Questions about tubeless

In just a few years, tubeless tires have become the standard for many tire, wheel and bicycle manufacturers. Comfort, performance and practicality are often put forward to praise the merits of this technology. The same is true for new wheels with hookless rims. It is difficult to resist market pressure. However, many consumers still refuse to take the plunge and switch to cycling. route. We can understand them. Here's why.

By Guillaume Peephole – Photos: depositphotos.com / 3bikes.fr / JF Tatard / DR

The price of tires has skyrocketed in recent years, with more choice for consumers, more performance, but not necessarily more durability for the models offered for sports use. This phenomenon has been accentuated by the spread of the tubeless tire, presented as an unstoppable solution by many manufacturers, but which remains quite expensive. It is also necessary to reconborn that there are few or no entry or mid-range tubeless tires.

PFor most serious practitioners, the right compromise between performance, grip, resistance and practicality remains difficult to find.. Whatever the tire. When you drive a lot and in a sporty way, you look for a safe and efficient tire, but you don't necessarily have the means - or the desire - to change it every month.

However, the performance of Tubeless in general is no longer in doubt today.. The proof is that it has almost completely supplanted the gut among the pros. And all the testIndependent tests demonstrate that its low rolling resistance and the aerodynamics of the complete system save watts. However, I must admit that I am not 100% convinced by tubeless technology, and even less by hookless rims.. And I must not be the only one.

Superior performance and comfort

On the front sidetagis tubeless, there may be a slight weight saving compared to a tire with an inner tube. This is especially noticeable on large tire sections. Today, with wide rims, the 28 section has become the new standard. A tubed tire often weighs around 260-280 g in this section, while a tubeless is around 300-320 g (sometimes a little less). You have to add the weight of the tube on one side (70 to 110 g in general) and the weight of the sealant on the other (around 40 g). There is a match, but it often turns to the fronttage (in one breath) for tubeless.

The system also allows you to drive with a slightly lower inflation pressure without loss of efficiency., which is beneficial for comfort and grip.e. Tires that are a little less stiff on the asphalt mean less bounce, more traction and ultimately less fatigue for the cyclist. I also noticed that with lower inflation pressures with hookless rims, tire wear was less pronounced than expected. Riding with less pressure means less stress on the tire casing.

The preventative liquid inserted into the tire and almost essential to ensure sealing allows self-repair in the event of a puncture in many circumstances, without having to stop at the edge of the route to repair. In the last few months, for example, I have had six flats with tubeless tires, but it was only the last time I had a flat that I had to repair. The first five times, the fluid worked perfectly and I was able to continue my training without any problems.

Finally, and as specified above, At the very top of the range, tubeless technology offers the lowest possible rolling resistance compared to tires and tubulars. Today, pros ride tubeless in races. Some riders like Matej Mohorič claim to have gained around ten watts thanks to tires over the past four or five seasons. More pragmatically, Frédéric Porteleau, an aeronautical engineer and specialist in indirect power calculations, estimates the gain at 4 or 5 watts on mountain pass climbs. That's a lot. For the record, Tadej Pogacar has been riding for two years with 30 mm tubeless tires, inflated to 4 bar...

A system that is still imperfect

On the downside, it may happen that a hole in the tread caused by a puncture is too large for the sealant to work. For a cyclist training or touring, this means that he must still carry his repair kit with him, consisting of an inner tube to slide into the tire.. Which in passing annihilates the advantagestagIt is tubeless in the field of performance.

When repairing, you must already be able to unscrew the tubeless valve by hand before replacing it with an inner tube. With frozen and wet hands, this is not always an easy task. The tubeless tire is also often very difficult to detach from the rim by hand., and when possible, we put preventative (which is a kind of liquid white latex) everywhere. Moreover, even in the event of a small puncture, when the liquid comes out of the tire, it is likely to stain clothes, mainly the back of the shorts. Finally, after repairing the tire (when possible) with a wick for example, or during a montage/demontage, you need to have a compressor or a special pump to snap the tire onto the rim, otherwise it doesn't work.

The montagand besides, it is not always very easy on certain rims. Or more precisely, the ease of mytagIt depends on the rim/tire pair. You need a good hand, or a lot of strength. I've been tinkering with my bikes since I was 14, but since the arrival of disc brakes and now tubeless, some maintenance or replacement operations are increasingly difficult for me to do alone. With tubeless, you need space, tools, good dexterity and be prepared to spread sealant everywhere.. Because I live in an apartment, like many people, I have given up on taking care of tubeless myself. For many riders, having to go to the bike shop to replace a tire or make a repair is a problem.

Regarding hookless rims, they are light but their main drawback is that they only accept compatible tubeless tires.. Which limits makeshift or hasty repairs in the event of a problem, for example with a spare tire. Finally, they impose a maximum inflation pressure of 5 bar, otherwise they could cause a crash.tage. Conversely, in the event of a tire burst on the route due to a big cut, it can also come off the rim quickly due to the lack of a hook.

No ideal solution

Tubeless is now increasingly appreciated by users for its comfort and performance, and we can say that it is pushed in this direction by manufacturers.. The fact remains that for all the reasons mentioned above, and above all for a practical question when they ride a lot, some refuse to take the plunge. In the pelotons, on forums or on social networks, discussions around the advantagestagThe pros and cons of tubeless are like the debates over gear ratios – before almost everyone adopted an 11- or 12-speed cassette which offers a lot of versatility.

If you are a student, this silver necklace is absolutely your first choice. The silver color will show your vitality and your youth. testIf you're going tubeless for the first time, you'll probably be delighted by many of its benefits.tagare, and rightly so. But The system is not miraculous, in addition to being generally more expensive than a more traditional tire/inner tube set. Fortunately, you still have a choice and that's a good thing.

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