Should I upgrade to tubeless

[BigDL]

Tubeless changed my riding from stopping and fixing punctures 4 or 5 times on every ride at Groenies and BRB (I'm a big heavy guy), to not even thinking about punctures. In fact, I went to fix a puncture yesterday on my wife's bike and I have not used a bomb or patch since I restocked my little take along kit before sani last year.

[johannrissik]

Dont you just enject the sealant trough the valve after removing the core?

There is of course, this option

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX5AOSSn3sA

[HowardSteele]

Dont you just enject the sealant trough the valve after removing the core?

Yep I just screw out the valve and pop in a large syringe with out the plunger ..then fill and rock wheel side to side until its topped up.

[karlito]

Dont you just enject the sealant trough the valve after removing the core?

 

You can, I just find it easier and quicker to just pour it into the tire.

[HOEKVLAG]

My last ride with tubed tyres was a couple of years ago. I had a spare tube and a puncture repair kit with me. Bombs (thankfully) wasn't big back then so I also took a pump. Long story short; I ended up replacing the tube, fixing 5 holes in tubes and over the last 8 kilos still having to stop every couple of hundred meters to pump both tyres and then race to the next forced stop.

 

When I got home after that I converted to tubeless. All subsequent bikes have been converted including the  whole family's, because guess who fixes their punctures!

 

Oh, and then there's the time my partner punctured 5 times during stage 2 of the Sani - after going through the same stage a year before with no punctures! That was also the last time he rode with tubes....

 

Have I struggled? Yes, but I learned through trial and error. Peoples experiences differ but will never go back.

[MTBeer]

There is of course, this option

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX5AOSSn3sA

I'm definitely doing that next time

 

#lookssofarkingeasy

[Sidersky]

Okay, so… Wanted to ask a few questions on tubeless, searched for threads, roughly a gazillion came up. I’ve read about a half a dozen of them and this seemed as good as any other to revive.

 

Yes?

 

I’ve been riding MTB for about 4 years, a little over 10 000km in that time, 80% off road and on trails, all on tubes. My hit rate has been about 2 punctures per 1000km, roughly. I think the straw that broke the camel’s back was a rear wheel flat on a 45km race I did a couple of Sundays ago. I was nowhere near a podium (ha-ha) but I lost about 15 minutes changing tubes.

 

It would appear though that while my Shimano rims are ‘tubeless ready’, my fairly new Conti Mountain King tires are not… But I’m not sure. How do you check? I’ve been on a few online stores and haven’t seen any of them specify if the tire is ‘tubeless ready’ or not..

 

Am I just being dof? It wouldn’t be the first time, TBH.

 

If I do need to buy new tires I’ll wait for the current ones to at least wear a bit first.

[HOEKVLAG]

The only Conti Mountain Kings that will run tubeless with reasonable success are the ones that says "Protection" in white on the sidewall. The sidewall on the others are just too thin and you'll regret making the change. In saying that, the Conti's are renowned for leaking sidewalls - even the protection ones, although they work well when sealed.

 

CWC are selling the Vittoria Barzo tyres with a similar tread to the Mountain Kings for R410 at their Year end sale at the moment.... 

[Robbie Stewart]

Funny story. I used tubed tires for the first few years of cycling, with the odd flat here and there, which was usually fixed by fitting a new tube, which on average took about 5 minutes.

fast forward to me fitting tubeless. Hey presto, no more flats on the trails. I start racing the WC Nissan Trail Seeker series and progress to a possible overall podium spot in the GC for my age group. Last race of the season, I get a puncture which the sealant does not fix, and I have no tube...DNF, and all the angst and irritation that accompanies that decision.

Have I changed back to tubes? No, I now use Sahmurai Sword snotties, like I did a month ago when I got a flat...on tar....5 minutes later, I was back on the bike again, no worries.

Tubeless is definitely the way to go, just don't confuse tubeless with not having to be prepared for a flat tire anyway..

[Schnavel]

Funny story. I used tubed tires for the first few years of cycling, with the odd flat here and there, which was usually fixed by fitting a new tube, which on average took about 5 minutes.

 

fast forward to me fitting tubeless. Hey presto, no more flats on the trails. I start racing the WC Nissan Trail Seeker series and progress to a possible overall podium spot in the GC for my age group. Last race of the season, I get a puncture which the sealant does not fix, and I have no tube...DNF, and all the angst and irritation that accompanies that decision.

 

Have I changed back to tubes? No, I now use Sahmurai Sword snotties, like I did a month ago when I got a flat...on tar....5 minutes later, I was back on the bike again, no worries.

 

Tubeless is definitely the way to go, just don't confuse tubeless with not having to be prepared for a flat tire anyway..

 

You should also carry a tube - not all punctures can be repaired with plugs.

 

I recently had a puncture where a rock ripped the side wall of my tyre - no amount of sealant or plugs would have been able to fix that. 

 

I ended up having to install a gator and then install a tube - it worked sufficiently in order for me to get home where I ended up having to replace the tyre.

 

However, tubeless is definitely the way to go. You can run lower pressures allowing for more grip, no snake bites from pinched tubes and 99% of the time, punctures seal.

[Sidersky]

The only Conti Mountain Kings that will run tubeless with reasonable success are the ones that says "Protection" in white on the sidewall. The sidewall on the others are just too thin and you'll regret making the change. In saying that, the Conti's are renowned for leaking sidewalls - even the protection ones, although they work well when sealed.

 

CWC are selling the Vittoria Barzo tyres with a similar tread to the Mountain Kings for R410 at their Year end sale at the moment.... 

Okay, my rear is newer than my front and has this... So I'll wait rather.

 

I'm guessing you rate the Vittoria's highly? I've seen the name come up in threads but not actually seen them physically, I don't think.

[Paul Ruinaard]

Funny story. I used tubed tires for the first few years of cycling, with the odd flat here and there, which was usually fixed by fitting a new tube, which on average took about 5 minutes.

 

fast forward to me fitting tubeless. Hey presto, no more flats on the trails. I start racing the WC Nissan Trail Seeker series and progress to a possible overall podium spot in the GC for my age group. Last race of the season, I get a puncture which the sealant does not fix, and I have no tube...DNF, and all the angst and irritation that accompanies that decision.

 

Have I changed back to tubes? No, I now use Sahmurai Sword snotties, like I did a month ago when I got a flat...on tar....5 minutes later, I was back on the bike again, no worries.

 

Tubeless is definitely the way to go, just don't confuse tubeless with not having to be prepared for a flat tire anyway..

just dont get to the point you have to put a tube in a tubeless setup that wont seal on a dusty trail in a race on a highveld winter morning. the latex combined with the red dust and i reckon i looked like something from the red planet.

 

The thing is with tubeless setups when they go wrong they go completely wrong and they cause mayhem.

 

To avoid this happening i have learned (at much costs and after much swearing):

 

1.) Maintain the snot in the tyres by topping it up every 3 to 4 months

2.) Do not try to convert a non tubeless tyre to tubeless. Use proper tubeless tyres.

3.) Carry a good plug kit - a really good one, and know how to use it.

4.) If you can, carry a good pump on long rides where you could have an issue if a puncture wont seal. 90% of the time it does seal so you are blissfully unaware of how good tubeless is until you remove the tyre. When it doesn't its normally a cock up.

5.) If you puncture a tyre in the centre and it wont seal even with a plug then you will likely need to run a tube or throw the tyre away. I have wasted countless hours trying tp plug old tyres to extend their life and every time it has resulted in a screwed up ride.

 

My 2 cents worth.

 

Oh and run rims with beads on them and dont over pressure the tyre when seating it unless  you want to look like something out of a bad porn movie when it lets go and sends latex everywhere. I had to wash my hair even to get it out.

[HOEKVLAG]

Okay, my rear is newer than my front and has this... So I'll wait rather.

 

I'm guessing you rate the Vittoria's highly? I've seen the name come up in threads but not actually seen them physically, I don't think.

 

Jip, I really rate them. 3 of our Transbavaiaans team members run them and we've had very little problems over the last couple of years - riding Mankele, Sani, Berg&Bush amongst others. Really good value for money at that price.

[Sidersky]

Jip, I really rate them. 3 of our Transbavaiaans team members run them and we've had very little problems over the last couple of years - riding Mankele, Sani, Berg&Bush amongst others. Really good value for money at that price.

Nice review of them here:

 

http://reviews.mtbr.com/vittoria-barzo-tire-review

[Robbie Stewart]

Okay, my rear is newer than my front and has this... So I'll wait rather.

 

I'm guessing you rate the Vittoria's highly? I've seen the name come up in threads but not actually seen them physically, I don't think.

 

Saguaro on the back for less rolling resistance, Barzo up front for insane grip.

 

This Vittoria combo is up there with the best. I have this combo on my HT, and the bike's characteristics changed for the better after fitting them. They offer grip (in bucket loads) as mentioned, but also have long life endurance, and do not weigh a ton either. 

 

You won't go wrong with Vittoria.

[Robbie Stewart]

just dont get to the point you have to put a tube in a tubeless setup that wont seal on a dusty trail in a race on a highveld winter morning. the latex combined with the red dust and i reckon i looked like something from the red planet.

 

The thing is with tubeless setups when they go wrong they go completely wrong and they cause mayhem.

 

To avoid this happening i have learned (at much costs and after much swearing):

 

1.) Maintain the snot in the tyres by topping it up every 3 to 4 months

2.) Do not try to convert a non tubeless tyre to tubeless. Use proper tubeless tyres.

3.) Carry a good plug kit - a really good one, and know how to use it.

4.) If you can, carry a good pump on long rides where you could have an issue if a puncture wont seal. 90% of the time it does seal so you are blissfully unaware of how good tubeless is until you remove the tyre. When it doesn't its normally a cock up.

5.) If you puncture a tyre in the centre and it wont seal even with a plug then you will likely need to run a tube or throw the tyre away. I have wasted countless hours trying tp plug old tyres to extend their life and every time it has resulted in a screwed up ride.

 

My 2 cents worth.

 

Oh and run rims with beads on them and dont over pressure the tyre when seating it unless  you want to look like something out of a bad porn movie when it lets go and sends latex everywhere. I had to wash my hair even to get it out.

 

As for point 1, I agree wholeheartedly.

 

As for your description of seating the tube...the mind thinks in pictures, and I can't stop laughing...