Silca eliminates the weak points of TPU: 4 watts less resistance and only 45 grams

Silca has officially presented its new ultralight Ultimate TPU tubes. The American brand claims to have solved the problems that plagued the first generations of TPU tubes and ensures that their new model combines extreme lightness, high resistance, and total compatibility with all types of bicycles, from road to gravel or MTB.

Silca changes the focus of TPU tubes to make them much more resistant

Silca's director, Josh Poertner, explained that the TPU tubes he had tested (he did not mention brands but indicated they were orange) had failures in the union between the valve and the body, as well as a notable fragility of the material. However, the Silca team set out to redesign this concept from scratch. The result is a tube made of thermoplastic polyurethane without pigments, produced in Germany, which avoids color additives responsible for reducing resistance and increasing internal friction.

The brand ensures that its construction and friction welding process guarantee greater durability and sealing, correcting the most common weak points in competitor models.

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One of the main advances is in its patented mechanical union system between the valve and the tube, in which two aluminum flanges "encapsulate" the TPU material along with a rubber gasket. This solution eliminates detachments or leaks that occurred in previous designs with plastic valves or simple adhesives.

The new threaded aluminum valves, available in lengths of 50 and 70 mm, include a removable core and a fixing nut, which improves stability when inflating and prevents damage from friction. In addition, they are heat resistant, so they can be used without any problem with electric pumps or high-flow inflators, always following the recommendation to inflate in 15 psi increments.

The numbers are one of their main arguments. The new Silca Ultimate TPU tubes weigh between 45 and 62 grams, depending on the size, which represents a saving of over 100 grams per wheel compared to a conventional butyl tube. Additionally, their compact size allows for carrying two tubes where only one would fit before, a benefit highly valued by those seeking maximum efficiency on long rides or stage races.

Silca claims that their new tubes offer a reduction in rolling resistance of between 2 and 4 watts compared to butyl and that their performance is only 0.2 watts away from a latex tube, but with better air retention and less maintenance.

Models and prices

The Silca Ultimate TPU tubes are available in three versions, covering a wide range of tires:

• 24-43 mm with 50 mm valve (45 g)
• 24-43 mm with 70 mm valve (46 g)
• 44-64 mm with 50 mm valve (62 g)

All of them are compatible with rim and disc brakes, include an adhesive patch and a cleaning wipe with alcohol, and are sold at a price of 40.95 €.