes Schwalbe has gone new ways from the beginning. The result is a high-end alternative to conventional bicycle tubes. Schwalbe wants to offer the optimum product for every cyclist. When it comes to high-end bicycle inner tubes, this becomes an exciting challenge. The engineers have to reconcile the apparent opposites of lowest weight and highest puncture resistance. A case for the Schwalbe Innovation Lab, where material compositions and design principles are redeveloped to create unprecedented products. This is how the Aerothan Tube was created, which not only meets but exceeds the expectations of a high-end bicycle tube.
ADVANTAGES OF AEROTHAN TUBES
- Consistently light to the valve
- Minimal rolling resistance - maximum driving dynamics
- Extremely heat resistant - approved for rim brakes
- Stable ride - even at low air pressures
- Easy mounting - without slipping or jamming
- Made in Germany
- 100 % recyclable
To the test judgment
"To ride with tubes or not - that is often a question of faith for us road cyclists. If it should be tubes, Aerothan is in any case the first choice. Compared to conventional tubes, more than 100g can be saved per set of tires - a lot of weight tuning for relatively little money. And the difference is also felt to the maximum when accelerating; the lower rolling resistance thrills me."
Cycling legend
"Try getting hold of a bottle of sealing milk in places like the Mongolian Taiga - that's the reason I'll be riding bike tubes in the future. Ideally, always with some Aerothane Tubes in my luggage. Because they are not only lighter than conventional tubes, but also take up less space. In addition, I can simply rely on the extreme puncture resistance. Aerothane is a bit more expensive to buy. But with high mileage, it quickly pays for itself."
Extreme athlete and six-time world record holder
Aerothan tubes are around 40% lighter than a comparable Schwalbe Extralight tube made of butyl
Aerothan Tubes have an extremely low rolling resistance at tubeless level.
Aerothan tubes prevent sudden air loss due to the high level of puncture protection
Aerothan tubes are around 40% lighter than a comparable Schwalbe Extralight tube made of butyl
Aerothan Tubes have an extremely low rolling resistance at tubeless level.
Aerothan tubes prevent sudden air loss due to the high level of puncture protection
AEROTHAN TUBE - THE FACTS
-
40% LIGHTER
Aerothan Tubes are about 40% lighter than a comparable Schwalbe Extralight tube made of butyl. - EXTREMELY LOW ROLLING RESISTANCE
Aerothane Tubes have an extremely low rolling resistance at tubeless level. - INCREASED PUNCTURE PROTECTION
Aerothane Tubes offer increased puncture protection. The high puncture protection prevents sudden air loss.
AEROTHANE IS 100% RECYCLABLE
Aerothane Tubes are made of 100% thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) (including the valve) and are therefore fully recyclable. Work is currently underway to recycle used tubes and process them into new tubes.
AEROTHAN SETS NEW STANDARDS WHICH IS FURTHER DEMONSTRATED DURING TESTING
Prior to market release of a Schwalbe innovation, we carry out numerous tests to assess its quality. The Aerothan test results speak for themselves.
PLUNGER TEST
SNAKE BITE TEST (ROAD)
SNAKE BITE TEST (MTB)
WEIGHT
ROLLING RESISTANCE
DYNAMIC HEAT RESISTANCE
TUBES
AEROTHAN TUBE RACE
For road riding with tubes, the Aerothan tube is the first choice. It offers low rolling resistance with dynamic, smooth riding characteristics.
Compared to butyl tubes, a total weight reduction of 100 g may be achieved for the entire bike. Aerothan Tube Race offers not only reliable puncture protection, but also safety when descending a mountain: Even when several emergency brakes are applied with rim brakes in short sequence, one can count on its heat resistance capacities.
AEROTHAN TUBE ALLROUND
The Aerothan Tube Allround is the extremely light and absolutely reliable high-end tube for city and tour. Compared to Schwalbe standard tubes, it makes the wheel about 180 grams lighter - together with the low rolling resistance a guarantee for much more driving fun. You can rely on its puncture protection even on longer rides in nature. Even if you forget to re-inflate, the Aerothan Tube Allround does not take it badly: It remains dimensionally stable even at low air pressure and keeps the bike safely on track.
AEROTHAN TUBE MTB
The Aerothan Tube MTB is just as resistant to snake bites as it is to side wall damage – thanks to the extremely robust material.
In cross-country and marathon, a surprisingly low weight and low rolling resistance are great advantages. Even on challenging trails, this tube never gives up on you: Thanks to the exceptional form stability of the Aerothan Tube MTB, even at low air pressures, you always keep control of your bike.
"With Aerothane I know that everything is good, that gives me security. I ride it in combination with the Schwalbe Pro One TT and am incredibly happy with it because of the extremely low weight and the super good rolling resistance."
Ironman World Champion
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
| RACE | ENDURANCE RACE | ALLROUND | MTB | MTB+ | ||||||
| Purpose | Road | Road/CX/Gravel | Trekking/Touring/Gravel | XC/Marathon/Trail/Enduro | XC/Marathon/Trail/Enduro | |||||
| Designation | SV20E | SV16E | SV17E |
|
| |||||
| Wheel size | 28 “ | 28 “ | 28 “ |
|
| |||||
| ETRTO | 23-622 bis 28-622 | 28-622 bis 35-622 | 37-622 bis 50-622 |
|
| |||||
| Valve | SV, 40 mm | SV, 40 mm | SV, 40 mm |
|
| |||||
| Packing size | 28 mm x 80 mm | 32 mm x 80 mm | 38 mm x 80 mm |
|
| |||||
| Weight | 41 g | 50 g | 61 g |
|
| |||||
| 100 % recyclable |  | | |
|
| |||||
| Made in Germany | | | |
|
| |||||
| Approved for rim brakes | | | |
|
|
AEROTHAN PLUS TUBES
| ALLROUND+
|
MTB+
|
CARGO/BMX+
|
|||||
| Area of use | Trekking/Touring/ Gravel |
XC/Marathon/Trail/Enduro | Cargo/BMX | ||||
| Item | AV17E+ SV17E+ |
|
AV7E+ | ||||
| Wheel size | 28 “ |
|
20 “ | ||||
| ETRTO | 37-622 bis 50-622 |
|
54-406 bis 62-406 |
||||
| Recommended tire/rim combination* | see ETRTO chart |
|
62-406 | 30C | ||||
| Valve | AV, SV, 40 mm |
|
AV, 40 mm | ||||
| Packing size | 38 x 80 mm |
|
54 x 71 mm | ||||
| Weight | 85 - 86 g |
|
88g | ||||
| 100% recyclable | |
|
|
||||
| Made in Germany | |
|
|
||||
| Suitable for rim brakes | |
|
|
FAQ
GENERAL
What exactly is Aerothan?
Aerothan is a special thermoplastic polyurethane which Schwalbe has developed in cooperation with BASF. It serves as base material for high end bicycle tubes, Aerothan tubes, which are made in Germany using a patented welding process.
What advantages does Aerothan offer?
Aerothan tubes are extremely light, yet highly puncture resistant. The low rolling resistance offers an extremely dynamic riding experience. Aerothan retains its shape and ensures stable riding characteristics on all bicycles, even at low air pressures. At the same time, its dimensional stability makes it easy to install because the tube does not slide around and cannot get pinched.
Does Aerothan offer advantages over tubeless systems?
Schwalbe is the expert for tubeless tires. However, some cyclists prefer using a tube despite tubeless as the state-of-the-art option. Additionally, certain wheel types are not suitable for tubeless. Therefore, we have developed Aerothan tubes – the high-end alternative to conventional bicycle tubes. Many of its technical advantages achieve the same high standards that tubeless systems do.
Which tire size are Aerothan tubes available for?
Aerothan tubes are available for all common tire sizes for: Road, Allround and MTB. An overview with all sizes is available in the table aboveWhat kind of terrain are Aerothan tubes intended for?
Aerothan tubes are available in the categories Road, Allround and MTB, where Aerothan has extremely diverse areas of application due to its particular material characteristics. An overview of all application areas can be found in the table above.
Are there tolerances of or deviations from the given weight?
Aerothan is a flexible material and is subject to limited tolerances (as opposed to solids such as metal). Despite highly elaborate manufacturing and control procedures, deviations in weight of +/- 5% may occur.
Are Aerothan tubes recyclable?
Like all Schwalbe tubes, Aerothan tubes are 100% recyclable. As opposed to conventional butyl tubes, Aerothan tubes are completely made of a thermoplastic polyurethane – including the valve. This makes the recycling process even more straightforward. We are currently working with our partners on the details of the recycling process and the return of used Aerothan tubes.
INSTALLATION & SERVICING
How do you install Aerothan tubes ?
Aerothan tubes are installed just like any other bicycle tube. Thanks to the dimensional stability of the material, the tube does not shift easily and does not get pinched, which allows for much more straightforward installation. However, outside the tire, Aerothan tubes may only be inflated up to max. 0.3 bar.
Why do these tubes change colour inside the tire after installation?
The transparent Aerothan material changes colour when in contact with the compounds of the tread. This is due to diffusion of volatile substances which are released as a result of the vulcanization process. This occurs especially with new, unused tires. The change in colour has no impact on performance or durability of the tubes.
Can I repair Aerothan tubes?
You can easily repair Aerothan tubes using Schwalbe Glueless Patches Roughening, as with a butyl tube, is not necessary. Instead, the self-adhesive patches are directly placed on the area to be fixed. To do so, the surface should be as clean as possible.
May I inflate Aerothan tubes outside the tire?
An Aerothan tube may be inflated carefully outside the tire until it has no more folds and is round in shape (equivalent to max. 0.3 bar).
Can I inflate Aerothan tubes using CO2 cartridges?
Yes, however, a CO2 cartridge should only be used once the tube has been fully installed. Outside the tire, Aerothan tubes may only be inflated carefully until they reach a round shape and are free of folds (equivalent to max. 0.3 bar); CO2 cartridges are not intended for this purpose.
Can Aerothan tubes be taken out and reinstalled in an different tire?
Yes, however, an Aerothan tube may only be reinstalled into a tire of the same or of greater width.
Can I use Aerothan tubes with sealing liquid?
Sealing liquid does not achieve any sealing effect with Aerothan tubes because the surface tension of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is very high. Using latex based sealing liquid for tubes made of TPU is not recommended due to the chemical composition. For optimal performance, Aerothan tubes should only be used in tires without sealing liquid. Long-term use with sealing liquid is not recommended.
Can Aerothan tubes be used with repair spray?
Repair sprays do not achieve any sealing effect with Aerothan tubes because the surface tension of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is very high. Using repair spray for tubes made of TPU is not recommended due to the chemical composition. For optimal performance, Aerothan tubes should only be used without repair spray. Long-term use with repair spray is not recommended.
Are Aerothan tubes suitable for rim brakes
All Aerothan tubes are approved for rim brakes. Aerothan tubes are extremely resistant to heat and can sustain high thermal stress (for example during emergency braking). Also, in case of a defect, air does not suddenly escape, which is why riding stability remains unaffected.
BUYING AEROTHAN TUBES
