How are Butyl Tubes Different from Natural Rubber?

Have you ever thought what makes a tyre potential to withstand hard brakes, vehicle load and transmitting accelerating? It’s air. A pneumatic tube type tyre needs a tube to retain air. A tube is an essential and integral part of such types of tyre. Therefore a wrong selection of tube may result in premature tyre failure. When it comes to choosing the best air tube for good air retention quality, butyl tubes play a crucial role.

Butyl tubes can be identified with a blue line drawn over the tube. These tubes are made from butyl rubber that is known for high-end air retention quality. The size of butyl tubes depends upon the size of a tyre in which it is to be fitted.

Difference between Butyl Tubes and Natural Rubber

Butyl Tubes	Natural Rubber
Air retention quality is good at high temperature and load.	It has very poor air retention capacity at high temperature and load.
It can blend with EPDM rubber	It can’t blend with EPDM rubber.
It has good resistance to heat and harsh weather.	It can’t withstand heat and harsh atmosphere.
It increases tyre life due to restricted air loss.	A tyre can’t serve for a long time due to frequent air loss.
Butyl tubes can be identified by a blue line marked on tubes.	Natural rubber is identified by a yellow line marked on tubes.
It doesn’t require frequent air filling.	It requires frequent air filling.

How to Upkeep of Butyl Tubes

• Don’t unpack the tube unless you’re ready to use it. It will help
• Try to keep in dark and cool place. It increases the life of a tyre.
• Don’t use transparent packing for butyl tubes as it can reduce its shelf life.
• Don’t expose the tube to sunlight or warm area.

Butyl Tubes Fitment Guidelines

• Make sure that you’re using right tools to fit the tube in a tyre.
• Make sure that the inside of a tyre is free from lubricated material.
• Fill minimal air in the tube to ensure that air is not leaking from the body of tube and valve. Overinflation of a tube is not recommended.
• Ensure that it has good quality valves.
• Don’t run a tyre in a flat condition; this may affect the tube.