Tubeless or not - road wheels & tyres
Discussion
I aim to buy upgraded wheels in the next week or two.
I've narrowed it down to Fulcrum Racing 3. I was considering getting the 2 way fit version, as I thought it would be advantageous to use tubeless tyres.
Now that I've looked into it in more detail, I've changed my mind back to using tubed tyres. Mainly to save weight, but also because I've never had a snakebite puncture on a road bike.
Am I missing anything? The research I have read on tubeless tyres doesn't support the lower rolling resistance/better ride arguments.
I will ride the bike in a couple of sportives, including the 2016 Letape.
I've narrowed it down to Fulcrum Racing 3. I was considering getting the 2 way fit version, as I thought it would be advantageous to use tubeless tyres.
Now that I've looked into it in more detail, I've changed my mind back to using tubed tyres. Mainly to save weight, but also because I've never had a snakebite puncture on a road bike.
Am I missing anything? The research I have read on tubeless tyres doesn't support the lower rolling resistance/better ride arguments.
I will ride the bike in a couple of sportives, including the 2016 Letape.
Edited by Kawasicki on Thursday 14th January 13:41
I've been running tubeless for a while and agree there isn't much in it in terms of comfort/rolling resistance, however they are good for preventing punctures as it'll seal up holes from thorns etc.
Evans are selling Bontrager tubeless wheels for about £120 and Schwalbe One tyres can be had for £30 each from the German sites so not a huge investment to give it a try before spending £350+ on the the Racing 3 2 way fit (which I had until a rim cracked) I now have the above Bontrager wheels as training wheels for my summer bike and DT Swiss R24 disc on my winter bike, both tubeless and set up with no hassle.
Evans are selling Bontrager tubeless wheels for about £120 and Schwalbe One tyres can be had for £30 each from the German sites so not a huge investment to give it a try before spending £350+ on the the Racing 3 2 way fit (which I had until a rim cracked) I now have the above Bontrager wheels as training wheels for my summer bike and DT Swiss R24 disc on my winter bike, both tubeless and set up with no hassle.
I'm a massive tubeless fan, up to a certain point, which is about 50psi. Run it on my mtbs and my fat tyred all road bike, but I don't yet trust it for the very high pressures required for narrow road tyres.
Also, std tubed road tyres are often a bugger to remove at the roadside. I'd imaging the seal required on such a high pressure tyre+rim combo will probably make it even more difficult to unseat the bead and remove the tyre to put a tube in should a puncture occur that can't be sealed by the latex.
Which is one of the reasons I switched to fat low pressure tyres run tubeless tbh.
If you've ever been near a tubeless tyre that's blown off a rim whilst under inflation at even 40psi you'll understand!
Also, std tubed road tyres are often a bugger to remove at the roadside. I'd imaging the seal required on such a high pressure tyre+rim combo will probably make it even more difficult to unseat the bead and remove the tyre to put a tube in should a puncture occur that can't be sealed by the latex.
Which is one of the reasons I switched to fat low pressure tyres run tubeless tbh.
If you've ever been near a tubeless tyre that's blown off a rim whilst under inflation at even 40psi you'll understand!
Hutchinson Secteur 28's on DT Swiss R24 splines. Went on with DT tubeless tape, Stans sealant. Tyres put on with hands, thumbs and no levers required. I'm confident I could remove the same way, but carry a level jic.
Run rear at 90-95 and front at 85-90, I'm 80kgs. They hold pressure well.
Like a magic carpet, great grip and my current winter set up and commuting wheels. I will not go back to tubed tyres. Rode home last week in 40kmph winds, with rain and once home noticed a small telltale of sealant on the rear, which probably would have been a very unpleasant side of the road job otherwise.
My ride to work includes about 3kms of brick weave roads/paths and these tyres were designed for Roubiax etc. They're really comfortable. Some of that will be them being 28's I agree, but still they are noticeably more pleasant. I do a ride through the dunes down to the Hook of Holland and most of the 70kms is on brick weave paths and they're simply superb.
My summer wheel upgrade will be set up tubeless, with the intention to use Schwalbe's new Pro One's in 25mm. They're overall weight is in line with tubed alternatives, the rolling resistance is not significantly different and you're much less likely to suffer a puncture. I'm not ever going to be setting KOM's or racing, I just want to enjoy riding without the crap of tube changing, especially in this weather. If the Pro Ones are crap, then I can always go back, but I seriously doubt it as my experience from the MTB and last month so far on the road screams it would be a backwards step.
My road bike has disks as well .... I know, I shall be cast to the pit of hell by those who wish to wear out rims and battle tubes on bleak windswept nights in the rain.
Run rear at 90-95 and front at 85-90, I'm 80kgs. They hold pressure well.
Like a magic carpet, great grip and my current winter set up and commuting wheels. I will not go back to tubed tyres. Rode home last week in 40kmph winds, with rain and once home noticed a small telltale of sealant on the rear, which probably would have been a very unpleasant side of the road job otherwise.
My ride to work includes about 3kms of brick weave roads/paths and these tyres were designed for Roubiax etc. They're really comfortable. Some of that will be them being 28's I agree, but still they are noticeably more pleasant. I do a ride through the dunes down to the Hook of Holland and most of the 70kms is on brick weave paths and they're simply superb.
My summer wheel upgrade will be set up tubeless, with the intention to use Schwalbe's new Pro One's in 25mm. They're overall weight is in line with tubed alternatives, the rolling resistance is not significantly different and you're much less likely to suffer a puncture. I'm not ever going to be setting KOM's or racing, I just want to enjoy riding without the crap of tube changing, especially in this weather. If the Pro Ones are crap, then I can always go back, but I seriously doubt it as my experience from the MTB and last month so far on the road screams it would be a backwards step.
My road bike has disks as well .... I know, I shall be cast to the pit of hell by those who wish to wear out rims and battle tubes on bleak windswept nights in the rain.
Edited by Johno on Thursday 14th January 18:00
My rims are tubeless ready and Malcolm at the Cycleclinic who built them swears by tubeless. I think had his first ever issue using Schwable 1's this week, that was dur to hitting a massive pothole and opening the rims enough for the tyre to off which a tubes tyre would also have down.
How much are the sealant and tape kits from Germany?
How much are the sealant and tape kits from Germany?
Racing 3 were very tight, even with normal tyres fitting was a nighmare (actually worse as you had the risk of pinching the tube)
My Bontrager and DT Swiss wheels were fine when fiting tyres. Both came with tape and valves (Bontrager ones have a plastic rim converter rather than tape) and Stans sealant is about £12.
My Bontrager and DT Swiss wheels were fine when fiting tyres. Both came with tape and valves (Bontrager ones have a plastic rim converter rather than tape) and Stans sealant is about £12.
I run road tubeless and love it.
The benefits are not as pronounced as MTB, where the difference is night and day, but I think it is still worthwhile.
Less chance of punctures (thorn/nail and snakebites)
Better feel/comfort
Weight difference is negligible. I think tubeless can be lighter than a normal setup, but tubes win if you want a crazy light setup.
Tubeless tyre ~280g + sealant ~25g
Lightweight clincher tyre ~200g + lightweight tube ~50g.
Difference is around 50g tops.
The benefits are not as pronounced as MTB, where the difference is night and day, but I think it is still worthwhile.
Less chance of punctures (thorn/nail and snakebites)
Better feel/comfort
Weight difference is negligible. I think tubeless can be lighter than a normal setup, but tubes win if you want a crazy light setup.
Tubeless tyre ~280g + sealant ~25g
Lightweight clincher tyre ~200g + lightweight tube ~50g.
Difference is around 50g tops.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff