Tubeless or clincher tyres

[jayonabike]

My new bike is coming with 2 way fit wheels and my LBS is advocating the use of tubeless tyres. He swears by them, uses them on his own bikes, says the ride is more comfortable and once I've tried them I won't want to go back to clinchers. He says the puncture resistance is far greater than clinchers.
He also said that there is a latex glue that's inside the tyre so if i do get a small puncture from a thorn etc it seals the hole, but if the hole is to big then you can use an inner tube, and the tyre fits to the wheel rim in the same way as a clincher does and doesn't need glueing to the rim like a tubular tyre.
If this did happen at the side of the road and I did need to fit an inner tube, would it be a pain in the arse to fit and messy with the latex getting all over my hands, kit and ending up with me swearing at the bike.
I'm not to sure what to do, part of me is thinking "stick with what you know" and get GP 4000 s' and the other part of me is thinking "try something new, you might like it"
Cost wise there's not a lot in it, the cost of 2 tubeless is about the same as 2 contis and 2 inner tubes.
A compromise I've come up with is put clinchers on for now and then next summer try tubeless. Or is this a waste of time and money.

 

[HLaB]

What sort of riding are you doing? Some folk racing use tubs but for the vast majority of other riding it seems to be clinchers, that would be my first instinc but I've seen a Bontager system that is also seealed by a thin latex glue, I doubt I'd want a tube poking through a hole that was too big to seal.

 

[fossyant]

I'd personally stick with tyres and tubes than tubeless (not tubular tyres for those getting confused).

 

[fossala]

I would have to agree, If I get any promlems/punctures (did 2 days ago) I just swap out my innertube and pump up my tyre. It's a 2-5 min job max. Don't see why you would make such a simple system so complicated.

 

[jayonabike]

I think your all right. I don't race, just social riding with mates, or out for a long ride on my own. For me cycling is more about distance than speed. Think I'll stick with the traditional inner tube/tyre combination.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I have tubs and clinchers. In the past I would swear but tubs and now find myself no longer convinced.
The world tour team AG2R use clinchers, as do OPQ for the classics, you also find other pro riders using Clinchers at times.
At the moment the last couple of sets of wheels I have purchased have been clinches.

 

[Rob3rt]

People seem to be confused, tubeless is not the same as tubular! Google it

TBH, I would just use them as clinchers, but if you want to try tubeless, go with a tubeless tyre etc, but carry a tube with you, if you puncture, put the tube in and ride it like a clincher to get you home. If you decide you don't like the tubeless setup, you can use the wheels as clinchers anyway. What will you lose?

 

[goody]

I've got 2way fit rims as well but have been using tubed clinchers since I've had the bike. (Ultremo's) Last ride out I got a puncture (bit of glass) then as I came to a stop ran over a stone which knackered the sidewall and put a little ding in the rim. The front is looking a bit worse for wear so think I'll get a pair of folding lugano's with kevlar which I've seen for £25 the pair. I'm tempted to try the tubeless but winters coming and schwalbe are bringing out a new tubeless tyre so might get a pair next spring ready for the summer. With tubeless and the sealant inside any flints glass etc. that make it through the carcass should get sealed before causing rapid deflation, if it doesn't seal then you can put a tube in to get you home. The tyre can then be patched on the inside to put it back to tubeless. I think the sealant dries out over time so has to be topped up every 3 months or so. The advantage is supposed to be much less rolling resistance than tubed tyres. I think the weight works out about the same as an Ultremo plus tube so no advantage there but not heard any negative reviews from those that have tried them. If you've got 2way fit rims might as well take advantage of them and try the tyres and make your own mind up.