Tubeless Tires

[makbike]

Anyone out there using tubeless tires? What do you like about them? What do you dislike about them? Just curious. Thanks!

[MartianDestiny]

Road or mountain?

I have them on my mountain bike. They're great. Only downside is you need an air compressor to seal them initially (have to get air in fast) or you have to get your shop to mount them.

I probably don't flat enough (either with or without tubes) to notice a difference. Supposedly you can run lower pressures tubeless without pinch flatting; I don't think I really take advantage of that either. But no real complaints.

[crazycanuck]

I have them on my mtn bike & they're great!! Due to the wonderful pea gravel in Western Australia, I have my tires at about 20psi in the front & 25 or so at the back. Nothing like trying to get through deep pea gravel going uphill

I've not had any flats yet!

[yetigooch]

I've been using tubeless for over 5 years now. I use the Stans No Tubes conversion kit (you can use any rim and tire combo). Tubeless is great...better traction with the lower tire pressure. Just be sure to use sealant in the tire.

[makbike]

Sorry, I should have specified - tubeless road tires.

Yetigooch, what is this sealant you speak of?

[crazycanuck]

Stan's no tubes-just another common product used to replace tubes. I left all that up to my bike shop dude. If you get it wrong, your tires will explode..(at 6am in our case)

[makbike]

I too would like to know why he switched back to tubes.

[chicagogal]

I only run clinchers, so I don't have too much to add here.

However, a lot of my racing buddies use clinchers when they train and tubulars when they race. The clinchers are good for training because if you are out on the road far from home, changing a flat is a piece of cake.

However, they like the feel of tubulars when they race, and so use them with their race wheels. Like what was mentioned above, tubulars allow for lower tire pressure because they don't run the risk of pinch-flats that clinchers do. They are lighter because they don't have tubes, and my friends swear by them in the corners.