As a content creator for usabikers.net and someone who tests bikes professionally, I’ve developed strong preferences when it comes to bike setups, particularly tires. Despite the cycling world’s increasing shift towards tubeless technology, all my personal bikes are equipped with inner tubes. This isn’t due to a lack of experience with tubeless systems; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. My perspective comes from years of riding, testing, working on, and even selling tubeless tires. While I acknowledge their place in modern cycling, especially for mountain biking and gravel riding, I remain unconvinced about their outright superiority for road bikes and will explain why I continue to choose Bikes Tubes for my own road cycling.
A tubeless tyre unhooked from a rim showing the white tubeless sealant
Messy tubeless sealant on a bike rim, highlighting the potential downsides of tubeless tire maintenance.
Tubeless tires have undoubtedly become a significant force in the cycling industry. Many cyclists have embraced the technology, and for good reason. I understand the appeal; I’ve ridden some of the best tubeless road tires available and experienced their benefits firsthand. For gravel and mountain bike tires, the advantages are clear. The ability to run lower pressures without the risk of pinch flats significantly improves traction, comfort, and even speed on varied terrains. Last year, I even tackled the Paris-Roubaix challenge on 28mm tires with inner tubes and was fortunate to avoid punctures. However, I recognize that tubeless setups with higher volume tires and lower pressure would likely have offered a faster ride in those demanding conditions.
My reservations about tubeless technology for road bikes stem from what I consider its “dark side”—the complications and inconveniences that arise when things don’t go perfectly. When tubeless systems are properly set up and functioning flawlessly, they are indeed fantastic. I’ve enjoyed the performance of tubeless tires on fast carbon wheels in races and training rides. The real issue, for me, emerges when they deviate from this ideal state.
The initial promise of tubeless was puncture sealing, allowing riders to continue their journey without roadside stops, thanks to the sealant automatically plugging small holes. In theory, a puncture gets sealed, pressure loss is minimal, and you can proceed to your coffee stop without interruption – a cyclist’s dream scenario.
However, the reality often diverges from this seamless ideal. My primary frustration with tubeless systems revolves around the increased complexity and effort involved compared to the elegantly simple combination of a tire and a bike tube. This added complexity is the core of my hesitation. Perhaps if punctures were a frequent occurrence for me, the tubeless appeal would be stronger. Fortunately, I rarely experience flats. Equipping my bike with top-tier road bike tires, such as Continental GP5000 or Vittoria Corsa Pro, paired with latex inner tubes, provides a setup that’s more than adequate for my needs. The performance is fast enough; I’m not obsessing over marginal watt savings. Furthermore, lab tests have indicated that the watt difference between latex tubes and tubeless setups isn’t as substantial as some might believe.
A stack of tubeless tyres and a wheel on the floor along with tubelss sealant
Tubeless tire setup equipment including tires and sealant, illustrating the additional components and potential mess associated with tubeless systems.
The additional steps required for tubeless maintenance are a significant deterrent for me. I’m not enthusiastic about meticulously applying tubeless tape to my rims, dealing with sealant sloshing around inside my wheels and potentially onto my garage floor. The periodic chore of removing old sealant, cleaning everything thoroughly, checking valve condition, and refilling with fresh sealant feels like unnecessary work. I gravitate towards the path of least resistance and hassle.
While some cyclists, particularly gravel riders who frequently change tire setups for different events, argue that regular changes simplify maintenance, or others simply top up sealant until tire replacement, I find these points understandable but not entirely convincing for my road riding.
For me, addressing a punctured bike tube is far more straightforward than managing a problematic tubeless situation. With tubes, there are fewer variables that can go wrong. I suspect I’m not alone in experiencing the frustration of being sprayed with sealant as it erupts from a puncture in a deflating tubeless road tire, all while desperately hoping for a self-seal before complete air loss.
As someone who takes pride in maintaining a clean bike and kit, the mess associated with sealant is a major drawback. Dried sealant can be stubborn to remove from bike frames, and I’ve unfortunately stained expensive cycling shorts with sealant splatter.
Beyond the mess on my bike and gear, the cleanup during tire changes or wheel maintenance with tubeless is also unpleasant. The added “faff” factor associated with tubeless tire changes outweighs the perceived benefits, in my opinion, for road cycling.
Setting up a brand new wheel with a fresh tubeless tire is often straightforward. However, my job involves frequent tire testing, and changing tubeless tires becomes a more involved process. Removing a tire, cleaning sealant residue from the rim, carefully trying to salvage sealant, installing a new tire onto a sealant-coated rim, hoping for proper seating and sealing—this is a task I don’t particularly enjoy.
In contrast, removing a tire and inner tube and replacing it with a fresh tire is a breeze. While tools and techniques exist to minimize mess, when I’m changing a tire, I prioritize speed and minimal hassle.
My experience extends beyond personal preference. Before joining Cyclingnews, I worked as a mechanic for years. While wider rims and larger tires have improved tubeless usability, and updated ETRTO guidelines enhance compatibility and user experience, I consistently preferred tube and tire swaps over tubeless installations or troubleshooting.
The labor cost associated with tubeless maintenance also adds up. A service bill for tire removal, fresh tubeless tape, potential valve replacements due to clogging or corrosion, and new sealant is considerably higher than the cost of a new tube and tire. While a skilled mechanic can ensure a perfect tubeless setup, the increased cost is a factor to consider.
Furthermore, the uncertainty and potential anxiety associated with tubeless punctures that aren’t easily fixed are significant downsides. This “range anxiety,” similar to that experienced with electric cars, is a common concern among tubeless users. If the puncture is too large for the sealant to handle, you’re still stranded roadside, possibly covered in sealant.
What if the tire completely loses pressure and unseats from the rim? What if you can’t reinflate it quickly enough to reseat it on the road? These scenarios, among others, can leave you in a difficult situation, limping home and hoping to reach a bike shop.
The next troubleshooting step often involves plugging the hole with a tubeless repair plug. While effective plug tools are available, success isn’t guaranteed. If the plug is difficult to insert, the puncture is awkwardly placed, the plug size is incorrect, or air continues to leak, you’re still facing trouble. The likely next step is installing an emergency inner tube, often a challenging task with a tight-fitting, sealant-coated tubeless tire.
Adding to the potential issues are poorly applied rim tape that leaks, clogged or leaky valves, and dried sealant accumulating on expensive carbon rims.
Paradoxically, some riders switch to tubeless to avoid the perceived difficulty of changing an inner tube. They believe tubeless will eliminate puncture worries. However, preparedness for tubeless failures is crucial.
In my view, inner tube replacement is a fundamental cycling skill. Knowing how to fix a flat, whether tubeless or tubed, is essential for any cyclist venturing beyond short distances. For me, changing a tube is simpler and less problematic. I prefer the straightforwardness.
When I puncture with tubes, there’s no sealant mess. I can thoroughly inspect the tire, remove debris, check rim tape, install a new tube or tire boot if needed, and confidently inflate the tire, knowing the setup is sound, without lingering doubts.
Regarding sealant waste and environmental concerns, I find myself questioning the environmental impact of flushing sealant down the drain during cleanups. While “green” sealants exist, the inherent nature of sealant and its staining properties raise concerns about its overall environmental friendliness.
Safety is another critical aspect. The small but present risk of a tubeless tire blowing off the rim is a concern. While I’ve used hooked and hookless rims with tubeless tires without issue, logic dictates caution when a technology potentially increases blowout risk.
Despite these reservations, I acknowledge the advancements in tubeless technology. Modern wide rims and tires are well-suited to tubeless setups, making it an appealing option. The lower pressures enabled by tubeless enhance comfort and reduce vibrational losses, contributing to faster rides – benefits I fully appreciate.
Perhaps my perspective will evolve, and I’ll embrace road tubeless on my personal bikes in the future as technology advances. However, for now, I’ll continue to enjoy the simplicity and reliability of bikes tubes, especially on those perfect summer days with fast tires and latex tubes humming on the road.
