[en] The authors present a study of the basic properties of tubes with thick sense wires (40-200 μm) operated in the limited streamer mode. The pulse shape, singles rate, detection efficiency and dead time are discussed, together with the influence of various parameters such as wire diameter, tube shape and dimensions, gas mixtures. The cathode material may be either conductive or resistive for multicoordinate readout. Preliminary results are shown on the possibility to use resistive plastics as cathode. The results of the study show the possibility to operate limited streamer tubes in a wide range of geometrical parameters, always maintaining their basic features, i.e. high reliability, easy construction, low cost of both detectors and readout electronics. (Auth.)