Considering Tubeless for my Race Wheels

Discussion in 'The Roadie Hangout' started by Tri_Danimal, Sep 3, 2013.

  1. Tri_Danimal

    Tri_Danimal No More Uphill? :-(

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    Does anyone run Tubeless on their race wheels? Schwalbe just announced their new tubeless triathlon tires, I am tempted to try them out for my next race. I will be needing new tires for race day anyways so why not give it a try.
     
  2. destroyer

    destroyer I build jumps

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    I don't on my roadie (or my mtb's). Mavic said they did extensive studying on tubeless tire/wheels and found no gains in rolling resistance while developing their new Carbone 40 clincher. They said they expected a gain but found the road tubeless to be no better or worse than tubes. I would think this would be true. If there were gains to be had Mavic, a rim and tire manufacturer, would jump on it and produce a product with data to back it up.
     
  3. westcoaster

    westcoaster New Member

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    wouldn't it, at the very least, still eliminate small punctures?
     
  4. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej Well-Known Member

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    What about resistance to punctures?
     
  5. Allthatflash

    Allthatflash New Member

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    I don't think the rolling resistance is what you gain, I think its weight esp on a mtb tire. fromTubed to Non-Tubed is where it matters.
     
  6. Allthatflash

    Allthatflash New Member

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    And true Mavic does both wheels and tires but they are not Schwalbe ! who is by far on top the game when it comes to rubber imo.
     
  7. Bullseye

    Bullseye New Member

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    I have a foot in both camps and ALL of my roadie friends have gone tubeless. They say that the difference is more dramatic than on the MTB. Road feel, comfort, rolling resistance and cornering are all improved. At least that's what I hear... I have yet to switch.
     
  8. destroyer

    destroyer I build jumps

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    I'm running Schwalbe on my road bike and I would not recommend their tires. This will be my last set. Quality isn't great.

    I've never done a triathlon, but if you have to change tubes in case of a flat tubeless could be good or bad. Good that it might be less likely to flat but if you do it is a lot harder to change a flat with tubeless tires than regular tires. Those tubeless tires are super tight!.
     
  9. BROWNIE

    BROWNIE I'm good at recess!

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    I've been riding on Shimano Dura-Ace C-24 for a couple of years and LOVE them. Hutchison Atoms at 80psi roll awesome! There is really no reasons for tubes...cars, motorbikes, truck, tractors, airplanes, have all gone tubeless...why not you.
     
  10. trailninja

    trailninja Going Slideways!!!!

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    Another benefit to going tubeless is that you can run lower tire pressure (without pinch flats) which generally leads to better ride quality. The tire will conform better to the terrain increasing traction during braking and grip during high speed turns. I run tubeless on my mountain bikes and prefer tubes on my road bike. Surprisingly going tubeless does not save very much weight.

    http://m.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/new-bike-gear-previews/should-you-go-tubeless

    Should You Go Tubeless?

    By Matt Phillips

    We rolled wheels in a direct comparison. The verdict: Leaving the tubes at home can help you go (slightly) faster

    Within the cycling industry, some companies have fully committed to road tubeless with multiple models while others dispute the claimed advantages. There are divergent opinions on BICYCLING’S test staff, too. Read on to decide if this new technology is for you

    Pro
    Flat Protection
    Anecdotal evidence from our testers suggests that tubeless systems incur fewer flats than tubes. But, current road tubeless tires are thicker and heavier than high-end, nontubeless clinchers, making a comparison difficult. Also, almost all of our riders use sealant inside their tubeless tires, but not in their tubes. Still, we’ve found that road tubeless is a solid choice for rough pavement and gravel roads.

    Con
    Limited Selection
    There are currently 25 tubeless road wheels and 10 tires on the market. More options are on the way, but nothing like the breadth of products available for cyclists riding standard clinchers. Only one tubeless tire is wider than 23mm (Hutchinson Intensive, a narrow 25c) and just two carbon wheelsets—Corima’s Aero+ Tubeless (also sold as the Hutchinson RT1) and Mad Fiber’s clincher.

    Pro
    Lower Pressure
    Road tubeless was designed to work at lower pressures than most road clinchers. Hutchinson, which developed road tubeless with Shimano, recommends that cyclists use as much as 13 psi less than they would run in a tube. Running less pressure means the ride quality will improve; some riders claim the ride is as smooth as a tubular tire. Lower pressure also boosts traction when cornering and braking, because softer tires stick to the ground better. But some claim that the ride isn’t as supple as high-quality, traditional tubulars or even the best open clinchers.

    Con
    More Maintenance
    Working with road tubeless wheels and tires isn’t as simple as handling a regular clincher. You have to be patient when working stiff beads on and off rims—a process that often requires soapy water. You have to be careful about choosing tire levers, repairing punctures, and installing valves, rim tape, and strips. You also need an air compressor to properly install many tires. You have to remember to refill the tire with fresh sealant every few months—and if the sealant can’t fix a puncture out on the road, the repair is much more time-consuming and complicated.

    Pro
    Security
    Hutchinson says that its road tubeless tires, built with no-stretch carbon beads, cannot roll off the rim, but we’d hate to be the unlucky ones to disprove this claim. Assuming Hutchinson is right, the tire will stay on the rim should you flat.
    Sloppy
    If you ditch tubes, you should use sealant. But putting it into the tire can be messy, and inserting a tube in the event of a bad cut will be even messier. You’ll also need to strip the old goop from the rim when it’s time to add new sealant.

    OUR TAKE
    Switching to tubeless won’t save you a lot of weight the way swapping to tubulars can, and setup and maintenance are a little harder than normal. Once everything is together, the system requires a little more vigilance, but and the ability to run lower pressure offers a smooth ride and good traction. We don’t foresee tubeless exponentially gaining popularity until a more varied lineup of wheels and tires is available—especially lighter, more aerodynamic wheels and fatter, lighter tires with more efficient casings. Eventually, we could see tubes relegated to jersey pockets and seat bags, coming out only when a tubeless tire fails catastrophically.
     
  11. jbbikerider

    jbbikerider Member

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    Why not go with a nice set of tubular's rims and tires. Racing only you should have no problem and since your bike will be faster, you should end up running sooner. I rode tubies for years, completed tons of ultra races on tubular's and never had a flat. Had a couple training but no issues as I can change a tubie out faster than a clincher. Try a set at your local shop and you'll be blown away at how nice the ride is.
     
  12. Albacore

    Albacore 34x18

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    +1,000,000 for tubular race wheels.
     
  13. Tri_Danimal

    Tri_Danimal No More Uphill? :-(

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    I have been told there is now no more benefit for tubulars now that clinchers have evolved to keep pace. When doing the long(er) distance multisport events you are not running the bike tire at that high of a tire pressure where tubulars are a benefit. the lower tire pressure allows the tire to flex a bit and absorb the road chatter helping keep the body relaxed and loose for the run. I may be wrong but I have only been in the tri scene for about 1.5 years now.
     
  14. Allthatflash

    Allthatflash New Member

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    What happened? I'be never had a problem with any of my tires, I run them on both my MTB and Road. The ZX tires I love....it's been a year and no flats so far @100psi on my MTB I have run Ra Ras, Fat Alberts and Hans Dampf with no issues whats so ever. Schwalbe has evolve to include Enduro specific tires as well like the Rock Razor and Magic Marry...and from what I see at the UCI level most are running Schwalbes. Been wanting to try these no Ironman from them and see if they will last onmy road bike since I do all my long distance training on my road bike for my mtb racing.
     
  15. pinnacle10

    pinnacle10 Member

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    I can vouch for this. My wife has tubeless on her road bike and they were almost impossible to get on. Don't remember what kind they were. I think she likes them, but if she ever gets a flat that doesn't seal, I'm pretty sure I'll be getting a phone call to pick her up.



     
  16. destroyer

    destroyer I build jumps

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    None of my Schwalbe road tires lasted very long. Most retired early due to them getting wobbly (both laterally and vertically). I don't recall any of them lasting more than 500 miles. Also my Ultremo ZX have strings on the bead that keep coming off and they get wrapped up in the hub or brakes. It's really annoying problem for such a high end tire. I attached some pictures of the strings. I've read on other forums that is a known problem. After this set of tires wears out I'll switch back to Veloflex (best tire I've ridden). Schwalbe does a great job with their mtb tires but their road tires are lacking.
     

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