NICE QUALITY INNER TUBE

[Gracie'sDad]

I have been disappointed in the quality of current inner tubes available form our suppilers. With an urgent need I recently ordered a 30 x 3 1/2 inner tube found on LANG's online catalog. The listed tube was out of stock but I was offered a substitute which I accepted. The substitute brand is "CUSTOM QUALITY" and I was pleased to find the quality was very nice and seemed to be of good rubber quality, thickness and heft. After a month it hasn't disappointed, holds air and is working perfectly.
I'm no "Spring Chicken" and replacing tubes in clinchers is not one of my favorite activities. The peace of mind I receive as a result of utilizing reliable replacement parts is more and more key from my standpoint. Thank you LANG's

[Steve Jelf]

That's new to me. 30 x 3½ tubes I've had from US suppliers are Hartford (China), which I've found quite satisfactory, and Custom Classic (India), which failed badly. It's good to know there's another acceptable choice.

[Gracie'sDad]

Steve, Please accept my apologies. The nice tube I got from Langs was "Custom Classic" not "Custon Quality". I searched everywhere on the packaging and tube but the country of origin was not stamped anywhere on it. Two years ago I purchased a "Hartford" tube that was junk. It was not made of rubber at all - it was more like vinyl. It leaked at a crease right out of the box. I tried to patch it, but the so called "rubber material" was too slick (like vinyl) and would not scuff. I did my best but the patch and rubber cement would not bond. I trashed it.
It seems like the quality ebbs and flows with our available tube manufacturers. If ordering tubes it might be wise to inquire about the critical features before ordering.

[KWTownsend]

John,
Is that the tube that they say is for either 30x3" or 30x3-1/2"?
-Keith

[Steve Jelf]

It's Custom Classic that purports to fit 30 x 3, 30 x 3½, and 31 x 4. Looking at tubes on the shelf in my shop I find there's also one 30 x 3½ branded Universal, with no country of origin evident, and another 30 x 3½ unbranded, also with no country shown.

That John and I have had exactly the same experiences with opposite brands suggests that the quality control for both has been erratic.