Tubeless virgin - inserts

I've got rimpacts. Fitted to hunt (previously) and DT EX511 rims without much faff. It's a little bit harder than without but I don't think it's a problem if you're not completely ham-fisted.

I'd say don't, not at first, just get it set up and working tubeless and deal with one thing at a time. Tubeless is imo just one of those things that's better for pretty much everyone, but not everyone needs or wants an insert. Like, for me I realised it was mostly just a sticking plaster for underweight tyres, and I was better to fix that, so now I don't use 'em- though I guess I'd put them back in if I was racing again.

I cannot stress how helpful the Cushcore Beadbro is. I bought Nukeproof ARD inserts. Spent several hours in the garage shouting and swearing as I struggled to get one tyre on with them. The missus came out and asked what I was going mental at.

Bought the bead bro and the second tyre went on in 30 seconds. An absolute game changer.

https://cushcore.com/product/bead-bro/

I agree with Northwind, Inserts are for folks who're routinely hitting stuff hard on the DH park runs, or are regularly racing and need the fail safe to complete the run. If that's you, then Cush-core are probably still the easiest to live with, but they are expensive, add a bunch of weigh, are a pain to fit, and soak up all your sealant. For every one else, there's downhill casings, which IMO are more than enough for most folks

I’d say don’t, not at first, just get it set up and working tubeless and deal with one thing at a time. Tubeless is imo just one of those things that’s better for pretty much everyone, but not everyone needs or wants an insert. Like, for me I realised it was mostly just a sticking plaster for underweight tyres, and I was better to fix that, so now I don’t use ’em- though I guess I’d put them back in if I was racing again.

Get that

However, me + ebike = circa 110-115kgs+ depending on kit and I'm a habitual rim-dinger (currently have Schwalbe Eddy Current 2.8/MM 2.6. Don't really want to trash a new wheelset

add a bunch of weight...For every one else, there’s downhill casings

29er 2.4 DHR II 3C EXO = 1035g

ARD insert = 144g

Total weight = 1179g

29er 2.4 DHR II 3C DH casing = 1379g

An extra 200g for the DH casing over single ply tyres and inserts

Double down casing would be closer to the weight, plus does the insert not get heavier from absorbing sealant? Genuine question as my procore inserts gain weight as some sealant sticks to the inner tyre bit.

it's a non-question for e-bike duties, tried Nukeproof ARD's, they were ok, more for piece of mind after destroying my original wheelsets rims. I still manage to dent the rear rim with the ARD's, so upgraded to cushcores when I got a new bike. They improved the soft OEM spesch tyre sideways immensely (ala Northwinds comment), and turned them into tyres as good as anything from Maxxis/Schwalbe, and I've yet to dent the rims, colour me impressed.

Fitting/removing ARD wasn't difficult and didn't need any special extra tools, not so sure how easy the cushcores will be to remove. That said I know the frustration of awkward tyres (Eddie currents are shits), so that Bead pro tool and Bead dropper, are no doubt great additions to the tool box.

PS: Just be aware that if you do a sidewall squeeze, to check you trye pressure is in the right ball park, you need to start pressing the tread in instead, or you'll end up riding round with flat tyres .. <ahem> CC are pretty solid  protection if this is the case, or so I found

Exo and Nukeproof Ard does not equal the protection of a DH casing.

The Ard isn't a great insert and it won't stop an Exo ripping. Not a combo I would recommend

Cushcore don’t absorb sealant.

I’m a big fan of Cushcore with lighter weight casings, Exo+ at the moment. Feels plusher, more grip, lower rolling resistance.

I went to them because supply chain issues meant that I couldn’t get double downs. I’ve ridden them for a year now, Dyfi, BPW and regrettable Alpine rock gardens. Loads of sidewall abrasions, no gashes or punctures. At the same time not a single rim ding.

My next move is going to be trying the lighter versions with slightly lighter casings. Maybe Exo/XC Cushcore front, Exo+/Trail Cushcore rear, to get the weight down.

They can make it easier to go tubeless, as they tend to hold the tyre closer to the rim so they inflate easier.

Make sure you watch the instruction videos before fitting them though. It’s pretty straightforward with the videos. A bugger if you just try yourself.

i'm a big fan of the cushcore XC's I fitted last year. overall I think I've saved money as I havent trashed any tyres since.

dustbin or similar to support the wheel comes in handy for fitting and pushing the bead under the cushcore.

The Ard isn’t a great insert and it won’t stop an Exo ripping. Not a combo I would recommend

That's not got anything to do with how good or bad Ard inserts are, which in my case have worked well and are easy to mount.
Nothing put inside a tyre will prevent a sidewall from tearing and Maxxis exo's sometimes just have to pass near to a pointy rock and they'll give up the ghost.

Nothing put inside a tyre will prevent a sidewall from tearing

I think that Cushcore pro do.

They don't advertise it as a feature, but mentioned in a previous post, my (old style) Exo + tyres have got loads of sidewall abrasions, and have certainly been hammered plenty in sharp rock terrain. In fact when I first fitted them, my main concern was that they wouldn't hold out against sidewall tears.

My theory is that they give so much sidewall support (more than most other inserts I think) that it becomes harder for sharp rocks to penetrate the side walls. Certainly the sidewalls stay much firmer than the rest of the tyre when I drop pressures.

I think you're right, @Kramer. That way they splay outwards is unlike most inserts and it's why they're such an arse to install!

I cannot stress how helpful the Cushcore Beadbro is. I bought Nukeproof ARD inserts. Spent several hours in the garage shouting and swearing as I struggled to get one tyre on with them. The missus came out and asked what I was going mental at.

Bought the bead bro and the second tyre went on in 30 seconds. An absolute game changer.

Their first tool, the Bead Dropper (tyre lever type thing) was a game changer for me with Rimpacts. Not seen a need for the Bead Bro, always used velcro straps or reusable cable ties.

“Their first tool, the Bead Dropper (tyre lever type thing) was a game changer for me with Rimpacts.”

Yes, should have got one of these years ago! Don’t try fitting inserts without it, unless you’re always lucky or your time has zero value!

Rimpact saved my new rear Hope wheel at the weekend from serious damage when I smashed a rock coming out a trail

my mate hit same area and proper busted his wheel

i put hole in my tyre but rim was fine

Number 1 rule is patience.  You must push the bead back into the wheel well each time you get a bit more on.  If you're lazy with it, it will just make it way harder.  The CC bead tool is definitely helpful for this.

ebike - ridden slighly hard = inserts required.

or

much higher tyre pressures.

i like my insert on my eeb. i also like it on my non eeb as i was able to ride home with hardly any pressure in my tyre. saved a walk. i will probably have to cut the basterd tyre off teh rim though when i want to change it.

just use a paint brush handle to poke teh tyre under teh insert. cheaper than a cushcore bit of plastic. and you can get the right sized one for your hand!

Decent tyre levers work just as well.

i found i could not shove the tyre bead hard enough under the insert with my posh tyre levers. it hurt my hand where i was leaning on the lever so i resorted to the paintbrush which was nice and soft on my desk jockey hands and gave me a options for more welly!

I've got the Pedros DH tyre lever which is big enough to move the Titanic but I still struggled getting Michelin Wild Enduros on without the Bead Bro

I've always found the rocking manoeuvre to get the bead over the rim pushes it back down enough that a bit of fiddling with a tyre lever gets it down into the well enough.

I use tyre straps (is that their name?!?) and just keep working around, pretty easy with rimpact pros, when I changed tyres, the inserts felt as light as when I first installed them, although I didn’t weigh them.

I was a serial tyre destroyer and rim dinger before the inserts, so it has saved me a lot of ££££, in the last few weeks, there were two points that in the past would have been expensive. With heavier casing tyres, I never did manage to find the sweet spot between pressure, grip and feel that I really liked; the rimpact with Exo + equivalent are pretty much spot on for the varied riding I do. I imagine lots of people can easily find the sweet spot with heavier casings, in which case, inserts are redundant?!? 🙂

I saw Vittoria had some inserts at the recent National XCM event  - and were marketing them at the race crowd and talking of the surety of being able to ride 100 miles on them with a flat.

Until this point I had only thought of them for enduro people. Also I wasn't listening too hard as was more interested in getting my morning coffee. Any XCers use them? Or too much weight?