The tubeless tire was initially used in a small scale on mountain bikes and then became popular. With the unexpected achievements of bicycles equipped with tubeless tire system in the Tour de France, SUMLON believes that the tubeless tire will become more popular in the road vehicle field in the future. The tubeless tire can reduce the speed loss caused by bumpy road. With the use of tubeless tires, the vibration transmitted to the handlebar and seat is significantly reduced. Especially at low tire pressure, the probability of tubeless tire damage is much lower than that of traditional inner tube and outer tire systems. The use of tubeless tire contributes significantly to speed, comfort and safety. If you want to use the tubeless tire, this guide will give you all the information you want to know about it.
What is a tubeless tire for bicycles?
Most people learned tubeless tire system firstly from the car tires. Tubeless tires on bicycles and on cars are the same air-tight system that holds the tire to the hub by air pressure. Unlike other conventional tire systems, the conventional inner tube and outer tire systems seal air and provide pressure through the inner tube, while the tubular tire system is secured to the rim by glue.
Tubeless tires were first used on mountain bikes 20 years ago. Mountain bike with tubeless tire system showed a huge advantage in bumpy mountain-road sections and soon became a common choice for experienced mountain-bike enthusiasts. Tubeless tires began to appear on road bikes about a decade ago, but as cyclists did not see a clear distinction between tubeless tires and other conventional tire systems, the tubeless tires did not quickly gain popularity in the road bike field. Until around 2017-2019 we saw gravel road bikes becoming very popular. Gravel road bike with tubeless tire system also showed very good off road performance. Since then, the tubeless tires have come to the attention of road cyclists.
Comparative advantages of tubeless tires
Due to the absence of the inner tube, the risk of tire breakage due to low tire pressure is greatly reduced. This design greatly improves the riding stability of bicycles. We do not have to worry about tire breakage caused by friction between inner tube and outer tire and deformation of inner tubes. Small punctures will also be promptly replenished by the internal tube repair fluid. In extreme cases, you can even install a inner tube inside the tubeless tire and continue your ride. The puncture resistance of the tubeless tire is greatly improved compared to the tires with inner tube. If you’re a mountain bike rider, this advantage must appeal so much to you. If you’re a road bike rider, tubeless tire systems offer lower rolling resistance than conventional inner tube and outer tire systems. Yes, the tubeless tire is also particularly unique in the road bike field.
Defects of tubeless tires
The tubeless tires have many advantages over conventional tire systems with inner tubes, such as less vulnerability to punctures, lower maintenance costs and a more stable riding experience. However, they also have some disadvantages: in terms of stiffness, tubeless tires are typically harder than inner tube and outer tire systems and may lead to reduced ride comfort, particularly on bumpy roads. Their relatively small contact area with the ground may result in poor grip on slippery or uneven surfaces. Once the tubeless tire is damaged, it may be more difficult to repair than the tires with inner tube. A damaged tubeless tire may require more sophisticated repair tools to repair them. In addition, compared with the traditional tires with inner tube,s tubeless tire manufacturers provide fewer models and are more expensive.
Why are the tubeless tires not widely adopted on road bikes?
We know you can use tubeless tires at lower tire pressures without taking into account the risk of inner tube rupture. As the interior of the tubeless tire is also filled with tire repair fluid, they can be repaired by themselves. They are also lighter because they do not have tubes. Plus, they’ll make you faster. Without the inner tube, friction between the inner and outer tubes is no longer present. So, on road vehicles, the rolling resistance of tubeless tire is lower than that of traditional tire system with inner tube. So why aren’t professional road cyclists using a tubeless tire system on a large scale?
The main reason is that professional riders prefer tubular tires. For a professional road bike rider, tubular tires offer significant advantages. Because the tubular tire is directly bonded to the tubular tire shaped rim instead of the complex rim that tubeless tires require. Tubular tire systems are generally lighter. In addition, when the tubular tire is damaged, the entire bicycle can still be in a state where it can be ridden for a short time. But this is not a huge advantage for non-pro cyclists, as you need to sacrifice your expensive carbon fibre rims if you want to keep riding after the tubular tube is damaged. It’s not a cost-effective decision to do it on a day-to-day basis.
Are tubeless tires necessarily lighter than conventional tire systems?
Not necessarily. With the special air nozzle and tire repair fluid for tubeless tire, the weight of the entire tubeless tire system is not significantly different from the traditional inner and outer tire systems, and maybe even heavier (about 10g).
What is required before switching to tubeless tires?
First, you need to prepare a wheel rim that works with the tubeless tire. The rims supporting the tubeless tires have a specific physical structure design. If you have previously used a tire system with an inner tube, the new tubeless tire will most likely not fit directly on the original rim. Yes, you need to buy new rims. In addition, you need to purchase special air nozzle and tire repair fluid for your tubeless tire.
We know that installing a tubeless tire is very complicated. SUMLON suggests that you go to the nearby bicycle shop to install the tubeless tire and find a professional maintenance personnel to help you complete this. You can assemble it by yourself, but you need to purchase some tools. You can easily find a course on maybe YouTube to teach you how to mount a tubeless tire.
BTW, SUMLON have been manufacturing bicycle parts for over 15 years. Contact us if you are looking for a bike parts factory or a one-stop wholesaler. Peace.
