"As a quick explainer/refresher: Tubular tires generally are constructed of a lightweight fabric casing (often polyester, cotton, or silk) sewn shut over a relatively conventional inner tube, with a rubber tread then glued on top. In the end, you glue the whole thing directly to a smooth rim bed without bead hooks. The conventional wisdom has been that this makes for lightweight, suppleness, and low rolling-resistance at high pressures on smooth surfaces, i.e. track racing."
"But it also really benefits cyclocross at extremely low pressures with incredible sensitivity and grip, reduced pinch flats, and a lower chance of the tire separating from the rim in extreme cornering or off-camber riding at those low pressures. But almost all tubulars use a latex tube inside, which isn't the lightest option, not always the lowest rolling resistance, and loses air pressure over time."
A prototype FMB cyclocross tubular with an apparent TPU inner tube was spotted on a celeste, purple & blue Bianchi at the Tábor World Cup. Tubeless dominance has stalled tubular evolution, leading FMB to experiment with TPU inside their sew-up tires. Tubular tires consist of a lightweight fabric casing sewn over an inner tube with a rubber tread glued on top and are glued directly to smooth rim beds without bead hooks. Tubulars provide suppleness and low rolling resistance for track use and excel in cyclocross at very low pressures with improved sensitivity, grip, fewer pinch flats, and reduced risk of tire separation; most tubulars use latex tubes that add weight, can raise rolling resistance, and lose pressure over time. FMB reports multi-year TPU experiments claiming weight savings, better air retention, and greater durability, and Vittoria also makes a TPU Pista Oro track tubular.
Read at Bikerumor
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