UST vs. Tubed

[jaybird]

I'll be trying out UST tires for the first time this week and want to hear any feedback anyone has on the switch?

[gopherhockey]

I love being able to ride with much lower tire pressure and not have to worry about flats. I have only had one incident with USTs in the last 2 years since switching - lost pressure out of my front tire going down a steep at the Farm... just put air back in the thing and continued riding.

They are a bit nasty to put on if you don't use a tire wrench (like they say not too) but well worth it.

[funky-funky-chicken]

While I love the idea of going tubeless, How about Stan's NoTubes Tubeless System? It seems to offer many advantages over having to go the UST route. ie... not having to have UST compatible rims and tires which could limit your rim and tire choices in addition to being prohibitively expensive.

Stan's seems to get phenomenal reviews from many. Here is an example review: http://www.gearreview.com/notubes.php

Although, since they are distributed pretty much through Stan himself and you do not see them in many local retail outlets. You might be hard pressed to find your good folks at your local shop recommending something they don't sell.

Being that I am interested in trying out the concept (especially since two pinch flats last week) I ordered the kit and will give it a shot... Who knows, maybe I will post my experiences when I get everything tested.

You can get more product information here:

http://www.gearreview.com/notubes.php

[funky-funky-chicken]

This is just a follow up to my previous post. I got home from work last Friday and found that my lovely UPS driver had delivered my Stan's Notubes. She normally laughs each time I am at the door to excitedly receive bike part deliveries. :)

I mounted up the NoTubes system on a set of Mavic 317 Disc rims with Continental tires. These are non-UST rims or UST compatible tires. The NoTubes system consists of a special rubber rim strip that seals up with your existing tire with the use of the special sealant (kinda like a watery version of Slime.)

The install was fairly simple having followed the instructions. Okay, I did have a little trouble with the first rim strip because I ignored the recommendation to use baby powder for mounting the rim strip. Don't do as I did; use the baby powder, it simplified the install greatly. You can use your regular tire levers to mount the tires.

I rode my bike tubeless on Saturday morning at Lebanon Hills from about 5:30am to around 10 when I had to retire due to a broken saddle of all things. :hit: There were no tire troubles though. I tried my first lap at about 25 PSI just for a test. For me, with the trails being very well packed, about 35PSI seems just about right though at Leb. The wheels seem lighter, the tires more responsive. (Probably just my imagination though.)

Through the weekend I have not experienced any significant air loss, nothing more than with normal tube. I even tried taking a scratch awl to the tire. I poked it through the tire, it let out a tiny bit of a hiss, then sealed right up. Overall, I am super impressed. I am not affiliated with Stan’s NoTubes system in anyway, but I would recommend giving it a try…
NoTubes.com (http://www.notubes.com)

[jjrsds]

I assume the biggest reason to go to tubless is so that you can run lower tire pressure, with a reduction of a couple of ounces of weight. I am using tubes and have yet to get a flat on a trail, knock on wood of course. I run anywhere from 35-45psi depending on which trail I am ridding. When I commute to work I run 65-70psi (7.5 mile ride with 4 miles of dirt road). Enlighten me to the world of tubless tires.

[funky-funky-chicken]

I don't think that weight plays a part. If you compare the total weight of a tubeless sytem with that of a standard system with tubes, you don't come out ahead. Tubeless rims are slightly and UST tires are definately much heavier.

Tubeless System
Mavic 3.1 (tubeless) Disc Rim 450g
Continental Explorer Pro UST Tire 700g
Total weight = 1150 grams

Traditional Tubes
Mavic 317 Disc Rim 395g
Continental Explorer Pro Tire 515g
Tube 100g
Total Weight 1010g

There are certainly different rim/tire/tube combinations that could be compared, I just tried to pick an example of rims and tires from the same manufacturers offering both a UST tubeless and traditional version. Your tire choices for UST are somewhat limited (though getting better) You can certainly go with much lighter tire and tube combinations.

The biggest advantage really is in off road riding. Being able to ride with lower air pressure can make an enormous difference at times (depending on condition of trail.) Adjusting the air pressure of your tires can have a tremendous effect on how your bike handles. Lower air pressure = more of a contact patch on the surface = better traction = more rolling resistance. Higher pressure = less contact patch = less traction = less rolling resistance. It is a balance thing. You can tend to run a higher pressure tire on hard packed surface where lower pressure has its benfit in loose or sandy conditions.

I like being able to run lower pressure. Without tubes, your risk for pinch flats at lower air pressure is eliminated. Going to a true UST tubeless system from an existing traditional tire/tube combo is an expensive move (new rims and tires.) That is why I elected to try out the Stan's NoTubes system ($70), If for some reason, I decide I don't like/need it, I can alway throw a tube in and go back the way things were.

I don't think that tubeless is the way to go for all bikes... I seldom ride my mountain bike on the road and it is of no benefit there. (However the tire sealant would be)

Good luck riding...

[grizzly adam]

I vote for UST. I was skeptical at first, as my previous bike was from 1994. My true test came at a race last season at Afton. I was running really low pressure and burped the front tire on a downhill turn. After I gathered my senses I noticed that the tire was flat. I didn't have any tools or air with me, so I decided to try to ride it in and call it a day. I was pleasantly suprised as I was riding, cuz the tire didn't come off the rim at all on the way in. Once I was at the start/finish, I pumped it back up and finished the race, albeit further back.

Since then, I have learned not to ride with the pressure quite that low, but I am able to ride it pretty low. The whole pinch flat thing is eliminated and my tires stick like crazy to the trail. I thought I wasn't going to find a better tire than my old Specialized treads, but these guys are awesome! I have Mavic CrossRocs and would love to have a set of CrossMax, as they are significantly lighter, but the money is in the way.

Overall I am happy and would recommend them to anyone who's thinking of it. The notube idea is good too. I know a couple people who use it and they are pretty happy with it. I wonder if there is an issue with erosion of the inside of the tire over time with the adhesive?