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SHOP FOR INNER TUBES
Our inner tube range covers every popular size and application. Simply search our catalogue using your tyre size & buy online! For assistance please call us on 0115 994 0900, or alternatively live chat or message us & we will be glad to help!
Search our inner tube range using the tube finder below. The tube size you need is normally the same size, or very similar to, the tyre size written on your tyres sidewall. Tubes are flexible and do cover a range of sizes so often a couple of options may be available. Always try to match the valve type to your existing inner tube to ensure a good fit in your rim.
To quickly view all inner tubes available for a specific tyre rim diameter you can select from the links below. Ensure you check the full size marking and valve type before ordering.
To quickly view all inner tubes available for a specific valve type you can select from the links below. Ensure you check the inner tubes full size marking before ordering.
INNER TUBE FAQs
The inner tube size you need is determined by the size of the tyre it is to be used in, but inner tubes are flexible and will usually fit a range of tyre sizes! If you don't know what your tyre size is our
will help you work it out. Once you have that you can search for an inner tube that matches that size, check the valve type is correct, and you're done. As inner tubes are flexible, your exact size may not be there, if that's the case then please ask us to recommend an inner tube for you!Inner tubes are made of rubber and are very flexible. They are similar to balloons in that if you keep inflating them they keep expanding until eventually they will burst! It isn't safe to over inflate inner tubes beyond sensible and recommended size ranges as the tubes will become weaker as they are stretched. Most inner tubes will safely cover two or three varying tyre sizes, and these sizes will often be marked on the inner tube as either distinct sizes, or displayed as a range. For example:
- A trailer tyre inner tube could be marked up as 135/145/155-12, which means that it is suitable for tyre sizes of either 135-12, 145-12 or 155-12.
- A lawn mower inner tube could be marked up as 23X8.50/10.50-12, which means it is suitable for tyre sizes of either 23X8.50-12 or 23X10.50-12.
- A tractor inner tube could be marked up as 16.9/18.4-34 and 420/70-34, which means it is suitable for tyre sizes of 16.9-24, 18.4-34 or 420/70-34.
Valves come in different shapes & sizes to accommodate a wide variety of applications & wheel rim configurations. There are four main categories that inner tube valves fall into & within each are a handful of popular valve models to choose from:
- Straight Rubber Valves - The valve is made of rubber so is inexpensive & durable. The TR13 valve is the most common, used on car, trailer, quads, lawn mowers & some smaller agri machinery. It has a thin and straight valve stem. The TR15 has a wider / fatter valve stem so is used in wheels that have a larger valve hole, typically larger agricultural or plant machinery, and sometimes on classic landrovers.
- Straight Metal Valves - The Valve is made of metal, so is stronger & more robust than their rubber counterparts. They are often used in high pressure applications, and when there is more risk of the valve being caught/knocked by hazards. The TR4 / TR6 are used on some quads, motorcycles and scooters. The TR218 valve is a very common agricultural use valve used on most tractors, as it also enables water ballasting.
- Bent Metal Valves - The valve is made of metal, and has a bend in it of varying degrees. The bend is usually to keep the valve stem from catching on hazards as the tyre turns, or to avoid it hitting the wheel rim if space is limited. Longer bent metal valves are common on truck and earthmoving machinery. Shorter bent metal valves are common on materials handling machinery like fork lift trucks, sack trolleys & wheelbarrows. Forklifts usually use a JS2 valve. Small machinery like sack trucks often use the TR87, and lorries / trucks use the long stemmed bent valves such as the TR78.
Inner tube quality varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. The mix of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, carbon black and other chemical compounds determine the tubes strength, durability and it's overall quality. At Big Tyres we sell good quality tubes from manufacturers that have been tried and tested over the years. Be careful when buying inner tubes from other sources as there are some very poor quality tubes on the UK market at present. Poor quality tubes fail sooner and cost you more in both down time and in replacements.
We regularly get customers looking to buy inner tubes for use in unusual applications other than for keeping their tyres inflated. Whilst we can advise you on the sizes of inner tubes we sell we cannot extend this advice to whether they would be suitable for other applications, such as for engineering or science projects, or for leisure use. This is for customers general health and safety and also to comply with our insurance liability coverage. Please know that Inner tubes can be dangerous if over inflated or when not inflated in a safe environment. Care should always be taken when inflating inner tubes and when working with compressed air in general.