Thinking About Going for Tubeless Tire Sealant ?

Pros of tubeless tire sealant:

1. Cuts Back on Flats

One of the biggest advantages touted by tubeless tire sealant tire supporters is the system's flat tire resistant qualities. With traditional clincher tires, cyclists are susceptible to pinch flats, where the tube can get pinched between a rock (or other hard object) and the rim, resulting in a nasty flat. With the absence of an inner tube, this possibility is nearly eliminated.

To prevent common flat tire issues (thorns, glass, sharp rocks, etc.) tubeless tire sealant tires are filled with a premium tire sealant during the mounting process, delivering an important layer of tire protection.

2. Smoother Ride

Many would argue that a tubeless tire sealant tire makes you faster – but why? In your standard clincher, the tire and the inner tube are generally in close proximity to one another. While riding, the tube and the tire rub against each other, creating friction and this friction increases a rider’s rolling resistance, making for a slightly tougher ride. The absence of this tube in a tubeless tire sealant system, however, implies the absence of this friction, and effectively reduces your rolling resistance. Some may argue, however, that because tubeless tire sealant tires require a sturdier, heavier rubber than clincher tires, the resulting difference in speed is nearly negligible.

Another element of smoothness that a tubeless tire sealant setup can offer is its limited psi capability. Because pinch flats aren’t a factor, tubeless tire sealant tires can be ridden at a lower psi (it’s recommended up to 13 psi lower than a clincher), allowing more of the tire sealant to come into contact with the road. This additional road contact allows the cyclist more control over their ride (i.e. smoother cornering, better handling, etc.). The limited psi also frees up the tire to absorb small bumps, creating a smoother feeling ride.

3. A Little Less Weight

Right off the bat, expect to drop around 200 grams by switching to a tubeless tire sealant set up. There are a number of different avenues when going tubeless tire sealant, but at the end of the day, losing two whole tubes will almost always drop the weight on your ride. I think all of us, especially you weight watchers out there, can all agree that a little less weight is always a perk.

Cons of tubeless tire sealant :

1. Still May Need to Carry a Tube

The main drawback with a tubeless tire sealant tire system is that repairs are not simple. While tubeless tire sealant tires are resistant to pinch flats and nearly always contain tire sealant, a flat tire is still always a possibility. In an event where the tire sealant cannot repair an especially large puncture or sidewall tear, you’re going to need to have a tubeless tire sealant tire repair kit or an emergency tube on hand to feed into the tire if you want to keep on going.

2. Mounting is Tougher

A tubeless tire sealant setup can require a little more time and maintenance than your standard clincher. When setting up your tubeless tire sealant system, it is of paramount importance that the bead is seated on the rim correctly and creates an airtight seal (typically accomplished with compressed air). Additionally, you need to install rim tape, make sure your valve stems are airtight and add tire sealant to your setup. For those of you going tubeless tire sealant for the first time, we recommend you find a company that offers all the tubeless tire sealant components you need. Generally, they are engineered to work best together and will make your setup easier and faster.

3. Cost

While it may not always be the case, it is generally more expensive to run a tubeless tire sealant setup. There are more components in the mounting process and those components tend to be more costly than standard tubes.