A bicycle tube is typically made from butyl rubber. Butyl is a very elastic and simultaneously airtight synthetic rubber. Just like with tires, additional additives are necessary for the rubber compound. The rubber mixture used can result in significant quality differences. Schwalbe tubes are extremely airtight and elastic. Due to their high elasticity, a tube can cover a wide range of different tire sizes.

There are two types of tubes: those that are molded and those that are autoclaved. Mold curing results in more uniform wall thicknesses, which leads to lower weights and significantly better airtightness. Therefore, the easier-to-manufacture autoclaved tubes have become increasingly rare in recent years. Schwalbe tubes have always been produced as molded tubes.

Each tube also comes with a valve, which is bonded to the tube through vulcanization.