Tubeless road tyres

[ThisInJapanese]

I looking for views on tubeless tyres for the road, I've just had a Giant Gavia AC puncture and refuse to seal, what was more worrying was that it deformed to the point where I was getting vibrations through the front wheel.

So I'm looking to replace the front tyre, and I'm still unsure what the best options are. I used to live GP4000s2, but I've heard mixed reviews about the GP5000.

Be good to hear what you've had decent luck with.

[GOATever]

Tubeless road tyres are absolute gash. You think they’ll help with puncture prevention? Nope, they puncture as readily as a clincher and tube. Are they less hassle than a clincher when they do puncture? Nope, they are a right royal PITA. Are they more robust than a clincher and tube? nope, far less so IME. On an off road bike, with lower pressure to volume, they are a great idea, you can run super low pressures, which makes for a far more comfortable ride, you never get pinch flats doing so, and if you do get a sharpie in the tyre, because of the lower pressure, relative to a road tyre, they tend to seal effectively, without a catastrophic loss of pressure. They absolutely don’t translate to road tyres. The lower pressure / no tube / no pinch flat thing, is possibly their only benefit. Add in the horrendous premium you pay for the tubeless road tyres ( over a clincher ) for something that has a big Achilles heel ( weak AF sidewalls IME) and you’ll likely be cursing whoever came up with the idea, pretty quickly. Tubeless road tyres need to die, the sooner the better.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

GOATever said:

Tubeless road tyres are absolute gash. You think they’ll help with puncture prevention? Nope, they puncture as readily as a clincher and tube. Are they less hassle than a clincher when they do puncture? Nope, they are a right royal PITA. Are they more robust than a clincher and tube? nope, far less so IME. On an off road bike, with lower pressure to volume, they are a great idea, you can run super low pressures, which makes for a far more comfortable ride, you never get pinch flats doing so, and if you do get a sharpie in the tyre, because of the lower pressure, relative to a road tyre, they tend to seal effectively, without a catastrophic loss of pressure. They absolutely don’t translate to road tyres. The lower pressure / no tube / no pinch flat thing, is possibly their only benefit. Add in the horrendous premium you pay for the tubeless road tyres ( over a clincher ) for something that has a big Achilles heel ( weak AF sidewalls IME) and you’ll likely be cursing whoever came up with the idea, pretty quickly. Tubeless road tyres need to die, the sooner the better.

Well said. GP 5000 Tubeless don't even save you any weight. The extra weight of the tyre + sealant is nearly the weight of the tube....

I tried tubeless for 6 months on my Gravel bike - it has put me off tubeless for now. What I discovered:

1. It is like having a continuous slow puncture - every time I got my bike out of the garage the tyres needed pumping up
2. Most of the time even minor punctures didn't seal
3. When they didn't seal latex went all over my bike
4. Putting a tube in a tyre with latex is a real pain in the ass.
5. The latex attracts grit which means there is a greater chance of getting a puncture in the tube
6. Once you've had a tubeless failure you need a new tyre if you want to run tubeless again
7. It is expensive - tubes are cheaper than tyres
8. I never had any success with the "anchovies" (note the newer plug systems may work - not tried it)
9. Cafe-Latex was even worse than Stans.

My friends all had similar experiences - one Friday I used 2 tubes and 5 patches... My friend also used 2 tubes and most of his patches...

My advice would be to steer well clear, unless you have deep pockets and a lot of patience.

[Johno]

30k+ kms on road tubeless, wouldn’t go back to tubes .... I could argue a lot of those have been done in the Netherlands, loads of bike lanes, probably cleaner than British roads, but then I’ve never had an issue in the UK, France, Spain, Singapore or anywhere else. Countless minor punctures fixed with sealant.

Only ever been stranded once, have plugged tyres 5 or 6 times maybe, to get home and when I was stuck was because I forgot a pump and had only one canister.

Beach riding, MTB and road, all my bikes run tubeless.

Edited by Johno on Sunday 24th November 20:48

[Your Dad]

Going into 3rd winter with tubeless tyres (Schwalbe Pro One) on my winter bike. Not had a single problem with tubeless, and I'm not even aware of they've ever been punctured.

[ThisInJapanese]

Johno said:

30k+ kms on road tubeless, wouldn’t go back to tubes .... I could argue a lot of those have been done in the Netherlands, loads of bike lanes, probably cleaner than British roads, but then I’ve never had an issue in the UK, France, Spain, Singapore or anywhere else. Countless minor punctures fixed with sealant.

Only ever been stranded once, have plugged tyres 5 or 6 times maybe, to get home and when I was stuck was because I forgot a pump and had only one canister.

Beach riding, MTB and road, all my bikes run tubeless.

Edited by Johno on Sunday 24th November 20:48

What tyres do you use on your road bikes?

[shirt]

Your Dad said:

Going into 3rd winter with tubeless tyres (Schwalbe Pro One) on my winter bike. Not had a single problem with tubeless, and I'm not even aware of they've ever been punctured.

Same tyres and same experience for me in 2 yrs. I did buy tubeless ready rims at the outset so I had the option and ended up with them as first fit.

I do have to pump them up weekly but I used to get this with tubed, albeit cheapy tubes. Not had to add any sealant to date either

ETA: all my riding is done off public roads - race tracks and cycle paths. Hence take the above with a pinch of salt, it’s billiard smooth and swept regularly

[Johno]

ThisInJapanese said:

Johno said:

30k+ kms on road tubeless, wouldn’t go back to tubes .... I could argue a lot of those have been done in the Netherlands, loads of bike lanes, probably cleaner than British roads, but then I’ve never had an issue in the UK, France, Spain, Singapore or anywhere else. Countless minor punctures fixed with sealant.

Only ever been stranded once, have plugged tyres 5 or 6 times maybe, to get home and when I was stuck was because I forgot a pump and had only one canister.

Beach riding, MTB and road, all my bikes run tubeless.

Edited by Johno on Sunday 24th November 20:48

What tyres do you use on your road bikes?

I used Hutchison Sector 28s for a long time, then onto Schwalbe Pro Ones when they came out, which tbh I found a bit fragile. The Hutchison were pretty bullet proof. Where the Hutchison you could if absolutely necessary, the Schwalbe’s picked up many more cuts and didn’t take a repair as well.

Recently I’m running 5000’s and I’m very happy with them. I run the summer bike/carbon wheels on 25s and the winter/commuter on 28s. I start the week at 85/80 psi and by Friday’s they can be below 60psi sometimes and it’s lovely and smooth. I’m carrying early winter bulk for me at 85kgs. I do t bother topping up day today, just use and forget. Top up for Sunday’s long ride and then they’re good for the week again.

I learnt a lot of Km’s ago that you have to absolutely forget everything you thought acceptable about tubed tyre pressure and experiment, no issue for me to un the 25s in the 70s and the 28s lower as described. I can’t remember the last time I rode a tyre >100psi.

I also ran some others, which I’ve forgotten the name of, but I found them awful, no grip, not easy to reset up if needs be.... I’ll try and remember.

[DS240]

I’ve been running Mavic UST tyres on my older road bike during race seasons, on a set of their carbon rims. Absolutely no issues. Once had a hole that couldn’t be sealed, but that is only occasion it has not done the job.

Going to curse it now, but I would consider it unlucky if I puncture it happens that infrequently.

Switched the Venge over to tubeless as soon as I got it using the specialized tubeless turbos. Again, happy with them so far.

Nice having pressures down between 80-90, but experimenting going lower. There is leakage of air between rides but it’s not exactly a chore to put the pump on and top up.

It seems the weight saving is negligible if anything going tubeless, but I prefer it for the lower pressures and gains in grip that brings and less rolling resistance.

[ThisInJapanese]

DS240 said:

I’ve been running Mavic UST tyres on my older road bike during race seasons, on a set of their carbon rims. Absolutely no issues. Once had a hole that couldn’t be sealed, but that is only occasion it has not done the job.

Going to curse it now, but I would consider it unlucky if I puncture it happens that infrequently.

Switched the Venge over to tubeless as soon as I got it using the specialized tubeless turbos. Again, happy with them so far.

Nice having pressures down between 80-90, but experimenting going lower. There is leakage of air between rides but it’s not exactly a chore to put the pump on and top up.

It seems the weight saving is negligible if anything going tubeless, but I prefer it for the lower pressures and gains in grip that brings and less rolling resistance.

I've heard good things about the UST system, I run that on my MTB and it works well.

[m444ttb]

I've now set up / attempted to set up five wheels tubeless. I've only ridden on one pair for my commuter bike as the rest are for my TT bikes next year. Set up has been a mixed bag but a frustrating process for sure.


1. Hunt Gravel disc wheels + 35mm Vittoria Terreno Zero - Tyres went on fairly easily for my pathetic office worker hands. Struggled to get them to pop onto the rim and got sealant everywhere multiple times. Then it just worked. One was a little leaky until I'd ridden it but they now hold pressure well and I probably pump them up twice a month.

2. Aerocoach disch wheel + 23mm Vittoria Corsa Speed - Again the tyre went on easily by hand but the process I went through on the Hunt wheels was twice a bad. In the end I put a tube in, inflated it, removed the tube and added sealant before trying again and it worked. Seems fine since them but I've not ridden it. I did notice yesterday that there was a little moisture at the bottom of the tyre and around the bead so not sure if a little sealant is weeping.

3. Aerocoach Zephyr wheels + 25mm GP5000TL - Despite this wheel being designed with this tyre in mind I couldn't get it anywhere close to on the rim. I considered getting a bike shop to do it, but figured that should I need to get the tyre on/off on my own at the side of the road I'd be screwed. So I ditched them for some 25mm Vittoria Corsa Control. Currently I haven't managed to get these to pop onto the bead while tubeless so I've stuck a pair of latex tubes in. When I can face it again I'll remove the tube and have another go at tubeless. But given they're for training I'm not sure I can be bothered

[Harpoon]

I went with tubeless with a new bike and wheel purchase.

My wheels are handbuilt by David at DCR Wheels with carbon rims and he had taped them ready for tubeless. Tyres are Hutchinson Fusion5 11Storm Performance (what a mouthful!) in 28mm. I paid £39 a tyre but Sigma currently have them offer for £59/pair. They popped on with nothing more than thumb power and sealed first time with my ancient, bog-standard Decathlon track pump.

I've done about 1300km on them now and had one issue when the rear went soft overnight. Before riding I quickly whipped the valve core out, squirted in another 30ml of sealant (I'm using the Hutchinson stuff), screwed the valve core back in and pumped up. Took less than five minutes (so quicker than a tube change IMO) and have had no further issues since.

I'm almost finished building a commuter / hack and I picked up a bargain set of Mavic Aksium Elite UST wheels for that. Mavic Yksion Pro tyres are also the Hutchinson 11Storm and I've set them up tubeless as well. Mavic pre-mount the tyres, so again nothing more to do than remove the valve > sealant > valve > pump.

[Maracus]

I've had tubeless Gavia AC1 on my road bike for the past 8000 miles. Not had one puncture.

I replaced the rear after 6000 miles for a trip to the Alps this year and there were a couple of 'seals' on the inside.

I wouldn't go back to tubes.

[ThisInJapanese]

Maracus said:

I've had tubeless Gavia AC1 on my road bike for the past 8000 miles. Not had one puncture.

I replaced the rear after 6000 miles for a trip to the Alps this year and there were a couple of 'seals' on the inside.

I wouldn't go back to tubes.

I know that luck plays a massive part in it, but the roads were stty on the weekend, and it was a slash in the side. However, what amazed me is how deformed it became after I stuck a tube in as it wouldn't seal.

[Maracus]

ThisInJapanese said:

Maracus said:

I've had tubeless Gavia AC1 on my road bike for the past 8000 miles. Not had one puncture.

I replaced the rear after 6000 miles for a trip to the Alps this year and there were a couple of 'seals' on the inside.

I wouldn't go back to tubes.

I know that luck plays a massive part in it, but the roads were stty on the weekend, and it was a slash in the side. However, what amazed me is how deformed it became after I stuck a tube in as it wouldn't seal.

Would this have happened to a regular tyre?

I've maybe been lucky, but I ride all year round on mainly rural roads.

[ThisInJapanese]

Maracus said:

Would this have happened to a regular tyre?

I've maybe been lucky, but I ride all year round on mainly rural roads.

The puncture yes, but the deforming, I'm not sure. Either way it needs to be replaced, and I wanted to see what tubeless options others were riding.

[BoRED S2upid]

Your Dad said:

Going into 3rd winter with tubeless tyres (Schwalbe Pro One) on my winter bike. Not had a single problem with tubeless, and I'm not even aware of they've ever been punctured.

Another vote for these tyres recommended by Hunt and my mechanic who am I to argue. Can’t comment about fitting as I didn’t but can’t fault them.

[ALawson]

IRC tyres 4-5 years now circa 20k km, only two failures due to sidewall tears.

[ThisInJapanese]

ALawson said:

IRC tyres 4-5 years now circa 20k km, only two failures due to sidewall tears.

Interesting, I've never heard of them at all before. Seem to review well though

[lufbramatt]

IRC have been around for years, used to run IRC Mythos XC tyres back in the 90s, they were pretty decent for the time. Don't think they have a big distributor behind them in the UK any more so not very common, I think the Cycle Clinic brings them in?