It was my lucky/not so lucky day!! Had my flight review a couple of days ago and after landing and getting ready to push to 'ol mighty 172 back into the hangar, I noticed the front tire appeared slightly low. I was surprsed since I had just checked the pressure on preflight.
By the time I got it back into the hangar and was putty things away, the tire ws nearly flat.

I removed the tire and subsequently took it off the rim to discover a tear in the tube. While researching a replacement I notice there are two options. Butyl and natural rubber. My question is, is there really much difference in which version a person uses?

Not sure about materials, Keith, but I decided a long time ago that, at least for "conventional size" tires, I will buy nothing but Goodyear tires and tubes. I've had really good luck with Goodyear stuff (and new tubes with new tires, of course), and not such great luck with Brand X.

MTV

I'm no expert on tubes, but I have read and heard that butyl (synthetic rubber) retains air better and is somewhat "tougher" than natural rubber. Because of this, I've always purchased butyl tubes for my planes...

Thanks Mike and JP256! New tube on the way!

On a side note, I guess the main reason for the query was the fact that I have purchased cheap tubes for some of my equiptment and they appear to be more or a plastic than rubber compound. All I know is, they don't last for crap! I was wondering if they were the 'buty' type. Heck, they were only a couple bucks apiece at Harbor Freight. They were little 3.50 tubes for my mower and when a guy needs a dozen, cheap seems very appealing until it comes time to replace them after a short time.

My survey of one, bought some new Michelin Airstop (butyl) tubes for my Pitts last year and they really hold air. Used to top up from 20 psi back to 30 every four months or so, but haven’t had to add any with the Airstopsfor 6 mo. YMMV

Not sure of the material used or the manufacturer,
but I've had good luck with "Leakguard" tubes in the past.