tubeless or tubed tyres?

daffyavfc
Posts: 237
Hi
just received my ultegra 6700 wheelset from Ribble. Was initially panicking as the rims say Tubeless but was not aware they take both as have always used clinchers.
I've not used tubeless before and wondered if I should try tubeless tyres as have not bought any clinchers yet?
questions
How do they fit/attach onto the rim
How do you fix them if they get a puncture and...
Are they more expensive than their clincher equivalents? (would be large to carry around in a saddle bag?)
thanks
just received my ultegra 6700 wheelset from Ribble. Was initially panicking as the rims say Tubeless but was not aware they take both as have always used clinchers.
I've not used tubeless before and wondered if I should try tubeless tyres as have not bought any clinchers yet?
questions
How do they fit/attach onto the rim
How do you fix them if they get a puncture and...
Are they more expensive than their clincher equivalents? (would be large to carry around in a saddle bag?)
thanks
0
Comments
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They still have a bead hook so 'attach' pretty much in the same way as a normal clincher. You should really use a sealant with them (like Stans), this will seal small punctures (although you may get some air loss before a good seal forms), if you get a gash that's too big to seal then you can just put a tube in for a temporary repair (you'll likely need a tyre boot/patch to so stop the tube bulging through the gap but then that applies to normal clinchers as well.
Tubeless tyres do cost more than normal ones as they're more expensive to make (stronger bead etc.) and still relatively new to market so manufacturers are still recouping R&D costs. You generally wouldn't carry a spare one on a ride as you might a tubular tyre as you can generally bodge a repair using an inner tube as mentioned above.
I haven't yet switched to tubeless on my road bike (been running it for years on my MTB) but will do when I buy my next set of wheels. For me it's mostly about the puncture protection (a lot of punctures I get are snakebite ones from potholes, even running at 100psi), you can't get those with tubeless tyres. They should deal fine with thorns etc. to. Being able to run a bit less pressure in them (as you don't have to worry about snakebites) will add a little comfort and even a tiny bit of speed (although not enough for it really to be a factor in decision making).
The downside is the cost, limited range and the hassle they can be to fit - especially important if you need to fit a tube for a roadside repair. You're leaving yourself pretty exposed if you can only manage to fit them whilst in your garage - some tubeless rims are easier to fit tyres to than others, not sure where the Ultegra's fit on that scale.0 -
Running tubeless on my MTB too - only 1 puncture in over a year's riding. I'm running 3" 29er tyres at 8/10psi - simply impossible to achieve with regular tubes, plus big weight-saving and phenomenal grip. I've built a pair of wheels with Velocity A23 tubeless rims and will look to run tubeless on my training bike over winter - for me it's about running wider tyres at reduced pressure with lower rolling resistance. The problem at the moment is there's few road tubeless tyres available, Hutchinson, Maxxis or Schwalbe AFAIK, all £££ - you can't use regular road tyres as the bead isn't strong enough.
The main issue is getting them to run reliably in the first place, sometime requiring an extra layer of rim tape to get them to inflate /tyre bead to seat/seal properly. Google "ghetto tubeless" for plenty of tips.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0 -
daffyavfc wrote:How do they fit/attach onto the rim
How do you fix them if they get a puncture and...
Are they more expensive than their clincher equivalents? (would be large to carry around in a saddle bag?)
1. Fit tyre to rim, add sealant, inflate
2. If the sealant can't catch it then fit a tube
3. Yes. Hutchinson, Bonty and Schwalbe are all approx. £40 whereas decent clinchers are more like £25 +£5 tube. (not sure why you'd carry a spare tyre around).
The real bonus is running lower pressures=more comfort and grip. If you're not fussed about this then go clincher.Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer0