[Closed] Has anyone gone tubeless and regretted it? Do they really stop thorn punctures?

I know I've said this before, but it does also give you the advantage of running your tires softer, which will give you more traction.

I went tubeless on my main bike 2 years ago due to weekly gorse thorn puntures & I've not had a single one since, I then converted bikes 2 & 3 - only issue was with a nobby nic that I gashed the sidewall on but that would have been the same with tubes. I can't see me changing back.

i went tubeless in the peaks, sealed some massive cuts (upto an inch!)

would i do it again? maybe, if my knee was working and i could put on some swampthings at the begining of the winter, run them tubeless till the treads worn down, then run them for the summer.

Otherwise changeing tires is a faff, and expensiove as the "tube" cant be re-used.

I got UST about (omg) 6 years ago. Basically the budget wheels from mavic at the time (crossroc) where tubless. Ran them with tube for about 18-20 month until I needed a new tyre and then gave tubless a go. After several puncture, and a poped out rim I decided that it was not worth it.
I was thinking of giving tubless a new try but GF thread put me off.

For off road nothing will work better than a tube.

I've used UST (Mavic's tubeless system that uses a dedicated tubeless rim) for a long time and wouldn't use anything else - been a great set up for years on my bike. Literally took 10 min to set up in the first place and have never caused problems. THey will stop thorn punctures if you use latex in the tyre.

Tubeless kits that work on normal rims are more prone to set-up issues. I've tried this one time and it was v frustrating compared to UST. WOrked fine in the end, but was loads of hassle to seat the tyre etc. THis was a fairly shite system though - DT swiss 5.1 with a strip.

How long have you been riding that you've never had a puncture?

Yes, tubeless with sealant works great in Spain. Stopped numerous thorn flats. Just because you have tubeless rims, you don't have to run tubeless anyway. If you don't get on with it, just go tubed again. But I wouldn't ride in southern Spain without.

Thanks guys - that's great to hear! Especially BWD. Right, I'm convinced!

The wheelset I'm looking at have Stans Olympic so should work great - and the guy I'm buying them off already has them set up so I don't even have to do anything! 😀

(Garry Lager - I've only been riding since the beginning of the Summer to be fair.)

Right - now I've just got to convince my hubby... Tiboy - can you help me?! You know he listens to you! 😀

I wouldn't say he listens to me!? they do sound a good deal, if the rims were wide enough for running on my enduro I'd be shoving you aside to buy them myself!

Well, that's a good enough testiment for me! (and probably Mike too)

I have 2 bikes, one tubeless, one tubed. I wish they were both tubeless, but I'd only use proper UST rims (especially after gingerflash's experiences!)
Tyres are a bit more expensive, mind.

yes, but it was nearly 10 years ago now.
tried my own experiment with tubeless with michelin comp 16/24 (nagasti tubeless) tyres and a BMX tube, worked fine but anything under 30 psi and it would burp air in turns making it pointless as I was used to running 22psi front/25 rear with MX tubes at the time. Having to run higher pressures even with UST rims/tyres still seems to be the case from all the reports I hear. (this is for DH only BTW).

I have been running tubless for a couple of years now and wish i could do it on my road bike as well as i have found plenty of thorns in the tyres when i have changed them as well as seen the little bit of sealent come out when they have gone in and out again. The only time i had a flat that the sealent couldn't seal was when i got a flint cut to the side wall which would have taken out an inner tube any way.
I use Mavic ust wheels and spec 2bliss tyres with stans sealent in.

The big advantage in my experience is rolling resistance. The bike feels so much faster and more nimble with tubeless. Maybe I won't win races anyway but it sure feels nice.

I've run ZTR Olympics with Conti Speedkings, Nobby Nics and Racing ralphs; I've run Mavic 317 with Speedkings and Nics; I've run Sun Singletrack rims with Kenda Nevegals. Never had a burp (well MAYBE once with the Speedkings/Stans - found low tyre pressure but never heard or felt anything, so I dunno).

owen - why can't you go ghetto tubeless on your road bike? or just sealant filled road tubes?

No going back for me, it's hassle free riding, and I don't use UST specific tyres or rims.

I don't think i could get the tyres on with a getto set up on the rims thye are tight enough now. I keep meaning to get they sealent filled tubes but only normally remember when i get a flat.

"Otherwise changeing tires is a faff, and expensiove as the "tube" cant be re-used. "

What do you mean they can't be reused?

I fing that this rim strip, latex and normal tyre setup is not the original tubeless "UST". They are prone to a lot of faff and set up issues, also normal tyres are constructed for use with a tube, which gives extra support.

The UST set up is great, I used it for 4 years with UST tyres and latex (latex is a must for sealing punctures). No problems (except with weak sidwewalled hutchinson tyres) and only a couple of punctures and no pinch flats.

BUT

Tubeless is crap for DH and long techy fast desents as I like to run sub 30 psi and the tyres just roll and burp air and latex.

For the UK they are great.

I've had one of the STW race guys in my ear for the last 3 years or so trying to get me to go tubeless saying how it will revolutionise my riding and it's the one thing on a bike he would fight to keep like crazy (over suspension and disc brakes).

He's been to the olympics and everything so I've finally listened to him and he's currently building me a bike with a UST wheelset. I did annoy him slighty by speccing BB7's though.

Thanks guys, again all good stuff. I'm feeling pretty confident about going for it. Just one extra question:

What are 2.1 Maxxis Highroller type r exception (think that's what he said) like? Those are the tyres the wheels I'm getting are set up with - will they be good in Spain and the UK.

I curently have a Kenda blue groove/nevegal (2.0/1.95) set up, which I really like - how will the Maxxis compare do you reckon?

I don't know about the current combination you have, but the Highrollers are highly thought of on any terrain except mud (Pretty useless for me here in swampsville).

I've had 2.1XC and 2.35 ST highrollers - used in the Alps and were perfect.

"(especially after gingerflash's experiences!)"

After some advice from STW, I got the front one inflated and sealed. It took me about half an hour. The second wheel took a lot less. It went up really easily last night. It seems I had a difficult combination of tyre and rim, but with neat fairy liquid and a compressor, it worked fine. Certainly not as easy or quick as with tubes, but, once I'd got the advice, both went up without too much further trouble.

Of course, i haven't had chance to ride them yet and I might find they burp, pop, fall-off, I don't know....