Slime in tubes- slowing me down? rolling resistance

[tuxman]

I need some feedback.

After I replaced my tubes with tubes that have slime, I think it is slowing me down.

Running 40psi 26x2.1 stock GT Charger tires

I searched for "slime rolling resistance" but didn't come up with much...

Is it the slime or the tire size or both?

 

[swbluto]

I don't know anything about the tread pattern, tread compound, specific shape and size, but the slime itself should only affect acceleration and not the actual top speed due to the increase in the moment of inertia. So, it would take longer to get upto speed.

 

[Crash Machine]

Just completed 2100 miles with extra thick slime filled tubes inside Kenda Kross tires(low rolling resistance) . Some of those miles off-road. Not one flat, at all, the whole time. What you might be feeling is the extra weight of the slime filled tube. It's well worth the extra weight IMO. Flat's suck ...

 

[dogman dan]

You will feel the weight of the slime in the wheel. Not really rolling resistance, but inertia from the weight when you start out. I don't know that it would affect top speed any more than the same weight anywhere on the bike. Worth it where I live, I run double the normal amount in my tubes.

 

[neptronix]

Yes, this will slow down your acceleration, make braking less effective, hill climbing more difficult, etc.
It will not affect your top speed, just make it take longer to go there.

The more weight at the outer part of the rim, the worse the effect is!!!
This is why i won't be using slime and am seriously considering a front kit rather than a rear.

 

[Russell]

I run with Slime (~4-5oz) in the tubes on my present electric bike with 700x50/47 tires and I don't notice any performance issues. I also ran Nashbar self-sealing tubes on my first electric bike with 700x35 tires and noticed no slowing compared to regular tubes. I did once experiment with super thick thorn resistant tubes on a road bike with 700x25 tires and the bike felt like a slug so I immediately went back to regular tubes. With large and heavy tires with big air volumes a little bit of sealant doesn't make a lot of difference. If you overdo it with the stuff however I can see where the weight of the sealant would become noticeable. Having too much sealant where it fills the bottom of the tube as the tire rotates would also stiffen the ride since it would not compress as readily as air. So go ahead and use Slime and don't worry about it.

-R

 

[neptronix]

Hm :/

Good point.
I chose an armadillo tire instead. Does looks super tough indeed.

 

[999zip999]

Go to walmart slime tube with 5x thick tube .The only problem I had is when I found myself on the wrong side of locked railroad gate so I twristed the throlle in the lose rock and dirt. And took the tire off the rear rim turned the tire inside out over rim with slime juice all over the place, and I'll still on the wrong side of the fence. pulled the 20lbs. of batt. to throw the bike over the fence. The frist guy came down the road had a shirt that said valantor ( ? ) and gave me a ride to the bike store. 2mi. Yes love the double thick slime for years. And thanks again for the ride to the store. The guy at the store has a T. V. commercal He dresses up as a gaint bee and jumps up and down as he says buy my bikes, weighing 250lbs. with long hippie hair. Buy my bikes. Plus he has tried many E-bikes currie,gaint, pedago ect. and I think he is still looking. My bad I should never let him ride a 48v 600w BMC He still asking the questions ?

 

[amberwolf]

As long as tire pressure is the same, I don't feel any real difference between slime and no slime in the tires. I feel a slight difference if I have same tire and pressure but super thin tubes vs the super thick thorn resistant ones, but I can only tell that on my lighter pedal-only bikes, not on any of the electric or cargo ones, and it is a very small difference.

I usually run 60PSI, in 1.75" to 2.1" tires.

 

[neptronix]

As long as tire pressure is the same, I don't feel any real difference between slime and no slime in the tires. I feel a slight difference if I have same tire and pressure but super thin tubes vs the super thick thorn resistant ones, but I can only tell that on my lighter pedal-only bikes, not on any of the electric or cargo ones, and it is a very small difference.

I usually run 60PSI, in 1.75" to 2.1" tires.

True, but isn't your setup extremely heavy in the first place?

Anyway, i went out and bought an armadillo tire for the rear. It is quite heavy compared to the nubby mountain bike tire. I've probably added 2lb of weight to my bike. This can't be much worse than running slime. Ah well

 

[amberwolf]

The electric cargo setups are heavy, but the pedal-only are not, and typically weren't back before I started trying to add motors to any of them, which is why I made the distinction in the original statement.

I still run that pressure in any tire I can, as they ride better that way.

 

[slaraman]

I've been using these for past 2 years. Using a Giant SCR4, my commute (14.5 miles each way) used to take 38-42mins (traffic lights depending).
Since using slime tubes + kevlar inserts + rain tyres (sticky) my commute takes 45-55mins!

So I'm slower with everything...but...I only carry a spare tube and a shock pump as the slime tubes have saved my a55 about 10 times in the past 2 years!

Why the spare tube you ask? Because once, I had the puncture fairies attack the side wall and caused a quick puncture!
The slime healed it but the pressure was too low, so I stopped and started pumping then "broke" the valve (f**k)!!!
At the time, I didn't have a spare tube (dumb a55)...and needed wifey to come pick me up!
Now I carry the usual kit in-case!