Schwalbe 16 inch Inner tube - AV4

Schwalbe 16 inch inner tube - schrader valve

This Schwalbe AV4 16/18 inch tube is our most popular inner tube - favoured by us and Brompton riders

Suitable for all 16 inch Brompton folding bike tyres and still our most popular Brompton tube

The range of tyres suitable for Brompton folding bikes has been growing over the last few years with more offerings from Schwalbe and new tyres from both Continental and Goodyear - this inner tube fits them all!

It is exactly the same tube as the old Brompton XL (Extra Light) tube with the addition of a rim nut (see below for more info about rim nuts) and a box. It fits all Brompton 16 inch tyres

This inner tube weighs in at just 85g and comes with a Schrader / car type valve - that is a whopping 20g (almost 25%) lighter than the Brompton standard inner tube

Why choose this inner tube over other tubes available out there?

As Gerorge Orwell didn't say "All tubes are equal, but some are more equal than others"

Schwalbe perform a leak test on all of the tubes they make (twice), including inflation for 24 hours to ensure they maintain their air pressure. The valve has a replaceable core (not found on all inner tubes)

Because the inner tube has better retention of air, it means you have to spend less time inflating and more time for you, whether it's riding, in bed before work or at the office

You should still check the tyre pressure monthly (for most tubes it's weekly). Running a tyre under inflated will mean that you need to put more effort into cycling and can result in damage to the tube / tyre or even the rim

Q: What is the purpose of a rim nut?

A: Bear in mind that unlike this tube some inner tubes don't have a rim nut
The rim nut secures the valve into the rim
Your bike can be ridden perfectly safely without a rim nut
It comes in useful when installing a tyre or attaching a pump - as it helps stop the valve being pushed inside the rim
With some rims there may be a rattle/noise if the valve is not fixed - that is why often valves without a rim nut are coated in rubber
The rim nut must only be tightened by hand
Never tighten the rim nut with pliers, as this can lead to inner tube damage

Q: What is the valve cap for?

The clear valve cap supplied with the Schwalbe inner tubes should be used, especially with Schrader / car type valves. It prevents dirt / water and chemicals from getting inside the valve and causing corrosion and damage - meaning the valve / tube will last longer.

Fitting of the tyre / inner tube:

We recommend against using tyre levers when installing a tyre and tube, as it can cause damage to the tyre / inner tube or both. It may seem difficult or even impossible at first - but it is just technique, practice and patience

We made the below video to show how to fit without the use of levers - with the toughest to fit tyre

Made in: Indonesia
Schwalbe code: AV4