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Tubes vs Tubeless…and more
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You’ve heard a lot about tubeless, but is it better? Yes…and no.
I think there’s a simple bit of maths that can help you decide which solution is right for you. Here goes:
Tubeless is more work on setup and maintenance, but it’s more puncture-resistent.
More work at home = less work on the trails.
If you have regular puncture problems and you’re prepared to invest in the tools and equipment for tubeless setups, then there’s no arguments from me – my MTB is tubeless. Good tyres, good rim tape prep, valves installed correctly, tyre pressures maintained…tubeless is a winner.
Tubes are easy-peasy, though. Easy to fit with the right tools and a bit of wisdom, very little maintenance required…but flats happen. Sometimes they happen a lot.
Tubeless tyres can flat too. Burp flats from low pressure and a sidewall impact. Cuts that are too big for the tubeless to seal. Broken spokes that puncture the tape. Walk out to the shed and the tyre is completely flat for no obvious reason. We’ve seen it all.
So what’s the answer? There isn’t one.
What do the pros use? Mostly they use tubeless but they don’t always. Plus they have pit mechanics and spare bikes and spare wheels setup ready to go.
What do most people use? Serious riders who have invested in the tools are tubeless, mostly.
What do I use? Tubeless on my MTB and tubes with a Tannus Armour on my gravel bike. Tubeless on my road bike.
Here’s what I know about the four major setup options:
| Tubes | Tubeless | Tyre Liners eg Cushcore | Tube Skins eg Tannus Armour | ||||
| Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons | Pros | Cons |
| Cheap! | Relatively easy to puncture | Seals itself on small punctures | Often takes 1 or 2 rides to fully seal | Low pressure setups are durable | Can be very difficult to fit | Very difficult to puncture | Can be difficult to fit initially |
| Relatively easy to fit, even on the trail | Dead tubes are a pain to carry home | Easy to carry a plug kit for larger punctures | Needs regular pressure top-ups and fresh sealant every 6 months | Good for DH where there’s a pit mechanic to maintain it | Bad where there’s no pit and no mechanic | Will run flat | Adds weight |
| Almost no maintenance | Low pressure setups are reasonably durable | Normally tricky to bead, often needs a compressor. | Will run flat (sort of) | If you emergency-fit a tube on the trail, the liner must be carried home | Will protect rim and sidewall from pinch flats | Can be $$ | |
| Easy to carry a spare tube | Sidewall cuts need a patch and a tube to get home | Will protect rim and sidewall from pinch flats | Always messy. Always! | Almost no maintenance | |||
| Can be fitted double-layer for extra puncture protection | Trailside repairs are messy | Easy to carry a spare tube | |||||
| Must carry a spare tube anyway | |||||||
Confusing, eh!
What I tell people in the shop is this: If you’re running tubes and you don’t have a problem with punctures then don’t change.
If you have lots of flats, invest in the system and go tubeless. See if your trail-side repair time goes down.
If not, try Tannus Armours. They’re really good.
If nothing works, save your $ and go back to tubes.