Tubeless tires

[PaulSB]

Perhaps you should try tubeless before condemning them?

@Dogtrousers, I presented facts. I invite you to do the same. Salesmen hate me because I don't buy anything on emotion or spur-of-the-moment decisions. I am a very detail-oriented engineer, and I research everything. Tubeless might be more suitable for MTB; but I don't get involved in MTB, only road bikes. If you live in goathead land and get a lot of flats, you can put the sealant in inner tubes too, and then you don't need a special pump when you mount the tire. Sealant is nothing new though. We sold it in the bike shop in the late 1970's when I worked there.

I read your first post a few times and wasn't going to respond until I read this one. Far from presenting facts you offered a small rant based on observation and third hand experience. That's fine, I imagine the vast majority on here make decisions based on our own and others experience. If a riding companion tells me of his/her experience I take note and may/may not adopt a technique or product. Lets not though present, very valuable, real world, experience as facts.

My personal experience is no punctures which didn't self-seal in six years, but many that did seal. I've had one tyre with a catastrophic gash of about 1½" which required a two mile walk home. Nothing could have fixed this, tubed or tubeless. The one crucial aspect I've found with tubeless is to find the right valves. I could give chapter and verse on why I love tubeless but it wouldn't be fact.

 

[Bristolian]

The longest I’ve gone tubeless without a puncture is 10 years. You picks your poison…

A genuine question; is that without a puncture at all or without one that required you to repair it? I just wonder because if it's the first then it wouldn't matter if you rode tubeless or not.

 

[alex_cycles]

A genuine question; is that without a puncture at all or without one that required you to repair it? I just wonder because if it's the first then it wouldn't matter if you rode tubeless or not.

I think the point is that with tubeless you very often never even knew you had a puncture. So as far as I'm concerned it's effectively "not a puncture". I run tubeless on road and gravel and I won't be going back to tubes (although I still carry one). If you don't mind setting up and topping up sealant from time to time they are wonderful.

I once had a glass cut which was too big for the sealant to fix. Popped a tube in. Bit messy, but that's the only time in 5 years.

 

[Dogtrousers]

We all have things that we like or dislike. Favourites on here are: tubeless v tubes, disc v rim, wax v a million kinds of lube, triples v doubles v 1x, clipless v flats and so on. Most things have pros and cons, so it's easy to make a list of cons (or pros) and have a rant.

If you want maximum reaction, it's good to spice up your rant by implying or stating outright that people who don't share your view are credulous fools led astray by shiny marketing.

Sometimes this is illuminating, but mostly not. Does anyone want to hear my views on carbon frames (even though I've never owned one and only ridden a hired one)? Thought not.

What is illuminating is personal experience. I can't get enough of reading about people's experiences bleeding brakes or sanding discs even though I only own rim brakes.

 

[De Sisti]

Mixing Campagnolo with Shimano is another hot topic. There is a 'so called guru' on Cycling UK who is adamant that, according to his engineering background and experience, it doesn't work well (despite never having tried it, and ignoring all of the success stories people have had with it). He will argue every single point you make, even as far as making snide and rude comments about you. He gets away with it because he’s knowledgeable and often helps with problems other riders have, though I suspect he’s given a bit more leeway while he’s still recovering from illness.

 

[figbat]

I run tubeless and carry a boot and a tube. I have never had to use either in 8+ years of tubeless, across several bikes, all off-road.

I’ve only occasionally had to plug a puncture too. Before going tubeless I had had up to 3 punctures in a single ride that had required a repair or tube replacement.

 

[kingrollo]

What is a boot?

 

[Webbo2]

🥾😉

 

[Webbo2]

What is a boot?

Imagine a piece of tyre about 3 inches long with the beading cut off. You put it in the inside of your tyre when you have a large cut or split in it. It stops the inner tube poking through said cut and gets you home.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

A genuine question; is that without a puncture at all or without one that required you to repair it? I just wonder because if it's the first then it wouldn't matter if you rode tubeless or not.

Without one that required repairing. When tyres were retired the evidence of plugged punctures could be found within.

 

[rydabent]

What is a boot?

The boot I carry was bought at the bike shop. It is a heavy piece of rubberized cloth that has a sticky side, covered wit a piece of peal of plastic. To use, peal of the plastic, and put the sticky side down over the tear in the tire.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

What is a boot?

Anything that stops the inner tube sticking out a slit in a tyre. A £5 can act as an emergency boot, contactless not so good.

 

[CXRAndy]

I take an inner tube for a bad cut on my tubeless tyres when on a cycling tour. Anything local, trust the self sealing properties. Seen as I've not had a puncture that has interfered with a ride in many many years, I dont worry.

I know the sealant is working because there are many tiny wet spots on the tread even after several days in the shed.

Once a month I pump the tyres back up to pressure and carry on

 

[Bristolian]

Without one that required repairing. When tyres were retired the evidence of plugged punctures could be found within.

Thank you, that's interesting information. I'm considering a move to tubeless so this thread (and others) are helpful in formulating my decision