Impac 26" Inner Tube: The Complete Guide for MTB and Hybrid Riders

If your mountain bike or hybrid has 26-inch wheels, the Impac 26" inner tube is one of the most reliable and cost-effective options available. This guide covers everything you need to know — sizing, valve types, fitting, and when to replace.

Who still uses 26-inch wheels?

26-inch wheels were the standard for mountain bikes for decades and remain common on:

• Older mountain bikes (pre-2012 era)
• Budget and mid-range hardtails
• Hybrid and commuter bikes
• Children's larger bikes
• Some folding bikes

If you're not sure whether your bike takes 26-inch tubes, check the sidewall of your tyre — you'll see a size marking like 26 x 1.75 or 26 x 2.10.

Understanding the size markings

The Impac 26" tube fits tyres in the 26 x 1.75–2.35 range. The two numbers refer to:

• 26 — the wheel diameter in inches
• 1.75–2.35 — the tyre width range the tube will fit

A tube will stretch to fit within its stated range, so one tube covers multiple tyre widths. If your tyre is 26 x 1.95, a tube rated 26 x 1.75–2.35 will fit correctly.

Schrader vs Presta valve

The Impac 26" MTB tube comes with a 40mm Schrader valve — the same type as a car tyre. Schrader valves are:

• Compatible with standard track pumps and garage air lines
• Easier to use than Presta valves
• Standard on most mountain bikes and hybrids

If your wheel rim has a narrow valve hole, it may be drilled for Presta — check before buying.

How to replace a 26-inch inner tube

1. Remove the wheel from the bike
2. Deflate the tyre fully and unseat one bead from the rim using tyre levers
3. Pull out the old tube
4. Check the inside of the tyre for the cause of the puncture — remove any debris
5. Slightly inflate the new tube so it holds its shape
6. Fit the tube inside the tyre, starting at the valve
7. Reseat the tyre bead, working around the rim by hand
8. Inflate to the pressure marked on the tyre sidewall
9. Check the tyre is seated evenly before riding

If you're repairing rather than replacing, a puncture repair kit will patch most punctures in under 10 minutes.

How often should you replace your inner tube?

Replace your inner tube if:

• It has multiple patches and punctures again
• The rubber feels brittle or cracked
• The valve is damaged or leaking
• You're getting repeated slow punctures with no obvious cause

A new tube is inexpensive — it's rarely worth patching a tube more than two or three times.

Buy Impac 26" inner tubes from Peak Bike Station

We stock the Impac 26" MTB Inner Tube with free UK delivery. Available for collection in Hadfield if you need one quickly before a ride on the Longdendale Trail.