tubeless, to be or not to be?

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I can't quite make up my mind to go for it.

My next set of wheels will be tubeless compatible, I just need to take the plunge I guess.

I'm concerned about tyre choice, weight, durability and the inevitable puncture, it has to happen doesn't it?

Any tubeless users here who can give me some advice/tips etc much appreciated.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
Also thinking of going down that route.

Check out THIS thread from over at the other place.
Steve Abraham is running tubeless for his record ride.
 

screenman

Squire
I love the tubeless on the MTB not one puncture that stopped me playing, plenty of thorns though when I did my tyre inspections.

I only run Stans system with no specific tyre, Maxxis if I remember correctly, which before converting to tubeless had many visits from the fairy.
 

Andrew_P

In between here and there
I use the Schwalbe One tyre. I have had 3 punctures I am aware of and they all sealed up and I just added some Air once I realised it was low. I had one quite large one which sealed and held air but I decided to change the tyre. To be fair it would have got a changed even on clincher. I was aware of them though the sealant splattering around for 20-30 seconds on the front one and lack pressure bottoming out the rear.

I found them fairly tough to get on and wouldn't fancy trying to get a tube in at the roadside. You can buy Tubeless, patch kits that come with a rubber cement that can be use inside and outside.

I am up to 3500 miles without a ride stopping puncture. I got 1200 miles out of the Hutchinson tyres but they cut up pretty badly these Schwalbe Ones are far better.

For me I had a bad accident down to a rapid deflation and the tyre just rolled off the rim mid corner, there is no way that could happen with these.

I lose pressure fairly quickly overnight and as I am running them quite low anyway so I top up every morning.

Currently I wouldn't go back, I just carry the patc kit Co2 and spare Co2 Canisters now took me 1500 miles before I dropped the inner tubes! Theory is that if it is a ride stopper, or patcher it would have been just as bad with a clincher.

II am using Fulcrum Racing Zero two way fit, Hutchinson sealant and Stan's presta valves
 

Andrew_P

In between here and there
I use the Hutchinson sealant as it seemed the easiest to use and has a suggested life of 2 years. Easy to top up. If you need to deflate to top up make sure the valve is 3 or 9 o'clock or you get a face full of sealant, as I found out!
 
D

Deleted member 23692

Guest
I converted my MTB earlier this week using a Stans kit, and last night went back to tubes. The Reason? An existing small hole (3mm) in the tyre simply would not seal. I was OK up to about 25 psi but to get the bead to seat properly it needs to be pumped up far higher than that (as per the instructions) - every time I got to around 30-35psi the sealant blew through the hole, squiring the latex solution out

I'll try again next time I get new tyres, but even then I'll still not be convinced they'll be as puncture proof as they claim.
 
I've been very pleased with my Hutchinson Sector 28s which have now done 6,000+ kilometres with no punctures that I've noticed, and they're far from worn out. I do wipe them after nearly every ride (100km typically) so that might help, and I can't see any sealed holes either. I do pump them up every ride, but those are typically 3-4 days apart; pressure loss in that time is something like 2-5psi (from 80 and 72.5). That's running on Stan's Grail rims. Oh - fitting them was easy too, and they both inflated first time with a track pump (before I put the sealant in). I cannot imagine wanting to use inner tubes.

So my tip would be to try tubeless, fit the tape carefully, and expect not to go back to inner tubes.
 

stumpy66

Veteran
Location
Lanarkshire
I use the Schwalbe One tyre. I have had 3 punctures I am aware of and they all sealed up and I just added some Air once I realised it was low. I had one quite large one which sealed and held air but I decided to change the tyre. To be fair it would have got a changed even on clincher. I was aware of them though the sealant splattering around for 20-30 seconds on the front one and lack pressure bottoming out the rear.

I found them fairly tough to get on and wouldn't fancy trying to get a tube in at the roadside. You can buy Tubeless, patch kits that come with a rubber cement that can be use inside and outside.

I am up to 3500 miles without a ride stopping puncture. I got 1200 miles out of the Hutchinson tyres but they cut up pretty badly these Schwalbe Ones are far better.

For me I had a bad accident down to a rapid deflation and the tyre just rolled off the rim mid corner, there is no way that could happen with these.

I lose pressure fairly quickly overnight and as I am running them quite low anyway so I top up every morning.

Currently I wouldn't go back, I just carry the patc kit Co2 and spare Co2 Canisters now took me 1500 miles before I dropped the inner tubes! Theory is that if it is a ride stopper, or patcher it would have been just as bad with a clincher.

II am using Fulcrum Racing Zero two way fit, Hutchinson sealant and Stan's presta valves
Did you notice much difference in the ride feel
 

Andrew_P

In between here and there
Did you notice much difference in the ride feel
I did when I stopped pumping them up to 110psi like I did my clinchers, Christ they were rock hard I now put 80-90 psi in. But overall I can't say I did if I am honest. They feel like Gatorskin used to when you press them to check the air, they feel firm even if they are relatively low on pressure. Guessing the carcass is a lot thicker.
 
Location
Spain
I'm on Schwalbe One tubeless and have seen no sign of a puncture since fitting them back in March/April. I'm also running lower pressures on them than i did with tubes too so in theory more comfortable. Pretty sure i won't be back on tubes soon.
 

AndyK2479

Regular
I'm thinking of making my next wheelset Tubeless ready, some handbuilts from JustRidingAlong. I wonder why Continental haven't released a Tubeless tyre yet?
 
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