What is the point of Tubeless tyres ?

[landsurfer]

Read an article in Cycling about tubeless tyres, and how every one must have this new innovation, that cannot be blown up at the road side and needs special reservoir pumps and special wheels and special air i expect ..... whats the point of them .... this has all the marks of emperors new clothes for the cycling fashionista brigade ....

We where at the handmade frame thing at Bristol 2 years ago and a guy who made his own frames (good) with a beer bottle cap opener brazed to the seat stay ( not sure) introduced himself to Jules as an artist in steel and a cycling fashionista ........ she burst out laughing and had to be led away with tears of mirth in her eyes ..... he wasn't happy ......

So whats better about tubeless tyres .... better, not just different ??

[Airsporter1st]

I'm pretty new myself, but I'll start the ball rolling:

Lighter
No risk of pinch punctures.

I'm sure there'll be loads of others.

[landsurfer]

So only for those with 0 excess body mass then ...

Sorry ..i'll stop ....

[willcee]

+1 everyone trying to reinvent the wheel.. afaik Michelin had a go at this some years back, I had this from late departed friend who was one on one with a highly placed guy in Stoke.. while I wouldn't claim to be totally aufait or even up to date with anything that Michelin do I haven't as yet heard about any T'L tyres..I suppose they are amongst the biggest hitters in the bike tyre market , and definitely have some good kit, so its perhaps a niche market MTB'S etc..when you can change a tyre / tube in less than 5 mins why worry about tubeless.. will

[mattsccm]

As far as I can tell having used them for a year, zero punctures on the road. I have noticed overnight that pressure has dropped a bit suggesting a slow leak that has sealed. That may have meant a repair on the side of the road.
It do feel more confident riding what are fairly light tyres off road now when I do I get less noticeable puncture's (zero)than my tubed mates. Mine do feel very nice to ride. I would argue that my tubed tyres in the same size are a higher quality than my tubeless but the later feel nicer.
I am also convinced that I am less likely to get a catastrophic blow out with tubeless and this means a lot to me. I have had one tube exploded the tyre of the rim. Luckily it was a back one and the speed slow. Front at speed might be messy.
I suppose that we could ask the same question about cars as well.
They are not essential but then again, what is in cycling?

[landsurfer]

Well i've used tubed tyres for the last 2 years without a puncture, (4500 miles+) and i've never had a explosive blow out failure in 40 years of cycling. Always slow release of pressure.
I suppose if someone has invested in all the cost of tubeless tyres, wheels and the support systems required they may feel they have to be positive about them.
I'm trying to focus on the reality of use, not the constant promotion of the latest marketing proposal the cycling magazines (catalogues) trot out.
They score products from 1 to 10 .... when was the last time you saw a "6" ......
If tubeless tyres are the new, lightweight, puncture proof product the cycling press say they are i'm sure they where used by all the teams in the Tour this year ... and those old fashioned Tubulars where consigned to the bin ....?

(Used to love the smell of the glue, while i stuck my Tubs to their rims.
Normandy LG Flange Double fixed on Fiamme, tied and soldered, plain gauge spokes, Barum Tubs .... once upon a time ... .. RTTC days )

[scottg]

For low pressure tires, the ability to avoid pinch flats.
Very popular for mtb, gravel bikes and fat tire road bikes.
Road hi pressure tubeless tires ? they're 'orrible.

But then I think pneumatic tires are way too fancy and just a way
to defraud the punters. My Ordinary doesn't need a patch kit.

Sent via morse code to internet translation service.

[gregoryoftours]

For mtb, the ability to run tyres at a lower pressure than would be possible running regular inner tubes, which would pinch flat all of the time. You gain the advantages of lower pressure; better surface contact and grip, greater comfort and better rolling over uneven surfaces. Maybe some of these apply to road also.

[landsurfer]

Maybe the question should be " What is the point of Tubeless tyres for Road bikes ?"
As the point for MTB seems very positive .... but the marketing focus seems to be on the much bigger road market at the moment. I think.

[freeflow]

No good if you get a cut rather than a pinhole puncture.

[PH]

I understood the idea is to give the experience of tubs with the convenience of clinchers, whatever that advantage is it's certainly been around long enough to become established. I have no experience of tubs or tubeless, or desire to change, but I read the debate with interest.

[landsurfer]

From what i've read the convenance of clinchers is outweighed by the specialist inflation needs ... special pumps, accumulator air supplies.
So if you get a puncture when out for a ride how do you fix it
Please don't say put a tube in ......

[Bez]

cannot be blown up at the road side … whats the point of them

Never needing to be blown up at the roadside

So if you get a puncture when out for a ride how do you fix it

You don't, it fixes itself, unless it's so bad that it rips the actual tyre carcass open, in which case…

Please don't say put a tube in

…you'd have had the same problem with tubes anyway, so, yeah, you could boot the tyre and bung a tube in. But, y'know: how often do you rip a carcass? I've had it less than once a decade, including off-road.

[landsurfer]

[

So if you get a puncture when out for a ride how do you fix it

You don't, it fixes itself,

How ... thats the point i don't get .... How .....

[Bez]

They've got sealant inside.