Tyre insert du jour?

Been running Schwalbe procore on my Bird since 2019, i need to remove the tyres to replace the sealant and i dont think i can face trying to get the procore back on + it is pretty heavy and pointless for my riding these days.

I got wondering about one of the foam tyre inserts. I assume they are a lot lighter? Any recommendations for something reasonably priced and performs well?

All the Rimpacts I’ve had have stretched out, become really noisy  and split at the seam.
I’ve a couple of Tubolitos that seem to do the job at a much lower weight and haven’t fallen apart yet

I use Rimpact, the ones with the 2 types of foam. They haven’t gone baggy or split yet. I’d prefer if they loosened up a bit because they’re a giant PITA to fit or swap tyres with.

I think a pair of inserts is about the same weight as one heavy duty 29er innertube and they’ve saved my tyres and rims countless times.

I’m in the Alps now with a new bike and I didn’t fit inserts. Yesterday I was dinging my front rim in rock sections and squashing the rear tyre in berms and stuff. No damage yet but I’ll be fitting inserts when I get home.

I’ve had Cushcore in for a few years now and they’re holding up well. Lots of pinches and dents in them but still keeping their integrity.

If I was fitting them again I’d probably go for trail in the rear and XC in the front.

Rimpact pro on six wheels, multiple tyre changes and all good. They have saved me a fortune in tyres and wheels. 🙂

I use Rimpact, the ones with the 2 types of foam. They haven’t gone baggy or split yet. I’d prefer if they loosened up a bit because they’re a giant PITA to fit or swap tyres with.

There’s a flatter “Race” version out now, might be worth a try even if not racing DH which is its intended purpose.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/rimpact-release-race-edition-inserts.html

I use Vittoria Airliners. They’re a pain to install, will stretch and rattle eventually, but can be easily cut down again. They work brilliantly though. they keep the tyre on the rim and protect the rim. I got them after reading the singletrack review and have had them on the bike for just over two years now.

Review | Vittoria Air-Liner Tubeless Tyre Inserts provide maximum fit-and-forget protection

While we’re on the subject of inserts does anyone know what kind of glue you could use to repair a Rimpact or similar? I mean, they’re glued together from new and it’s absolutely solid, is there any way to replicate that?

It would save me £40 if I could convert a 29er into a 27.5

I use Panzers cos they are cheap.

Got some rimpact pros as well but my knuckle skin still hasn’t grown back so never again.

( Or at least never again on Trek wheels)

what kind of glue you could use to repair a Rimpact

I would make a hole in each end and zip tie the ends together just like a Vittoria Airliner

“ While we’re on the subject of inserts does anyone know what kind of glue you could use to repair a Rimpact or similar?”

I did it with Evostik Impact. Works v well!

Was going to suggest a contact adhesive, just got to watch out for any solvents that might melt the foam. The evostick impact is likely a good option and is a high performa ce contact adhesive. If interested then the reason is contact adhesives had good flex and work well on porous surfaces like textiles and foams.

Thanks all for the suggestions, dont get much spare time these days to do bike part shopping. I had seen the panzers and eas curious. The rimpact v2 and pro 2 combo looks like a winner, however the more i read up, the more i like the advantages my procore has. But i also remembered how much pumping up procore makes my spokes go loose (as per the titanic sub, composites are a bit crap in compression as its a polymer matrix dominated loading). And of course procore is heavy and the valve a pain. Refilled with some sealant and refitted today just to keep me going while i order something else but on pumping back up i also remembered how easy procore makes tubless as it pushes your tyre wall against it the rim and locks it there so i can inflate with a basic pump.

The other option os save some £ and some weight and run without anything.

As an update to my last post, I finally got a flat tyre.

I’m running a brand new pair of Kryptotal’s which Continental insist should be ridden without inserts because the casing is so good that you don’t need them. To be fair it was surprisingly good for an enduro model. Very supportive with minimal rock strikes. Then I pinched the rear tyre on a fire road and put 2 splits in it. Luckily we managed to fix it with plugs.

So I got away with it for a few days but since I have to use my own money to replace tyres and rims, I’ll be putting the Rimpacts back in.

I was interested in getting some inserts as I seem to get far more pinch punctures with tubeless than with tubes. My theory is that I put 30 psi in the tyres then when riding they burp and loose pressure then I get pinch flats riding over rocks. Anyway I stuck some diy inserts made with a double layer of close cell form camping mat and went out this morning and did not die. Read that backer rod is the best thing to use. Don’t like the feeling of the tyre deforming running low pressures. Is there any point with tubeless? 🙂

Continental insist should be ridden without inserts because the casing is so good that you don’t need them.

Continental don’t care if you damage your rims.

None, proper tyres for the job and the correct pressure.

None, proper tyres for the job and the correct pressure.

How many Pleney laps have you done this year and what pressure are you running?

And of course procore is heavy and the valve a pain. Refilled with some sealant and refitted today just to keep me going while i order something else but on pumping back up i also remembered how easy procore makes tubless as it pushes your tyre wall against it the rim and locks it there so i can inflate with a basic pump

Im still using Procore, it does gradually get heavier as the sealant sticks to the blue tyres.

Banana Industry’s had spare blue tyres for £5.99 a while back.

I’ve not tried other inserts but I have got away with clumsy rear wheel landings onto vertical pointing slabs with Procore.

It is a faff, but does as you say make fitting some tyres dead simple, although some tyre/rim combos can be horrible.

I also only use Pro Core if the terrain demands it, which isn’t often.

All the Rimpacts I’ve had have stretched out,

 I mean, they’re glued together from new and it’s absolutely solid, is there any way to replicate that?

It would save me £40 if I could convert a 29er into a 27.5

In both cases a cable tie worked for me on my Nukeproof knock offs.

Met a guy last year using pool noodles or pipe lagging/cavity filler stuff held together with a cable tie.

I’ve repaired a Rimpact with drill & cable tie – still going strong now.

I had some Huck Norris a long time ago, replaced the velcro tie with a ziptie and it was OK.

If you are gluing and can get an accurate circumference then perhaps cut the ends at 45 degrees to increase surface contact and reduce the likelihood of it splitting by spreading the joint away from one point.

How many Pleney laps have you done this year and what pressure are you running?

No laps this year. 200,000ft last year in 8 days, no punctures. Kryptotal F&R, DH Casing, 22f/27r psi

Kryptotal F&R, DH Casing, 22f/27r psi

I suspect you’d be able to run way lower pressures if you ran inserts front and rear.

But if you don’t want to run lower pressures then you’re right, you have little need for inserts.

Lower pressures are great for making the bike feel comfortable, but in the corners the tyre is horrible and I dont buy into the inserts giving support.

It doesn’t matter if you ‘buy into it’ it’s real. I can’t wait to get mine back in and feel the improvement.

Lower pressures are great for making the bike feel comfortable, but in the corners the tyre is horrible and I dont buy into the inserts giving support.

Which inserts have you used?

I’ve been running CushCore front and rear and without a doubt they allow you to run far lower pressures because of the increased sidewall support.

Lewis Buchanan tried running them at 9psi and ended up going faster than with his regular pressures: