Though the first tubeless tyres were available in the automotive world as early as the 1930s, tubeless tyre technology for bicycles is still in its relative infancy being first made commercially available only in 1999.
Since then, the uptake of tubeless technology has made it near ubiquitous. From the ability to run lower pressures, to the increase of puncture protection and the reduction of pinch flats, more and more riders are realising the benefits of a tubeless system.
That said, there are some important considerations. Unlike a tubular system, a tubeless system relies on latex-based liquid sealant to repair small punctures nearly instantaneously. This system is so effective that most punctures go completely unnoticed by the rider.
How does it work?
Every time you run over something sharp, the sealant will rush to the puncture zone, clog up and quickly dry, providing a permanent and strong patch to your puncture.
Of course, it won’t fix all punctures. If you’re unfortunate to experience a larger puncture, such as a tyre slash, the sealant is simply too thin to patch this quickly. Whilst these punctures are rare, you can purchase tubeless repair kits (colloquially known as “bacon strips”) which are designed to clog the hole which is then made airtight by sealant. Some riders also prefer to take an inner tube in case of emergency.
How often do I need to replace my sealant?
As stated above, tubeless tyre sealant is a liquid and as such will dry out over time. The total volume of sealant will also reduce as more and more has been used to repair punctures.
That said, you’ll occasionally need to top up your sealant to ensure full puncture protection. The most obvious sign that this needs doing is that punctures are no longer sealing on the go or your tyres are quickly losing pressure overnight. If you’re looking to be more preventative, however, the general consensus is that every 6 months is a sensible period to top up your sealant.
You may also find that tubeless sealant begins to clog your valves if it has sat inside the tyre for an extended period. This is simply caused by sealant eventually clogging up around the valve hole inside the tyre. The easiest way to diagnose this is that the tyre feels physically difficult to pump at relatively low pressures. The easiest way to repair this is to unseat the tyre, remove the valves and clean them with an isopropyl alcohol (such as EC-90). You should also refresh the sealant at this time, removing any that has dried inside the tyre. This both reduces unnecessary weight and enables the tubeless system to work at its most efficient.
Is it worth the maintenance?
Some riders have been put off by the fact that running a tubeless system entails some basic maintenance over and above a simple inner-tube system.
However, we strongly believe that the benefits of tubeless far outweigh the relatively minor maintenance required to keep them running optimally. Infact, compared to other maintenance, such as your drivetrain, the maintenance required for tubeless tyres is relatively insignificant.
That’s why all of our wheels come tubeless ready. We’re huge advocates of the tubeless system and pushing wider adoption of it. We’re always available if you have any questions about your tubeless system, even more so if it’s your first time running tubeless. We’re confident that once you make the change, you won’t go back.