[Nigal]

Anyone go tubeless? My new bike is tubless-ready and I’ve watch a few videos on how to do it. It’s hard to get the straight poop on whether it really is better because it seems like everyone either loves it or they hate it. Does it really mean less flats?
What are your findings?

 

[fpl1]

I’ve not done it but for roadies I know seems mixed bag on whether it’s worth it. If you see slice your tire or get a nail etc seems like your dead in the water with tubeless. I don’t want to do it for the road bike. Have pretty good luck just keeping tires psi right before every ride. I’d guess gravel it’s probably a good idea to tubeless. Curious what the larger group on here is doing too.

 

[Dos_Ruedas]

I haven’t gone tubeless, but have received friendly picking from others who have.
My reason for not is exactly what fpl1 mentions above ^.
I don’t want to be 50 miles from home, get a cinder through a tire and be stranded.
Then again, i ride with a spare tire abs tubes, maybe i could go tubeless.

I’ll be very interested to learn from the others here.

 

[Nigal]

I’ve not done it but for roadies I know seems mixed bag on whether it’s worth it. If you see slice your tire or get a nail etc seems like your dead in the water with tubeless. I don’t want to do it for the road bike. Have pretty good luck just keeping tires psi right before every ride. I’d guess gravel it’s probably a good idea to tubeless. Curious what the larger group on here is doing too.

Yeah I would think road bikes are a completely different thing just due to the higher psi. Gravel and mtb seems to be the group doing it the most. According to the things I’ve seen even a 1/4 gash/hole will seal. Above that you have to use a plug (anchovy) like we used to see for car tires.

 

[maelochs]

I have some tubeless-ready rims, and I tried it ... I had an ridiculous time getting the tires to seat because I didn't have a high-pressure pump or an air cannister (which I would make out of a 2- or 3-liter bottle, if I decided to go that route.) I got a couple tires to seat and seal, but I also ruined a couple valves .... and never ended up mounting the wheels and tires on my bike (I had wheels I liked better.)

I have been o group rides where a guy got a puncture and just lost a little air, but the hole sealed.

O the other hand, I have broken tools trying to get a super-tight tubeless tire (with a tube) onto a rim late at night ... 45 minutes of fighting in the dark in tall grass ..... People say "I'd carry a tube as a back-up," but it doesn't matter if you break all your tire irons getting the tire off and can't get it back on.

For road use ... I have to say, this isn't quite the breakthrough it seems to be for MTB. Swapping a tube never seemed like that much of a hassle.

 

[Nigal]

I have some tubeless-ready rims, and I tried it ... I had an ridiculous time getting the tires to seat because I didn't have a high-pressure pump or an air cannister (which I would make out of a 2- or 3-liter bottle, if I decided to go that route.) I got a couple tires to seat and seal, but I also ruined a couple valves .... and never ended up mounting the wheels and tires on my bike (I had wheels I liked better.)

I have been o group rides where a guy got a puncture and just lost a little air, but the hole sealed.

O the other hand, I have broken tools trying to get a super-tight tubeless tire (with a tube) onto a rim late at night ... 45 minutes of fighting in the dark in tall grass ..... People say "I'd carry a tube as a back-up," but it doesn't matter if you break all your tire irons getting the tire off and can't get it back on.

For road use ... I have to say, this isn't quite the breakthrough it seems to be for MTB. Swapping a tube never seemed like that much of a hassle.

That sounds like a nightmare. The tires I’m planning on using are like 650b x 50 so it should go well.

 

[rola643]

Anyone go tubeless? My new bike is tubless-ready and I’ve watch a few videos on how to do it. It’s hard to get the straight poop on whether it really is better because it seems like everyone either loves it or they hate it. Does it really mean less flats?
What are your findings?

Tubeless both mtb and road. I much prefer the tubeless road setup( much lower air pressure, better rides...in degrees) but unfortunately my current wheels are not. As with any job the right tool make anything easier. I mount tires and inflate with CO2, nothing to it and never had an issue with either road or mtb. I also put the sealant in though the valve stem which is WAY easier and WAY less of a mess at least for me.

I will say that a flat is much more time consuming and can be messy, BUT like I said never a flat on the road. I've had trash and ran over a nail and it sealed so I could get home so there is that.

Never had a flat on the road with the tubeless. I have cut a rear tire on the mtb and regardless of tube or not that would not have mattered.

If I could have afforded my current wheels in the tubeless version you can bet I'd own them!

*EDIT
As for what @maelochs mentions about breaking tire levers, I'm assuming that might be the broken tool you are mentioning, I've heard people talk about his in the past but I've never once encountered a tire that tight, ever! I've surely had some tight ones that need a tire lever to get back on but as a general rule with some work I almost never use tire levers and use my hands.

I will say I've gone to using Conti tires exclusively on my road bikes and generally Schwalbe on my mtb but as I say this my current tires on just plain stock tires that came on my mtb except the front. I mounted something more aggressive on the front.

So...that's my story and I'm sticking to it SOLEY my experiences on this subject yours may vary

 

[newleaf150]

They may be old tech, but tubes are easy, and I've run Slime in mine since I was a child. Perhaps I will eventually find a reason to go tubeless. I the mean time, I see no reason to fix what isn't broken .

 

[Nigal]

Tubeless both mtb and road. I much prefer the tubeless road setup( much lower air pressure, better rides...in degrees) but unfortunately my current wheels are not. As with any job the right tool make anything easier. I mount tires and inflate with CO2, nothing to it and never had an issue with either road or mtb. I also put the sealant in though the valve stem which is WAY easier and WAY less of a mess at least for me.

I will say that a flat is much more time consuming and can be messy, BUT like I said never a flat on the road. I've had trash and ran over a nail and it sealed so I could get home so there is that.

Never had a flat on the road with the tubeless. I have cut a rear tire on the mtb and regardless of tube or not that would not have mattered.

If I could have afforded my current wheels in the tubeless version you can bet I'd own them!

*EDIT
As for what @maelochs mentions about breaking tire levers, I'm assuming that might be the broken tool you are mentioning, I've heard people talk about his in the past but I've never once encountered a tire that tight, ever! I've surely had some tight ones that need a tire lever to get back on but as a general rule with some work I almost never use tire levers and use my hands.

I will say I've gone to using Conti tires exclusively on my road bikes and generally Schwalbe on my mtb but as I say this my current tires on just plain stock tires that came on my mtb except the front. I mounted something more aggressive on the front.

So...that's my story and I'm sticking to it SOLEY my experiences on this subject yours may vary

I was surprised to see that you can run lower pressures in road wheels. I saw one roady running 60 psi? One question I do have is can I get away with seating a tire using a 150 psi floor pump? I don’t want to have to buy one of the tank things and I’ve seen where some sealants don’t do well with co2.

 

[rola643]

I was surprised to see that you can run lower pressures in road wheels. I saw one roady running 60 psi? One question I do have is can I get away with seating a tire using a 150 psi floor pump? I don’t want to have to buy one of the tank things and I’ve seen where some sealants don’t do well with co2.

I've done it using a Air Tool mtb pump( on both road and mtb), low pressure tons of volume. Just faster and easier with CO2 but I get it.
Air tool pump here
Here's something to consider. Never done it this way and seem like a ton more work

 

[longjohn]

I’ll find out. I just purchased a Lynsky gravel bike with Stan’s wheels and it comes tubeless. Supposed to get it in two weeks.

 

[i12ride]

Only 1 bike with tubeless.....I can tell 0 benefits to my riding over using tubes. Sure tubeless is great as long as no issues but not so great if there is issue. tubeless road? certainly easier to bead up a 25 tire vs. a 3.0 mtb tire. not gonna bead up that tire with co2 out on trail. why would I want lower pressure and increased rolling resistance on a road bike? wouldn't. To me it's a novelty. not what I have piece of mind being far away on a bike with tho. self sealing tubes with a spare in the seat bag makes me less concerned about getting back home and or continuing the ride after a short break. others have their own views on the matter and that just fine. use whatcha like.......yeah, makes the bike a lighter? but does it? heavier rim strips than cloth and sealant not weightless. net loss negligible unless 3.0 - 5.0 tires. Those tubes are heavy for 3.0. do they even make 5.0 tubes? rolling weight is as rolling weight does i suppose....

 

[Nigal]

Got everything ordered today to change the new bike over when it gets here. I did blow an extra $12 for a filling syringe and $17 for a Lyzene plugger with anchovies. My only concern is getting the bead to seat with a floor pump but I’m sure I’ll get it done.

 

[rola643]

Got everything ordered today to change the new bike over when it gets here. I did blow an extra $12 for a filling syringe and $17 for a Lyzene plugger with anchovies. My only concern is getting the bead to seat with a floor pump but I’m sure I’ll get it done.

You’re going to love it, good investments

 

[rola643]

Only 1 bike with tubeless.....I can tell 0 benefits to my riding over using tubes. Sure tubeless is great as long as no issues but not so great if there is issue. tubeless road? certainly easier to bead up a 25 tire vs. a 3.0 mtb tire. not gonna bead up that tire with co2 out on wouldn't. To me it's a novelty. not what I have piece of mind being far away on a bike with tho. self sealing tubes with a spare in the seat bag makes me less concerned about getting back home and or continuing the ride after a short break. others have their own views on the matter and that just fine. use whatcha like.......yeah, makes the bike a lighter? but does it? heavier rim strips than cloth and sealant not weightless. net loss negligible unless 3.0 - 5.0 tires. Those tubes are heavy for 3.0. do they even make 5.0 tubes? rolling weight is as rolling weight does i suppose....

Nooo... that’s one of the biggest benefits, lower rolling resistance on a road bike more contact patch surface on a MTB

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If you want the best tubeless tires for your road bike, there's a lot to consider. I've reviewed what matters most and rated the top tires.

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When I use my tubules wheels I can tell a big difference,

 

[Nigal]

You’re going to love it, good investments

Do you carry extra sealant when riding or just the plugger thingy and a spare tube?

 

[rola643]

Do you carry extra sealant when riding or just the plugger thingy and a spare tube?

Only a spare tube.

 

[Nigal]

Mucho grassyass!

 

[i12ride]

On my Stache with 3.0s, I carry a plug kit kinda like you would for a car only much smaller kit. A tube for that thing must weigh 5lbs each........

 

[longjohn]

Mucho grassyass!

Whelp Nigal how do you like running tubeless? It’s been over a year what do you have to say?