HOW IT WORKS

Most flats are caused by a pinch or tear of the inner tube where it interacts with the rim and/or bead of the tire. Pinch flats are a lot more common when running low tire pressures and is why most riders avoid low tire pressure. The first type pinch flat (TYPE 1 PINCH FLAT below) occurs when the bead of the tire is knocked inward from its seat in the rim. When this occurs the bead of the tire catches the inner tube in the rim causing a pinch or tear. Tube Saddle® eliminates this type of pinch flat by isolating the tube from the rim and bead of the tire. The second type tube pinch (TYPE 2 PINCH FLAT below) occurs when bottoming the tire into the rim. When this occurs the inner tube is “sandwiched” on itself inside the tire around the bead of the tire and rim. When the impact is sufficient, the inner tube tears at the sandwich point. At the rim lock (not shown), this type of pinch flat is much more likely to occur. Tube Saddle® eliminates this type of pinch flat by providing a layer of foam material in the “sandwich” region that is softer than the inner tube. Tube Saddle® absorbs and dissipates the impact, and if anything tears it is the foam material, not the inner tube. Tube Saddle® isolates your inner tube from the rim, the bead of the tire, and the rim lock.

How it works / Install / Tech tips

The complete rider guide

Tube Saddle® isolates the inner tube from the rim, bead, and rim lock, then gives riders a familiar install path and a practical way to diagnose flat tire failures.

How It Works Install Tech Tips
02Common pinch-flat modes
2-4Extra install minutes
03Original tech PDFs
Isolate the tube Run lower pressure Install like a tube Diagnose the flat

How it works

A foam barrier where tubes usually get punished

Most flats are caused by a pinch or tear of the inner tube where it interacts with the rim and/or bead of the tire. Tube Saddle® adds a lightweight foam tire flap between the tube and those impact zones.

The result is familiar inner-tube adjustability with added protection from the rim, bead, and rim lock, so riders can run the pressure their terrain wants with more confidence.

Type 1 pinch flat

Bead knocked inward

The first type of pinch flat occurs when the bead of the tire is knocked inward from its seat in the rim. When this occurs, the bead catches the inner tube in the rim, causing a pinch or tear.

Tube Saddle® eliminates this type of pinch flat by isolating the tube from the rim and bead of the tire.

Type 2 pinch flat

Bottoming into the rim

The second type of tube pinch occurs when the tire bottoms into the rim. The inner tube is sandwiched on itself inside the tire around the bead and rim. When the impact is sufficient, the inner tube tears at the sandwich point.

At the rim lock, this type of pinch flat is much more likely to occur. Tube Saddle® provides a layer of foam material in the sandwich region that is softer than the inner tube. It absorbs and dissipates the impact so, if anything tears, it is the foam material, not the inner tube.

Lower pressure. More traction. Total control.

Protect the tube, then tune the tire

The insert protects the tube from the rim, the bead of the tire, and the rim lock, allowing riders to run lower tire pressures and unlock more traction without the same pinch-flat exposure.

Rock

8-11 psi

Impact confidence where rim strikes normally punish tubes.

Roots

8-10 psi

Stay planted and reduce deflection in technical single track.

Sand

8-10 psi

Float and find forward drive with a larger tire footprint.

Loam

10-12 psi

Balanced traction, stability, and feel for fast trail riding.

Desert

10-14 psi

High-speed confidence when the trail gets hammered and rocky.

Install

If you can install a tube and tire, you can install Tube Saddle®

Tube Saddle® installs with the inner tube and tire. It takes a little bit more time, like 2-4 minutes more, and the final bead pull may be a little more difficult.

The benefit is that Tube Saddle® also helps prevent pinching your inner tube with a tire iron during installation or un-installation.

Shop InsertsRead FAQs

Install content map

The practical setup flow

01

Conventional install

Use the familiar inner-tube and tire install process, adding Tube Saddle® as the protective foam flap.

02

Advanced easy way

For heavy-duty tubes, use the slower method referenced in the FAQ so the tube and insert stay aligned.

03

Lube and check

Use tire-and-tube lube, seat the bead cleanly, and check valve angle, rim lock position, and tube movement.

Tech Tips / Edition 1

Do not just change the tube. Read what failed.

Flat Tire Forensics 101 separates common tube failures into patterns riders can inspect: impact pinches, outside punctures, rim-lock valve-stem tears, and heat or friction damage from installation and setup issues.

Match the damage to the cause, then change the tire pressure, tube choice, rim-lock setup, lube, or protective layer that created the problem in the first place.

Pinch zone Puncture path Tube Saddle barrier

Failure patterns

Quick field diagnosis

Inspect the tube, tire carcass, rim strip, rim lock, and bead area together, because the cause is often visible only when the parts are lined back up.

01

Pinch Flat

A hard impact compresses the tire into the rim or bead area and cuts or tears the tube.

  • Often appears as paired cuts or a folded tear
  • More likely at lower pressure without enough protection
  • Check for rim strikes and bead movement
02

Puncture Flat

A sharp object passes through the tire and opens the tube from the outside in.

  • Look for a single clean hole in the tube
  • Line the tube up with the tire to find the object path
  • Inspect the casing before installing a replacement tube
03

Rim Lock Tear

Tube movement near the rim lock can stress the valve stem until it tears.

  • Damage centers near the valve stem
  • Often points to movement, alignment, or clamping trouble
  • Verify rim-lock position and valve angle
04

Friction and Heat

Install damage, dry contact, or sustained friction can weaken the tube until it fails.

  • Look for scuffed, abraded, or cooked-looking rubber
  • Use lube and avoid pinching the tube with tire irons
  • Match pressure and tire choice to the ride conditions

Original tech documents

Open the workshop PDFs

Part 1

Pinch Flat and Puncture Flat

Compare impact-related tube tears with true outside punctures, then inspect the tire and rim for the matching clue.

Open PDF
Part 2

Rim Lock Failure Flat

Diagnose valve-stem tears and the rim-lock setup problems that let the tube move under load.

Open PDF
Part 3

Install, Friction, and Heat Flat

Review install technique, lubrication, and heat-related wear so the tube is protected before the ride starts.

Open PDF
Understand the setup. Install it clean. Diagnose flats fast.