"Tubeless ready" tyres – are they cr*p?

I’ve been a long term tubeless user – 10 years+ However I’ve always used proper UST tyres and rims.

Recently I was tempted (by price) into buying some “tubeless ready” tyres (Scwalbe Dirty Dan for the boggy stuff) and fitted them to some proper UST rims using Stan’s sealant.

1st problem: pain in the arse to inflate with a track pump. Took mucho sweat and swearing – I’m used to UST just popping straight on no hassle.

Once they were eventually on I span ’em and shook ’em and turned them in all directions to distribute the sealant.

2nd problem: in the shed the front tyre stayed up the rear kept going down. Got the bike out and put it in the car – back tyre stays up for the hour and a quarter journey. The previously ok front one goes down!

Get round the ride (2 and a half hours with some air loss but not enough to get the pump out). Journey home – same thing with the front tyre!

Is it me or have I “got what I paid for”? I’ve never had any of this cr*p with proper UST.

yep, I’m sticking to pucker UST tyres. Never had an issue in 10 years of use.

I have used standard tyres and tlr tyres without any issues – cheaper and lighter than UST. If you find the tyres go down too easily make sure there is enough sealant in the tyre and top it up after the 1st ride.

As for inflation, CO2 cartridge is your best friend

Bonty Tubeles Ready = Great

Schwalbe Tubeless Ready = Poo. My experience was the same as yours. Fat Alberts on Stan’s 355. One tyre OK (had to use a CO2 cart for the first time ever), other tyre would not seal even though I had made it seat.

I have some Fat Alberts for Sale, anyone?

Continental UST also great.

Shouldn’t have any inflation issues with the tubeless ready Schwalbes, they usually go straight up. Suggest you’ve been unlucky.

UST tyres weigh far more and have negligible puncture resistance. Can be marginally less faff with sealing, you know if that’s worth it to you or not. I’d not go back to UST ever.

I think your problem is that Schwalbe =crap, not ‘tubeless ready’ type tyres.

Bonty TR tyres are ok and Spesh 2biliss ones are great in my experience.

Interesting comments.

I just recently installed some Schwalbe TL 2011 Fat alberts, and Nobby Nics – both were pretty much as easy as UST tyres, which I’ve also used on my Stans rims to great effect.

I was wondering about this as well. I’ve used UST Schwalbe tyres for ages now with no problems or punctures but I’m tempted by the tubeless ready versions perhaps in a snakeskin for a bit more protection… mostly as they weigh loads less… Hmmmm…

I remember using normal Nobby Nics when I used to use tubes and recall that the sidewalls were paper thin… is that still the case with the new super dooper pacestar? compound?

Sidewalls are still the same, so some may find them too thin. Compounds have changed, I’d be lying if I said I noticed a difference between Pacestar (not tried Trailstar) and Triple Nano though.

I think the standard Schwalbe sidewall is too thin, but I alway make sure to use the snakeskin version to avoid the weak sidewall issue. With snakeskin, they’re a bit more like a lighter duty UST sidewall, which is exactly what I’ve been after for a long while.

Cool, apparently the Rocket Rons are coming out in a snakeskin version for 2012 so reckon I’ll get a pair of them.

Hassle free tubeless tyres = Maxxis LUST 😉

Kinda like a VW in the car world. Set’s the bench mark.

Tubeless Ready = hassle (that you don’t need/want)

Schwalbe TLR Nobby Nics not working for me either, back to UST’s for me.

Spesh Storm Control 2Bliss are great, even with track pump.

Schwalbe TLR Nobby Nics not working for me either

Me neither, although keeping them inflated wasn’t the problem – I just found them distinctly average, with an added helping of twitch in dicey conditions.

You didn’t wait long enough for your tires to seal. Riding doesn’t help.

Watch the stans tubeless install video.

I use non tubeless tires with stans goo and yellow tape. It took my nevegal about 2 days of shaking and laying on each side before it would hold air, since then (about 10 months) it’s been perfect, I haven’t even bothered replacing the goo.

Not had any problems inflating tubeless ready nics with track pump. In response to original comment of tires going down, after splashing sealant round the inside, have you placed horizontal one side 10 – 15 min then tuned over and done the same to other. helps to seal properly.

Schwalbe Tubeless Ready tyres on two bikes with Stans rims, zero hassle.

in the last few months I’ve installed Hans Dampf on Flows, and Nobby Nics on both Flows and Crests, all totally hassle free, snapped in place with a track pump and zero grief.

Mind you, have UST wheels arriving tomorrow…

i’ve had nobby tubeless ready’s for over a year with no problems at all – would defo buy again

Ive been using non tubeless schwalbe nics/alberts on flows with no problems at all ….They leaked milk through the walls for a few days but they have been fine.

Do the product codes on the box match the ones on the web. I bought some Dirty Dans that purported to be TLR and they were the previous years model and definitely not. Problems with sealing as you describe.

Bontrager and Specialized tubeless-ready are spot on- the Control 2bliss range weigh the same as most equivalent non-tubeless tyres too. No drawback to them IMO, and highly recommended.

Lots of gripes about Schwalbe this year though… I’ve used standard non-TLR, non-UST Schwalbes and they worked brilliantly so it’s all a bit strange.

I don’t really see me using another UST tyre, there was no point for me. All my favourite standard (non-UST, non-TLR) tyres work and quite a few of the tyres I’d choose are TLR anyway. I guess they’re kind of like dualplies- the sort of thing that you only use if you must.

I recently fitted a Dirty Dan tyre to a Stans 355 rim – while it initially seemed to seal ok I had the same problem in it going down while sat in the shed. A ride sorted it out though and it’s been fine since – holding air no problem.

mudx tubeless ready are a bit of a pain to initially stay up, as theres lots of tiny holes in the sidewalls, but once you have riden them with lots of wheel milk in they usuallly stay up ok.

Do the product codes on the box match the ones on the web. I bought some Dirty Dans that purported to be TLR and they were the previous years model and definitely not. Problems with sealing as you describe.

Would be interested though I didn’t keep the boxes. Mine were from On-One.

don’t have a problem with Bontragers tubeless ready tyres, the Specialised ones i’ve used on my Cotic Soul (Purgatory and Eskar) tend to lose pressure each week on ust rims

I use normal tyres as well with only 1 x measure of Stans, never any problems and tyres never go down. The golden rule is to scrub the inside of the tyre with a scrubbing brush and very hot soapy water, then let them dry properly …..

As for inflation, CO2 cartridge is your best friend

Confirming my thoughts against TR…

You didn’t wait long enough for your tires to seal.

Think it was about a month before riding! How long do I need!!!!

Schwalbe Tubeless Ready = Poo

That could be it? But would I risk a different brand…?

Hassle free tubeless tyres = Maxxis LUST

I won’t argue with that. That’s where I’ve always been before.

It took my nevegal about 2 days of shaking and laying on each side before it would hold air,

Confirming my thoughts against TR…

have you placed horizontal one side 10 – 15 min then tuned over and done the same to other. helps to seal properly.

Confirming my thoughts against TR… Actually the front one seems to go down when it is horizontal and stay up when vertical. The rear appears to do the opposite!

They leaked milk through the walls for a few days

Confirming my thoughts against TR…

Do the product codes on the box match the ones on the web.

Dunno? The box is long gone but it definitely had “Tubeless Ready” written on it. They were from on one.

To summarise:
So it would seem in general that TR = far more of a pain in the arse than proper UST and that Schwalbe are maybe the worst of a bad bunch?

I shall persevere for a while to see if things improve but it looks like I’ll be back to proper UST next time I’m shopping for tyres.

I’d be suspicious of the On-One tyres, tbh. Very much doubt they were selling proper, 2011 stock at half price. Do the tyres say tubeless ready on the sidewall?

None of my Schwalbe tubeless have had any of that hassle, mates use them too and again, absolutely no hassle, even on non tubeless rims.

I’ve never had problems with Schwalbes (but none were tubeless ready, UST or otherwise). I find you need to lay them horizontal on a bucket just to seal the sidewalls, but otherwise they’re great.

Mad Pierre – where do you guys ride from in Melton? I’ve been trying to find someone to ride with round here and the MOCC guys don’t seem to do offroad!

The S-works ground controls I fitted on my 29’er have stayed up from the day I put them on, superb. On Stans Crest rims.

The Control Purgatory & Captain are the same on my 26″ 355’s, now I’m not sure if the front (purgatory) wasn’t lined up (valve/logo) but I think it’s moved round the rim a bit

schmiken – drop me a mail re: Melton. email in profile.

Mad Pierre – my experience of bonty TR and specialized 2bliss:

Put on UST rim (dead easy no tools needed), add a bit of sealant if you want (although I don’t know why you wouldn’t), pump up with any pump (even minipump), go ride.

Where is the downside? They don’t weigh any more than ‘normal’ tyres, easier to put on and take off, and have far fewer punctures. No brainer if you ask me.

Bonty TLR have been no problems whatsoever on tubless rims. They seal very easily, go one without much effort & stay sealed. I can’t imagine that a UST tyre could be any better & TLR weigh significantly less.

Schwalbe Hans Dampf just fitted to Mavic UST rim 5 mins ago, snapped in place with a track pump, zero hassle, didn’t even need tyre levers.

Very much doubt they were selling proper, 2011 stock at half price. Do the tyres say tubeless ready on the sidewall?

Nope! I’m guessing they should then….

Yep, all mine do.

On-One probably C&P’d the 2011 description. CRC do the opposite, oddly – have the 2010 descriptions on 2011 stock.

I failed to get an On One Fat Albert to work on stans 355 rims. I did check the reference code printed inside the tyre and it was listed as ‘tubeless ready’.

Have gone back to LUSH high rollers.

I’ll have to have a look at sidewalls when i’m home from work…

Mad Pierre – Member
I’ll have to have a look at sidewalls when i’m home from work…

I’d be amazed if there wasn’t something amiss – all the ones I’ve done have been so trouble free. Second Hans Dampf just went on UST rims for me, again no hassle, up with a pump.

Why were On One able to sell them so cheap? – that’s what I’m wondering.