Tubeless tyres or tubular tyres: what are the benefits?

Lots of mountain bikers opt for tubeless tyres. In other words, these tyres don’t contain an inner tube: if you have the right rim tape and the right tyres, you can just pump the air straight in. The system does have a few perks, but it’s a bit more complex to use than regular tubular tyres. In the video, sales advisor Telmo explains the benefits of tubeless tyres and when he’d nevertheless recommend tubular tyres.

Installing tubeless tyres requires a decent amount of specialist expertise and tools. However, the system’s primary benefit is that tubeless tyres enable you to ride with less air pressure. This gives you better control over your bike in challenging situations on demanding routes. Having less air in your tyres also means they offer better shock-absorption for a more comfortable ride.

What do I need for a tubeless system?

If you want to use tubeless tyres, you’ll need special rims, different tyres and rim tape. A sealant within the tyre stops up small holes and tears, saving a bit of patching-up compared to regular tubular tyres. However, you still need to repair tubeless tyres if they suffer major damage. To do so, plug the holes with salami-shaped pieces of plastic, before pumping good old air back into the tyres.

Tubeless – answers to the most important questions