All of my personal bikes are equipped with inner tubes. As someone who tests bikes professionally, this should tell you something about my preference when it comes to tires. I have reservations about tubeless technology, and while I acknowledge tubeless tires are prevalent and likely here to stay, there are aspects I dislike, believe need improvement, and in some cases, consider potentially risky for cyclists.
This isn’t an uninformed dismissal of tubeless systems, but rather a discussion and my personal opinion on the drawbacks, and why I’m sticking with inner tubes for road cycling for the foreseeable future. I’m aware many cyclists globally have embraced tubeless setups; I’m not oblivious to the trend. I’ve tested many of the best tubeless road tires, worked with them, and even sold them. Yet, for my road bikes, I consistently choose inner tubes.
I recognize that for mountain biking and higher volume gravel tires, tubeless setups offer distinct advantages and are almost essential for running lower pressures, enhancing both speed and comfort. Last year, I even completed the Paris-Roubaix challenge on 28mm tires with inner tubes and experienced no punctures or issues, a point of pride for me. However, I concede that higher volume tubeless tires with lower pressure would likely have been faster, a setup only realistically achievable with tubeless technology.
Tubeless tire unhooked from rim showing sealant. Messy tubeless sealant inside a bike tire.
It’s the less appealing aspects of tubeless systems that concern me. When tubeless setups are perfectly installed and functioning, they are indeed fantastic. I’ve raced and ridden on tubeless tires with fast carbon wheels and appreciated their performance. My issues arise when they deviate from this ideal performance.
The Allure and Reality of Tubeless Tires
Tubeless technology was adopted with the promise of self-sealing punctures, ideally allowing riders to continue without stopping as the tubeless sealant within the tire plugs any holes with minimal pressure loss. When this works, it’s undoubtedly a positive experience.
However, my frustration stems from when this ideal scenario doesn’t materialize. It’s the added complexity, effort, and expense for a system that inner tubes already addressed with beautiful simplicity—just a tire and an inner tube. This is the core of my hesitation and what I find difficult to overlook.
Fortunately, I rarely experience punctures, which influences my perspective. Equip me with a set of the best road bike tires – my preferences lean towards Continental GP5000 or Vittoria Corsa Pro – paired with a latex inner tube, and I’m content. This setup offers sufficient speed for my needs; I’m not obsessively counting watts. Our Cyclingnews lab tests even indicated minimal wattage difference between latex tubes and tubeless setups in road tires.
Mess and Maintenance: The Tubeless Drawbacks
I prefer to avoid the meticulous tubeless tape application required on rims. The idea of sealant sloshing around inside my wheels and potentially on my garage floor is unappealing. Furthermore, the periodic task of removing old sealant, cleaning everything, checking valve integrity, and refilling with fresh sealant is a chore I’d rather skip. For me, the path of least resistance is always preferable.
Conversations with fellow cyclists, particularly gravel bike riders, reveal that some frequently switch tubeless setups based on events, which aids maintenance. Others simply add sealant until tire replacement is due. I understand these perspectives.
Yet, dealing with a punctured inner tube is far more appealing than handling a problematic tubeless setup. With tubes, there are simply fewer variables that can go wrong.
I’m willing to bet I’m not alone in experiencing sealant spray covering my bike and cycling gear when a road tubeless tire deflates, hoping desperately for a self-seal before complete air loss.
My bike and gear are meticulously maintained, so being coated in sealant is highly undesirable. Dried sealant is notoriously difficult to remove from a bike frame, and I’ve had expensive cycling shorts stained by sealant splatter.
Mess on my bike and kit is one thing, but the mess during tire changes or wheel maintenance is equally unpleasant.
For me, the benefits of road tubeless simply don’t justify the additional hassle of tire changes.
Complexity and Potential Issues with Tubeless
Setting up a new wheel and tubeless tire initially is straightforward. However, as part of my job, I frequently test tires, and changing tubeless tires is simply more labor-intensive. Removing a tire, cleaning sealant from the rim, carefully trying to salvage sealant, installing a new tire onto a rim coated with dried sealant, hoping for proper seating and sealing – this task is far from enjoyable.
In contrast, removing a tire and inner tube and replacing a tire is a breeze. While tools and techniques exist to minimize mess, when changing a tire, I prioritize speed and minimal hassle.
Spilled tubeless sealant on the floor. Bicycle tubeless sealant mess during tire change.
Before joining Cyclingnews, I worked as a mechanic for years. While wider rims and larger tires have improved tubeless setup, and updated ERTRO guidelines are enhancing compatibility and user experience, I still greatly prefer a tube and tire swap over any tubeless installation or troubleshooting.
A mechanic’s bill for tire removal, fresh tubeless tape, possibly new valves if clogged or corroded, and new sealant will significantly exceed the cost of a new tube and tire. However, for those seeking professional service, a competent mechanic will ensure a perfect tubeless setup.
Then there’s the uncertainty and stress when a tubeless puncture isn’t easily fixed. This added anxiety – similar to range anxiety with electric vehicles – is a recurring concern voiced about tubeless systems.
If a puncture is too large for sealant, roadside stops are inevitable, and you and your bike might already be covered in sealant.
What if the tire completely deflates and unseats? What if you can’t inflate it quickly enough to reseat it on the road? Various scenarios can leave you struggling, searching for the nearest bike shop and hoping your tubeless tires cooperate enough to get you home.
The next step is often inserting a tubeless repair plug. If successful, great, and there are effective plug tools available.
But if plug insertion fails due to location, size, or continued air loss, you’re still in trouble and likely forced to install an emergency inner tube—often challenging with a tight tubeless tire already coated in sealant.
Don’t forget about potential issues like faulty rim tape, leaky or clogged valves, and dried sealant accumulating on carbon rims.
Simplicity and Reliability of Inner Tubes
Some riders adopt tubeless to avoid inner tube replacements, perceiving them as more difficult. They believe tubeless will solve all puncture problems. But are they truly prepared for all possible tubeless failures?
For me, inner tube replacement is a fundamental cycling skill. Knowing how to fix a flat, whether tubeless or tubed, to get home is crucial for any ride beyond a short distance. And personally, changing a tube is simpler and less troublesome. I prefer it.
While no one enjoys flat tires, with tubes, I can avoid sealant mess, thoroughly inspect the tire for debris, check rim tape, install a new tube or tire boot, inflate, and confidently continue, without lingering doubts about the setup’s reliability.
Performance and the Tube vs. Tubeless Debate
Regarding cleanliness, I aim to be as tidy as possible, but sometimes, hosing down a sealant-covered rim and tire to start fresh, even wasting sealant, becomes necessary.
Some tubeless sealants seem questionable to me, and I’m uneasy about flushing them down the drain. While eco-friendly sealants exist, the material’s nature, its function, and its tendency to dry and stain my gear raise concerns about its environmental impact.
Safety is another point. I’m uneasy about the small risk of a tire blowing off the rim.
I’ve used tubeless tires on both hooked and hookless rims, on and off-road, without experiencing blowouts, only punctures. However, logic suggests that if a technology potentially increases blowout risk and crashes, even slightly, it’s worth reconsidering.
I hope I never encounter a major tubeless issue or a tire blowing off a rim, and I hope tubeless technology continues to improve.
Modern components increasingly push us towards tubeless. Wide rims and wider road tires are well-suited for tubeless setups, making it easy to simply adopt the trend.
The lower pressures tubeless allows enhance comfort, and reduced vibrational losses improve speed, benefits I fully acknowledge.
Perhaps in the future, I will embrace road tubeless on my personal bikes. Technology evolves, and I anticipate further tubeless advancements.
Conclusion
Until then, I’ll continue to appreciate the simplicity and reliability of inner tubes. I look forward to those first dry summer rides with my best wheels, fast tires, and latex tubes humming smoothly on the road beneath me. For now, the peace of mind and ease of use with Bike Inner Tubes remain my preferred choice for road cycling.
