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Tubeless tires are becoming more popular in road cycling than ever. But why? What are their benefits and disadvantages? In this article, you will find out!
Although I wrote this article mainly from a road cyclist’s perspective, mountain and gravel bikers will also find helpful information here. I share my experience with clincher vs. tubeless tires and help you avoid some common mistakes.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Tubeless tires offer improved riding comfort, fewer punctures, and better traction but are more expensive and difficult to install. The choice depends on your priorities and willingness to handle more complicated maintenance. But it’s not as difficult as it sounds. It just takes a bit of practice!
What Are Tubeless Tires?
Tubeless tires eliminate the need for an inner tube, as the air pressure holds the tire against the rim. They require tubeless-ready wheels, tubeless rim tape, and tire sealant to keep the air inside.
Learn more about how tubeless tires work. I also recommend reading this article, which explains how they differ from clincher and tubular tires.
Benefits of Tubeless Tires
Below, I share the benefits of tubeless tires that I have verified based on my experience.
1. Improved Riding Comfort
One of the standout advantages of tubeless tires is improved riding comfort. They can be run at lower pressures than clincher tires (while having the same tire width).
This means the tires can absorb more bumps and vibrations that are not transferred to your bike and your body.
Thanks to disc brakes*, it’s also possible to use wider tires on road bikes, so 28 or 30mm are common, with some endurance bikes having up to 36mm tire clearance.
*Rim brake calipers are narrow, usually fitting 25mm tires max.
2. Reduced Risk of Punctures
Lower tire pressures also bring another benefit: the tire is less prone to puncture, and you don’t have to worry about pinching or puncturing the inner tubes.
Additionally, tubeless tires have a tire sealant inside that can fill tiny gaps and automatically seal small punctures as they occur. I will discuss this in more detail in the following section.
3. Self-Repair Capability
Tubeless tires usually have tire sealant instead of a tube. It can automatically patch up small punctures as you ride.
However, you have to use quality sealant. Based on my experience, cheaper sealants don’t work as well.
Also, don’t expect miracles. If the puncture is large, not even a sealant will help you. I recommend choosing the tires based on the type of riding you do.
For example, I use Tufo Comtura 4 TR tires with great puncture resistance, so I don’t have to worry about riding on paved forest roads with lots of debris.
On the other hand, they have higher rolling resistance than some performance tires like Continental GP5000 S TR.
4. Lower Rolling Resistance
Lower rolling resistance means a faster ride. That matters to competitive cyclists. Tubeless tires typically have lower rolling resistance than clincher tires.
In other words, you spend less energy to maintain speed the same speed, giving you an edge in races or simply making your rides less strenuous.
But remember, lower rolling resistance usually goes hand in hand with worse puncture protection and higher weight.
5. Improved Traction and Braking
Improved traction and braking are game-changers in off-road cycling. Tubeless tires allow for lower tire pressures, enhancing grip on rough terrain and during cornering and braking.
You’ll feel more confident tackling challenging trails, and your overall cycling experience will be more enjoyable.
I am a relatively careful rider, so I don’t push it in the corners, but I feel more confident descending twisty roads with 28mm tubeless tires than with 23/25mm clincher tires.
Disadvantages of Tubeless Tires
Tubeless tires are not all roses, though. Here are some of their main disadvantages.
1. Initial Setup Complexity
The main disadvantage of tubeless tires is their setup complexity, especially if you are a beginner and don’t have the proper tools.
You need tubeless-ready rims with tubeless rim tape, tire sealant, and tubeless valves. Depending on your skill and technique, you may also need a tubeless pump or an air compressor.
Because I do a lot of wheel reviews and have to seat tubeless tires often, I bought an air compressor that makes things easy.
Honestly, I made a lot of mistakes when seating tubeless tires. At one point, I even thought about going back to clinchers. But don’t worry. You can read this article on how to seat tubeless tires to learn everything you need to know (including avoiding common mistakes).
2. Air Leaks and More Frequent Maintenance
In my experience, tubeless tires lose pressure faster than clincher tires. Therefore, it is necessary to check the pressure more often.
Over time (about half a year), the sealant inside tubeless tires may dry or require replenishing. This adds to the maintenance workload compared to traditional tires that are often “fit and forget.”
The annoying thing about this is that first, you must think about topping up (so I recommend setting a reminder on your bike computer or phone). It also costs extra money because quality tire sealant isn’t exactly cheap.
Eventually, you must remove the dried tire sealant before the next installation.
3. Limited Compatibility
Not all tires and rims are compatible with tubeless systems. This limits your choices when it comes to selecting tires and rims, and you might not find the exact combination you desire.
Fortunately, with the growing popularity of tubeless systems, tubeless tires and wheels are also much more widespread.
4. Higher Costs
Tubeless tires (and wheels) are usually more expensive than standard clinchers. You may also need tools like a tubeless floor pump, making a tubeless setup more expensive.
The most annoying thing for me is tire sealant. They are pretty expensive, and sometimes, they’re messy work!
5. Weight
Tubeless setups can be slightly heavier than their traditional counterparts. This is mainly because of the added weight of the tire sealant, tubeless rim tape, and sometimes the tire itself.
It always depends on the used parts. In my experience, the weight was usually comparable to that of clincher tires.
6. Incompatibility with High-Pressure Applications
Tubeless tires may be unsuitable for road cyclists requiring extremely high tire pressures. Traditional clincher tires might be a better choice for these specific applications.
However, high tire pressures are counterproductive unless you live in an area with super smooth roads. You can learn more about it in this Silca article.
7. Difficulty in Repairs on the Go
While sealant can fix small punctures, larger cuts or damage might still require traditional repairs or even tire replacement. It’s essential to be prepared for such situations.
You can buy a tubeless tire repair kit to repair the tires on the go. But you will probably also need a CO2 inflator and cartridge. Seating tubeless tires with a mini pump is impossible.
Conclusion
For me, tubeless tires’ benefits (comfort, fewer punctures…) outweigh their disadvantages (costs, installation…). Yes, it took me a few tries to learn how to install them properly, but now it’s just a routine.
I hope this article has been useful to you. If you are still hesitant to try tubeless tires, don’t worry. You will learn everything soon enough.
Have you already tried tubeless tires, or what’s holding you back from doing so? Let me know in the comments below.
Tubeless tires for me, hands down!
For me, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.