All of my personal bikes rely on inner tubes, and as someone who tests bikes professionally, that should tell you something about my tire preference. While tubeless technology is prevalent and likely here to stay, I have reservations about it, particularly for road cycling, and I believe there are areas that need improvement for rider safety and convenience.
This isn’t intended to be an unfounded attack on tubeless systems, but rather a discussion of my concerns and why I personally prefer inner tubes for road riding for the foreseeable future. I’m aware of the widespread adoption of tubeless tires among cyclists globally. I’ve tested many top-rated tubeless road tires, worked on them, and even sold them. Despite this experience, I still favor inner tubes for my road bikes.
I recognize the advantages of tubeless setups for mountain biking and higher-volume gravel tires, where lower pressures are crucial for speed and comfort. For these disciplines, tubeless is almost a necessity. Last year, I completed the Paris-Roubaix challenge on 28mm tires with inner tubes and had no punctures, a point of pride for me. However, I concede that tubeless with higher volume tires and lower pressure would likely have been faster, a setup only realistically achievable with tubeless technology.
A tubeless tyre unhooked from a rim showing the white tubeless sealant
Potential tubeless mess is a significant drawback for me (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
My primary issue with tubeless systems is their “dark side.” When tubeless works flawlessly, it’s indeed great. I’ve raced and enjoyed the performance of tubeless tires on fast carbon wheels. However, my reservations surface when they don’t function as expected.
The initial appeal of tubeless was puncture sealing, allowing riders to continue without stopping as tubeless sealant filled holes, minimizing pressure loss. When this works, it’s ideal, and a quick coffee stop is the only interruption.
What I find frustrating is when this ideal scenario fails. This, coupled with the added complexity and expense of a system that inner tubes already simplified beautifully, is my core issue. It’s a hurdle I struggle to overcome.
Fortunately, punctures are infrequent for me. Give me a set of top-tier road bike tires – I favor Continental GP5000 or Vittoria Corsa Pro – paired with latex inner tubes, and I’m content. The speed is sufficient for my needs; I’m not obsessing over marginal watt savings. Our lab testing at CN Labs even indicated minimal watt differences between latex tubes and tubeless setups in road tires.
I prefer to avoid the meticulous tubeless tape application on rims. I dislike sealant sloshing around inside my wheels and ending up on my garage floor. The periodic chore of removing everything, cleaning thoroughly, checking valve condition, and refilling with fresh sealant is unappealing. For me, the easiest path is always preferable.
Conversations with fellow cyclists, especially gravel bike riders, reveal that some switch tubeless setups frequently based on events, simplifying maintenance, or simply add sealant until tire replacement. I understand these perspectives.
However, dealing with a punctured inner tube remains far more appealing than troubleshooting a problematic tubeless system. There are simply fewer variables to go wrong with inner tubes.
I’m confident I’m not alone in experiencing sealant explosions, coating bikes and kit as sealant erupts from a deflating road tire, desperately hoping for self-sealing before complete air loss.
My bike and kit are meticulously maintained, so sealant contamination is highly undesirable. Dried sealant is notoriously difficult to remove from bike frames, and sealant splatter has stained expensive cycling shorts.
Beyond bike and kit mess, the cleanup during tire changes or wheel maintenance is also unpleasant.
For me, the advantages of road tubeless don’t outweigh the added hassle of tire changes and potential mess.
Setting up a new wheelset with fresh tubeless tires is straightforward. However, my job involves frequent tire testing, and tubeless tire changes are simply more laborious. Removing a tire, cleaning sealant from the rim, attempting to salvage sealant, installing a new tire onto a sealant-coated rim, hoping for proper seating and sealing – this process is far from enjoyable.
Conversely, removing a tire and inner tube and installing a fresh tire is a comparative pleasure. While tools and techniques exist to minimize tubeless mess, my priority during tire changes is efficiency and minimal hassle.
A stack of tubeless tyres and a wheel on the floor along with tubelss sealant
Even a small sealant spill can create a large mess (Image credit: Will Jones)
Before joining Cyclingnews, I worked as a mechanic for years. While wider rims and larger tires have improved tubeless experiences, and updated ERTRO guidelines enhance compatibility and user experience, I still vastly prefer tube and tire swaps over tubeless installations or troubleshooting.
The labor cost for tubeless tire service – removing old tires, applying fresh tape, potentially replacing clogged or corroded valves, and adding new sealant – significantly exceeds the cost of a tube and tire replacement. However, for those seeking professional service, a skilled mechanic will ensure a perfect tubeless setup.
Another concern is the uncertainty and stress associated with unresolved tubeless punctures. This stress, akin to range anxiety in electric vehicles, is a common complaint with tubeless systems.
If a puncture is too large for sealant, roadside stops are inevitable, often with sealant-covered bikes and riders.
What if the tire completely deflates and unseats? What if roadside inflation fails to reseat it? These scenarios, among others, can leave you stranded, frantically searching for the nearest bike shop, praying your tubeless tires will hold until you get home.
Plugging the tubeless puncture with a repair plug is the next ideal step. If successful, it’s a great solution, and effective plug tools are available.
However, plug insertion can be challenging, especially in awkward locations or if the plug is the wrong size, or if air continues to leak. In these situations, installing an emergency inner tube becomes necessary, often a difficult task with tight tubeless tires already coated in sealant.
Other potential issues include faulty rim tape causing leaks, clogged or leaky valves, and dried sealant buildup on expensive carbon rims.
Some cyclists adopt tubeless to avoid inner tube changes, perceiving them as more difficult. They believe tubeless solves all puncture problems. However, preparedness for tubeless failures is crucial.
For me, inner tube replacement is a fundamental cycling skill. Knowing how to fix a flat, whether tubeless or tubed, is essential for rides beyond short distances. Inner tube changes are simpler and less problematic in my experience.
While nobody enjoys flat tires, with inner tubes, I can inspect the tire thoroughly for debris like thorns or glass without sealant mess. I can check rim tape, install a new tube or tire boot with confidence, inflate, and continue my ride, assured of a reliable repair, without ongoing sealant worries.
Regarding sealant waste, I sometimes resort to hosing down sealant-covered rims and tires to start fresh, discarding usable sealant.
Some tubeless sealants concern me due to their composition. Flushing them down drains feels environmentally irresponsible. While eco-friendly sealants exist, the inherent nature of the material, its function, and its staining properties raise concerns about its environmental and personal impact.
Safety is also a consideration. I’m uneasy about the small risk of tire blow-off with tubeless systems.
I’ve ridden tubeless on hooked and hookless rims, on and off-road, without blowouts, only punctures. However, logic dictates that if a technology potentially increases blowout risk and crash potential, it should be approached with caution.
I hope to never experience a major tubeless failure or tire blow-off, and I hope tubeless technology continues to advance and improve.
Modern components and trends push towards tubeless adoption. Wider rims and road tires are well-suited to tubeless, making it an easy choice.
Lower pressures enabled by tubeless enhance comfort, and reduced vibrational losses can improve speed, benefits I fully acknowledge.
Perhaps I will embrace road tubeless on my personal bikes in the future. Technology evolves, and I anticipate further tubeless advancements.
But for now, I’ll continue to anticipate dry summer days, riding my preferred wheels, fast tires, and latex tubes, enjoying the smooth hum on the road.
