How reliable are tu...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] How reliable are tubeless tyres?

77 Posts
54 Users
0 Reactions
225 Views
Posts: 348
Free Member
Topic starter
 

My new bike (Santa Cruz 5010 - awesome bike) has come setup tubeless. This is a first for me. I usually carry a big camelback full of spares that I never use, and without the need to carry a pump or tube I'm thinking of just ditching the bag on local 2hr rides. Is that wise? Do tubeless tyres still get punctures that need fixing?


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 7:44 pm
Posts: 23277
Free Member
 

Yes.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 7:44 pm
Posts: 348
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Yes, that is wise? Or yes they still get punctures?


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 7:46 pm
Posts: 6575
Full Member
 

Been riding tubeless for a year or so and have not had a puncture (Using sealant). Found them much more reliable than tubes.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 7:48 pm
Posts: 23277
Free Member
 

Yes they puncture. Put a hole in the side of mine a week or so ago that wouldn't seal.

Weldite tubeless repair kit fixed it.

After I'd walked back to the car and driven to the shop and bought one.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 7:49 pm
Posts: 6829
Full Member
 

Had my first tubeless fail today due to sidewall failure - tyres were installed in 2013 and today was the first time I've broken the tyre bead from the rim. Worst problem was removing the embedded thorns from the tyre before fitting the inner tube. Apart from fewer punctures, lower rolling resistance and weight plus improved grip there's no real benefit to tubeless.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 7:53 pm
Posts: 6235
Full Member
 

I still carry a tube, pump and a tubeless repair kit.
I've had to use the Weldtite kit once in a couple of years, but I've seen plenty of mates (well, at least 3) have to resort to sticking a tube in when they've torn a sidewall or got a big hole in the tread.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 7:56 pm
Posts: 13356
Free Member
 

Always carry a tube, repair kit & pump. Also make sure you ca get the tubeless valve stem out of the rim, as in make sure you can get the little locknut off the stem.
I know because Torridon Mountain rescue got involved with my episode, which was very very embarrassing.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:04 pm
Posts: 129
Free Member
 

Im tempting fate now but i went tubeless a few years ago on 4 of my bikes and since then in many thousands of miles I have had two punctures that I have known about. All the rest have self sealed. The first was when I was running UST Tyres and rims with no sealant. The second was when I hadn't realised the sealant had dried up. I don't carry anything on local rides anymore. None of my mates do either really. We take the approach that if something happens we will all walk back together. Its bound to happen to all of us at some point so what goes around comes around. I can't stand riding with my camelbak unless I absolutely have to.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:09 pm
Posts: 348
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Hmm, tubeless tyres don't sound exactly bombproof. I was hoping everyone was going to report decades of use without a single puncture. I get less than one puncture a year with tubes, so the major benefit of tubeless isn't sounding quite as good as I first hoped.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:09 pm
Posts: 65918
Free Member
 

They do get punctures but if you have a decent setup, they're rare. Inevitably, if you do one ride a year without a pump, that's when you'll get a puncture but for local XC rides I don't worry about it. Depends on your riding too of course- If I'm going somewhere jaggy I'll always carry a pump and tube, locally I don't bother.

IME it's categorically more reliable than tubes, thinking about it of the flats I've had since i went mostly tubeless, practically all of them were on teh few rides where I had a tube in.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:17 pm
Posts: 2091
Full Member
 

Hmm, tubeless tyres don't sound exactly bombproof. I was hoping everyone was going to report decades of use without a single puncture. I get less than one puncture a year with tubes, so the major benefit of tubeless isn't sounding quite as good as I first hoped.

You obviously don't ride anywhere with serious thorns then.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:18 pm
Posts: 6829
Full Member
 

Another anecdote - 5 riders for an all day ride, 4 tubeless 1 on tubes - tube guy gets 5 punctures, the rest zero.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:21 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

How about one puncture since 2004, fixed with a "string" type plug on Helvellyn with only a small loss of sealant. Prior to that locally in East Anglia would puncture several times a ride if the farmers had been cutting hedgerows.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:27 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

With use all tyres become thinner so punctures become more likely over time. You can't just put tubeless tyres on and forget about them, they do need a bit of TLC but this is more likely to be done in the relative comfort of your garage, etc. than out on the trail.

I've not had a puncture in two and a half years and over 6000Km of riding. There have been times when I've thought " That's got to have punctured" but nothing's happened. Would only go back to tubes in an emergency. Still carry a tube (strapped to bike) as on many of my rides, walking back might take some time.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:27 pm
Posts: 348
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Sod it. Advice here seems 50/50, so I'm going to just take a punt. The local ride is always within easy walking distance of a road for my 'team car' to pick me up. But if these tyres end up puncturing then I will find it hard not to abandon the whole tubeless idea. I'm also reading that I'm supposed to top up the sealant every month and occasionally clear out the encrusted crap from inside the tyre. I'm fearing I'm about to spend more time maintaining these tyres than I ever did fixing punctures.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:35 pm
Posts: 11269
Full Member
 

Never had a puncture with tubeless since 2004 that necessitated fitting a tube but i have ripped the sidewall on a tyre, And as for topping up the sealant every month?, yeah right...I just inject new sealant every few months.

I do have a habit of going through a pre-ride check on my bike before heading out and that includes tyre pressures/checking for damage.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:48 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

It's wise to have a tube and pump for anything you wouldn't want to be left walking on, but the coolkids just tape these to their saddles...

Tubeless is about tyre performance improvements more than it is puncture resistance, that's just a side benefit really. Do remember the sealant dries out. Once it has (3-6 months is normal) so long as the bead isn't disturbed, you can keep riding, but punctures won't seal. You can add more sealant by removing the valve core without unmounting the tyre if you wish. When the sealant is still liquid if you hold the wheel close to your ear and shake you should hear it quietly slosh. Also worth knowing that most tubeless setups lose air slowly over a period of weeks or months. This isn't necessarily something wrong, just slightly porous carcass.

If you do puncture, it doesn't seal quite instantly, although it'll be much quicker if the wheel is rotating. You might lose enough air that you wish for something to put a bit back in. 🙂 CO2 can make sealant go off quicker so isn't the best plan although it is quick and easyish to carry.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:55 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Depends


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:57 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Do be aware also that the 'crusted crap' inside is what is making your tyre more airtight. If you do remove anything from inside, it's balls of solid sealant you want, not the stuff caking the tyre carcass.

Monthly is ridiculous overkill though. Most people I know wouldn't bother until they remember guiltily they last did it a year ago or something...


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 8:58 pm
Posts: 6575
Full Member
 

Monthly is ridiculous overkill though. Most people I know wouldn't bother until they remember guiltily they last did it a year ago or something...

Yup.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:00 pm
Posts: 7751
Free Member
 

Running two bikes tubeless - one is road/CX and other is 26' hardtail, both with Stan's; just remember to add more sealant every 6 months - the Stan's syringe is perfect for this.
No problems at all but I carry tubes - just in case - and a Weldtite 'tubeless repair kit' £6 from Evans which I haven't used but reviews are all 5*.
If you have a major sidewall problem then you're screwed whether you ride with tubes or tubeless.
Other than that, tubeless all the way.
Hope that helps.......


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:00 pm
Posts: 286
Free Member
 

Tubeless is massively more reliable here ( lots of thorns and flints). I carry a panaracer tubeless repair kit for when the tubeless fails (twice a year with 1-2 rides/week) and an inner tube and standard repair kit for the occasional thoughtless t**ts i ride with who don't use tubeless. If we go out 'full stans' the team suffers about one tubeless repair moments every 25 rides. If we go out with a couple of tube riders we pretty much get 1-2 punctures per ride. It's that good.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:05 pm
Posts: 286
Free Member
 

Tubeless is massively more reliable here ( lots of thorns and flints). I carry a panaracer tubeless repair kit for when the tubeless fails (twice a year with 1-2 rides/week) and an inner tube and standard repair kit for the occasional thoughtless t**ts i ride with who don't use tubeless. If we go out 'full stans' the team suffers about one tubeless repair moments every 25 rides. If we go out with a couple of tube riders we pretty much get 1-2 punctures per ride. It's that good.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:06 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

One puncture in 5 years of tubeless.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:07 pm
Posts: 21461
Full Member
 

Tubeless is more reliable providing you don't run conti apex/protection tyres. 3 sidewalls have failed in 4 months. Time to switch brands and get back to a reliable set-up.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:17 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

2 punctures last 6 years all fixed by stans, stopped carrying tube couple years back. I run maxxis tyres there pretty reliable. I top up stans regularly


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:26 pm
Posts: 41
Full Member
 

Onzadog, I've also ripped my second conti sidewall in a. Few months this afternoon, I've never managed to do this to another tyre so am fast going off conti. Other than a small hole in an ardent that was fixed with a tubeless worm, I've never had to put a tube into a tubeless tyre in three years of riding. Definitely better than tubes for me.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:30 pm
 jes
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

Tubless is ace, the only issue I've experienced is when running pressures too low and burping, but that was early on in the learning curve, min 32 psi (don't believe the "I run 18-23 psi in my setup" guys you will die......probally 🙂 )

Oh and no super thin side walls, found all maxxis tyres to be fine.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:41 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

You'll puncture slightly less, like for like, than with tubes.

Take a pump and tube or tubes depending on length of ride. Remember you might not be able to get a tubeless system to seal up on the trail, so if you puncture twice (in a way that won't seal) patches etc. may not be any use (for 2hr rides I would take 1 tube and a pump).


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:49 pm
 Olly
Posts: 5169
Free Member
 

I'm converted. Fit and forget pretty much. Ghetto tubeless but with a tyre designed for ghetto tubeless by schwalbe. Wouldn't want to seat the bead without a good pump, but I carry co2 just in case. Yet to have to find out if it works.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:50 pm
Posts: 6902
Full Member
 

Been on them for 14 year, man and boy, jumpers for goalposts.* Certainly had punctures, but they've nearly all been of the massive variety. Can only recall 1 or 2 in all that time that were just everyday small holes.

1 puncture a year on tubes is pretty extreme if you're getting out and riding anything good. You're either extremely smooth, laying down the right lines, or an extreme bimbler.

*Recall mavic's initial UST set-up recommended no sealant. Took a month or two to figure out that this was not a good idea.


 
Posted : 03/09/2016 9:58 pm
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

I went fully tubeless about 4 years ago, never looked back. The only fails have been things that would have destroy tube too, had countless that would have been flat on tubes moments. I now have 1 tube, 2x Co2 and a mini pump in the bag, co2 will reseat if possible and the pump if all else fails with a tube. No real hassle. I redo sealant when I swap a tyre.
At this point like nearly everyone else in the thread I can't see a benefit to running tubes.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 12:39 am
Posts: 12482
Free Member
 

Hmm, tubeless tyres don't sound exactly bombproof

No air filled thin rubber tyre is going to be 100% puncture proof. The overwhelming view every time someone asks this question is that you get far less punctures with tubeless than tubes.

When I ran tubes I would get at least 1 puncture a month, 3 or 4 on a bad month. With tubeless I have had 1 puncture in 18 months (and even that one blew back up again, it just could't seal quickly enough before too much air had come out and I didn't carry a pump so had to walk home to inflate it.)

I now just carry a CO2 pump in jersey pocket in case that happens again.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 6:19 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

OP: If you want [b]no[/b] punctures then the only options are:

a) don't ride the bike
b) fit solid tyres

Neither are really a valid option so what you are left with is choosing between two systems as to which is [b]less prone[/b] to punctures. The answer is tubeless.

As others have said the only things that do stop you are big rips in the sidewall that would be ride stoppers whichever system you use. I suppose if you live in Arizona then checking the sealant monthly would be a good idea but in the UK I only tend to check when I remember or before a long trip, it's hardly onerous: leave bike to stand for a while, pick up wheel, hold close to ear and shake. If there's a sloshing sound then fine, otherwise remove valve core, add sealant, replace core and reinflate. As I said before, this can be done in the comfort of your own home not on a cold wind and rain swept moor whilst your mates freeze.

The only occasionally frustrating thing with tubeless is getting the tyres to seat on the rim, usually they are no problem but just occasionally one tyre will refuse to seat. Same rim, same model of tyre but it won't play ball. While such occurrences do stick in the mind they are no more common than nicking an inner tube with a tyre lever

If you are out on a group ride then only one of you needs to be taking a pump and you can tape a spare inner tube to the bike frame as back-up, which just leaves you needing space for a couple of tyre levers. I suppose they'll be the straws breaking the camel's back (sorry, awful pun) sat next to a couple of litres (kilos) of water.

Tubeless isn't just about punctures it's mainly about improved riding and handling due to the lower pressures that are used. You can't run at these pressures with tubes as you'll get pinch flats and/or damaged rims. Since you've got the tyres set up tubeless why not just get out and ride the bike?


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 6:38 am
Posts: 4579
Full Member
 

Contrary to Onzadog's experience my Conti protection tyres have been fine for 3000 miles tubeless.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 6:56 am
Posts: 348
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I do wonder why I seem to puncture less than the rest of you posting on this thread (with tubes). I am a mincer compared to many, but amongst the 4 people I regularly ride with I am the fastest. I don't do a lot of MTB miles these days, but I do 2700 km a year in a combination of mostly road and MTB. The last puncture I had was in July 2015 on the road bike.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 7:21 am
Posts: 28475
Free Member
 

The advantage of tubeless is not getting rid of tube or pump. Even if you get a puncture which seals up quickly, chances are you'll still want to stick some air in to top up, and no-one is immune to sidewall slashes that won't seal. Once a tubeless tyre deflates enough to pop off the rim, you won't be popping it back on with a mini-pump, so it's tube time.

The advantage is running lower pressures, increasing grip and speed, and a slight reduction in weight.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 7:36 am
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

I don't do a lot of MTB miles these days, but I do 2700 km a year in a combination of mostly road and MTB. The last puncture I had was in July 2015 on the road bike.

Maybe you are lucky, maybe you are running thick tubes and tyres at high pressures. I don't know.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 8:08 am
Posts: 28680
Full Member
 

I've been unlucky with Tubeless i think, i've only had it twice, first time i had no end of issues. 2nd time i got new bike, within 400m it had lost 50% of pressure. We pumped it again and you could see a leak at the sidewall/tyre/rim and ended up binning it and fitting a tube. However that one is destined short term to be swapped about quite a bit anyway betwen XC rubber and AM rubber, so made sense to have it tubed. The front seems OK and will stay tubeless as i've picked up a 2nd wheel for that.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 8:12 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Tubeless is

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 8:33 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Distance 8,960.5 km
Time 435h 30m
Elev Gain 111,649 m

no punctures this year so far <waves cock> ;-D

seriously, I second the comment about quality of ride with tubeless. At lower pressures its great


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 8:51 am
Posts: 15261
Full Member
 

Nothing is infallible, tubeless is (IME) more reliable than tubes, however it can of course, fail and should that happen, as with a tubed tyre, you should have a contingency.

So I tape a spare tube or two to my frame, and a mini-pump, as well as CO2 inflator, it's easy enough to ditch the camelbak full of junk if you want to OP. You might have to compromise on the bikes aesthetics a bit, but it beats walking home...


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 9:17 am
Posts: 12482
Free Member
 

I do wonder why I seem to puncture less than the rest of you posting on this thread (with tubes).

Not really about how you ride it is where you ride. Come and ride where I live where it is a lot of stony gravel with sharp pieces of flint and your first puncture within a year will happen pretty soon.

When I used to ride a track bike off road I used tough tyres and even those punctured (RibMo, Armadillo and even one puncture with a Marathon Plus).


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 9:20 am
Posts: 10474
Free Member
 

I've made my 5th bike tubeless this morning. I can't imagine not going down that route. My 30ml round trip commute over the Ridgeway and a total of 5000 mile in 2015 had zero punctures on the tubeless bike and 4 flats on the non tubeless bike. I like the way the bike rides with low pressures.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 10:15 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I don't think tubeless will cure your massive pack full of crap issue. My complete puncture repair set up is basically about the size of one of those mini fizzy drinks cans you get on aeroplanes........ my entire tool kit is about the size of a 330ml can.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 10:20 am
Posts: 132
Free Member
 

Been reading this thread with renewed interest. I've always ridden with tubes on my mtb (lube,tape,tyre seating all seemed way too much faff for the quick occasional repair), but having just got into CX riding,mixed road, bridleways and towpaths, my puncture rate has increased dramatically! Without stating the obvious I presume the above holds good for the CX bike? My rate of punctures on bridleways and towpaths is ridiculous! What's the simplest least faff kit recommend for tubless conversion?


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 10:21 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Fanatic278 - I was going to ask what your riding terrain is and what your tyre pressure is. I used to constantly get pinch flats but if you're running high pressures on smoother trails then I can understand few punctures.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 10:22 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Not long in the tooth enough yet with tubeless in our household, but local terrain is thorn-rich so there's probably been on average one puncture every 2 weeks on tubes. With ghetto tubeless we've not punctured any since, though had a couple of burps and sealant loss which went back up straightaway with a standard small handpump.

Carrying a tube, tyre levers and pump anyway for anywhere where we might be > 5km from the car as pushing for that sort of distance isn't fun anyway!


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 11:15 am
Posts: 348
Free Member
Topic starter
 

For those asking: I ride Aberdeenshire with 33 psi

Just got back from a wonderful ride in the sunshine. On the road bike. No punctures. Happy days


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 11:54 am
Posts: 286
Free Member
 

Badgerbater - if you were talking mtb, stans tubeless kit with rim tapes the right size for your existing rims. You need either a compressor or one of the flash inflators (forgot the name). Despite what mr stans says in his videos, inflating with a track pump just doesn't work. Your existing tyres will work whatever they are and you do need to soapy water the tyres to get a fit. Now yout talking cx so your mileage may vary as stans works best at lower pressures.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 9:10 pm
Posts: 27603
Full Member
 

Funny coincidence - this morning would have posted as above - they've been supremely reliable for me.

Then this afternoon I went racing and as I rode the 100m the practise lap, my front tyre went down to flat in about 10 seconds. No cuts, no punctures - I borrowed a track pump, pumped it up and raced on it no problem.

*shrugs*


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 9:21 pm
Posts: 132
Free Member
 

@jonwe, I'm talking CX bike but for all terrain riding. Will this still be a Stans tubless solution? I think the standard rims on my Giant TCX SLR1 are probably tubless ready(?)


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 9:21 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

After about 1500mi, my xkings are showing about 30 spots where sealant has done its job - even 1 thorn still embedded deep in the tyre. So its safe to say i find tubeless very reliable - still carry a tube(x2 on a big day out) and a pump though.


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 9:26 pm
Posts: 132
Free Member
 

@jonwe, I'm talking CX bike but for all terrain riding. Will this still be a Stans tubless solution? I think the standard rims on my Giant TCX SLR1 may be tubless ready(?)


 
Posted : 04/09/2016 9:57 pm
Posts: 9069
Free Member
 

I've been wanting to see what the fuss is about for several years, so I might try something silly this week, seeing what one of my Jumbo Jim snakeskins thinks about being tubeless without any Stans. 😈

I've ridden far less this year that I have in the previous 10 years or so, but I've not had a fairy visit for ages, perhaps the last time was ~2008.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 7:38 am
 Del
Posts: 8226
Full Member
 

if you just want to prove to yourself that tubeless is shit it's the right way to do it.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 8:24 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I once had a whole thorn wrapped a couple of times around my wheel, in the middle of nowhere, after several difficult puncture repairs on exposed mountain tops so went tubeless and have had only 2 punctures since (3 yrs ago). Great to be able to ride with low pressures when terrain is suitable.
Last week my tyre went flat. Tried to reinflate with the mini pump, no luck and couldn't find the leak so figured I'll stick the tube in. Tubeless goo everywhere (now my gloves are permanently sticky). Still couldn't reinflate and the thread on my Hope QR skewer somehow went in the process, so couldn't fix the wheel back on. Ended up walking home. Turns out both the pump and valve were knackered.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 12:52 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I still carry a tube and a pump, pump also has C02 functionality.

I once burped a tire so much it broke the seal on the rim and couldn't inflate it with the hand pump. I've been riding tubeless for two years and that's the only time I've had to walk back to the car. I do tend to run stupidly low tire pressures though.

Keen to see what this new Huck Norris invention will do to stop me burping my tire.

Should point out that when I was running Maxxis Minions never had an issue with burping. It's only when I switched to Hand Dampf with their waker (and lighter) side walls did I get issues.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 12:55 pm
Posts: 6902
Full Member
 

badgerbater - Member

Been reading this thread with renewed interest. I've always ridden with tubes on my mtb (lube,tape,tyre seating all seemed way too much faff for the quick occasional repair), but having just got into CX riding,mixed road, bridleways and towpaths, my puncture rate has increased dramatically! Without stating the obvious I presume the above holds good for the CX bike? My rate of punctures on bridleways and towpaths is ridiculous! What's the simplest least faff kit recommend for tubless conversion?


It's a bit more difficult for a CX tyre, but it can be done. Intermediate volumes and pressures (ie between MTB and road) don't seem to provide as much force holding the tyre on the rim. It's not something I'd expect to work easily on just normal rims and tyres, but should be ok on a dedicated tubeless set-up [do quite a bit on the CX and haven't taken the step, despite loving tubeless on the MTB].

A lot of write-ups on the web are from CX racers looking for a reliable tubeless set up for 20psi on off camber turns, which is very difficult. So things would be easier if you're talking about general riding at 40psi, say.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 1:03 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Defo stay with tubeless, I've been running my bike without tubes for about 3 years now. No punctures even riding hard all over the place and on varied surfaces.
I did a ghetto set up on my current wheelset. 25mm gorilla tape and standard tubeless valves on wtb frequency rims with maxxis UST tyres and stans fluid. I go full pelt over rock gardens and corner pretty hard with no burping and ride a lot of my local trails which are covered in thorns and have no problems at all.
I still carry a spare tube and pump etc just in case tho. Like others have said, just tape or strap a tube to the bike frame or saddle and either get a mini pump (they seem to be getting smaller and lighter these days) or you can get co2 sets that strap to the frame or seat post.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 3:28 pm
Posts: 768
Free Member
 

Been running tubeless for years. Stans Flow with Continental tyres.

Only had one issue when the bead separated from the tyre wall. Only 5mm or so but no way the fluid would seal it.

I always carry spare tubes and patches for the tubes.

A mini floor pump and levers come along too.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 5:57 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

In my experiences very reliable. Never had a puncture but have burped the air out of them twice when the pressure was too low.

My front tyre was done about 18months ago and is still going strong despite never topping up the Stan's fluid. I always still carry tubes just in case though.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 6:04 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

1st flat in a year of tubeless today from a big chunk of glass through the tire. Pulled out the glass which left 1cm long cut straight through the tire. Was only a mile or so from work so pumped up the tire as best I could and rode in trying to ignore the hissing sound coming from my wheel. Locked the bike up with the cut at the bottom of the wheel to get as much stans as possible over it and pumped up the tire again. Checked at lunchtime and was down to a slow leak. Pumped up again at home time and appears to now be fine. Happy days! Brought some anchovies at lunch just in case. Interesting story I hear you say...


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 6:15 pm
Posts: 34376
Full Member
 

The last puncture I had was in July 2015 on the road bike.

The amount of punctures you've had, has no bearing on the amount of punctures you're going to have.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 6:30 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Been riding tubeless for years. Use Stans unless you have a UST setup and even them consider it. I always bring a tube, but only use it a few times a year. If you can walk back to your car at every point on your ride I guess you could leave the tube behind. Or just tape it to your seat and forget about it. It is nice to have a spare to help someone else out.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 6:42 pm
Posts: 286
Free Member
 

@badgerbater. On my mtb I've run tubeless ready, ust and old style rims drilled out to fit tubeless valves and they all work fine with pretty much any folding tyre. Where it struggles is if you run high pressures and get big cuts - under those conditions it will struggle to seal and blows all the sealant out unless you can get a tubeless patch in fast. Running at or below 40psi in a thorny environment it is however absolutely brilliant. I'm not sure what pressure you run xc tyres at but I'd suspect it will work if you go at the larger tyres / lower pressures end of the range of your bike.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 9:42 pm
Posts: 132
Free Member
 

Thanks for the comments. So has anyone had real world success with say 30ish psi on a CX wheel set up (not XC!)?


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 10:32 pm
Posts: 7076
Full Member
 

Not had a real problem for years. Occasionally get a puncture and have to ride around on it/pump it up a bit.

Generally I don't carry a tube, as on the rare occasion I've ended up putting one in, it instantly flats from all the thorns I've forgotten to remove.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 10:39 pm
Posts: 279
Full Member
 

Was a cynic for ages but then ended up with a tubeless setup on my new MTB in the spring. Fully converted and rapidly. Dead easy. Using Maxxis tyres on Stans rims both TLR. Had no puncture issues and found better traction with lower pressures. Considering topping up sealant at the moment with both bikes having still got liquid after 6 months.
Bottom line - try it, sure you will not go back.


 
Posted : 05/09/2016 10:58 pm
Posts: 357
Free Member
 

Thanks for the comments. So has anyone had real world success with say 30ish psi on a CX wheel set up (not XC!)?
I've tried tubeless for cx racing eith pressures between 25 to 30psi and had problems with the tyres burping on off camber turns. Some tyres work better than others (Maxxis were recommended to me) and they say 40 psi is ideal. More and you run the risk of the tyre blowing off the rim....which I can vouch for!


 
Posted : 06/09/2016 7:22 am
Posts: 6829
Full Member
 

40 psi for a CX tyre - for riding on tarmac? One reason why tubulars still rule for CX is being able to run them at a low enough pressure like 25psi for really soft conditions


 
Posted : 06/09/2016 7:31 am
 Del
Posts: 8226
Full Member
 

you might be better off running them ghetto, as the inner tube sticks to the bead, which will help reduce the chances of a burp. i don't see that 25psi in a tyre set up tubeless of ~ 35c will work very reliably TBH, as i would think that pretty low for mtb tyres. you just don't have the volume. guess a wide rim will give you a better chance.
happy to be shown wrong!


 
Posted : 06/09/2016 7:50 am
Posts: 362
Free Member
 

I think road tubeless is very different to MTB – probs due to the lighter thinner tyres involved. I have just replaced my Schwable One tubeless with some Schwable One pro tubless after 18 months and c3,500 miles. In that time I must have had 5 or 6 punctures / issues. These were the first generation ‘Ones’ and were a lovely soft grippy rubber but I think they have proven to be too soft. They were covered in little cuts and are in a completely shagged state prompting the investment in a new set. That said many of these cuts and general damage has sealed during use and the performance was generally better than tubes in all departments. Since I bought them the tubeless version has acquired the ‘pro’ tag and they are a completely different tyre. Much harder more plasticy feel to them so I’m hoping for more durability on these. Will update at some point.


 
Posted : 06/09/2016 9:49 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

The majority of the Wednesday Night Crew run tubeless. At least 50% of all mechanical issues/stops we have involve tubeless problems. I run tubes.

This is my limited and anecdotal evidence, but they seem to be more effort/hassle than they're really worth, and the trend for ever fatter and taller tyres works in favour of tubes in my opinion.


 
Posted : 06/09/2016 12:21 pm
Posts: 17
Free Member
 

The majority of the Wednesday Night Crew run tubeless. At least 50% of all mechanical issues/stops we have involve tubeless problems. I run tubes.

What sort of issues? The last problems I had were with old non tubeless rims. With a set of stans and proper tyres all fine.


 
Posted : 06/09/2016 12:29 pm
Posts: 6581
Free Member
 

Thanks for the comments. So has anyone had real world success with say 30ish psi on a CX wheel set up (not XC!)?

Yep. Have raced tubeless with 23-26psi without any issues at all (I weigh anywhere between 85 and 95kg depending on how many pies I've been eating). For general riding I tend to run up to 40psi as it's rocky around here and don't want to have to replace rims very often.

My setup is Stan's Crest rims, Specialized Terra Pro 2Bliss (have also used Vittoria XG Pro TNT with no issues), Stan's vlaves and a couple of wraps of Stan's yellow tape. Actually, I'm using a Specialized 2Bliss rim tape in one of my wheels and that seems to work fine too.

MTBing I've had 2 punctures this year. Both in the lakes on rocky descents. Both mended easily with a tubeless anchovy and on my way again in not much time.


 
Posted : 06/09/2016 12:32 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

What sort of issues? The last problems I had were with old non tubeless rims. With a set of stans and proper tyres all fine.

The type of issues that lead to standing around in the cold!

A variety of issues in truth. Mysterious loss of pressure, old and crappy sealant not working properly, tyres occasionally burping.

This is only my experience with my riding buddies, so may not be representative. I am also frightened of tubeless as it is one of 'those' things that I just know I couldn't get right if I did try.

I'm sure a lot of people don't have any issues - but my small sample seem to have enough that I remember about them and they definitely contribute a disproportionate amount of our mechanicals.


 
Posted : 06/09/2016 5:49 pm

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!