5 reasons to love tubeless tyres and 5 reasons to love inner tubes

When it comes to setting up your tyres on your bike there are two main camps. The first has been used for the best part of 100 years and uses an inflatable inner tube inside a tyre. The second, tubeless, is a more recent development, replacing the inner tube with a latex sealant that plugs any small punctures you may get out on a ride.

If this topic ever comes up whilst you are at the cafe stop mid-ride it is likely to divide opinions with different riders swearing by both options. In reality, the decision on how you set up your tyres is far from black and white. To help you make a better-informed decision here are five reasons why you might choose either setup. Then all you have to do is make your mind up as to which makes most sense to you, given the riding you like to do.

5 reasons to love tubeless tyres

Tubeless might feel like a newcomer to the world of cycling. It's been really popular with mountain bikers since it was introduced around 25 years ago, but road cyclists have been slower to get on board.

Road tubeless technology has been around for over a decade, with most modern wheels and tyres compatible with a tubeless system. Essentially a tubeless wheel system makes use of a specific air-tight rim tape and tyre to create a chamber for the air to sit in without the need for a tube. But with many riders happy with the simplicity and performance of a traditional inner tube setup, why should you consider tubeless?

1. Tubeless repairs punctures as you ride

© GCN

Tubeless tyres use a latex sealant to plug any holes meaning you can carry on none the wiser that you ever had a puncture in the first place

The most obvious benefit of a tubeless system is that you no longer need to worry about getting a puncture as the sealant will plug small to medium-sized punctures as you ride. There are exceptions to this rule with even the best tubeless systems unable to seal a slash or tear, however, in most cases tubeless can make punctures a thing of the past. If you live somewhere with a lot of debris scattered across the surface of the roads or where you might get a lot of punctures from thorns or small flints then tubeless could be your saviour.

2. Tubeless offers lower rolling resistance

Inner tubes cause rolling resistance. Even though they aren’t directly in contact with the road surface they are an additional layer of material that needs to conform to the surface of the road. By removing the inner tube altogether the only component that directly influences rolling resistance is the tyre itself. By extension, some of the fastest tyres available are tubeless tyres, which is one of the reasons why we have seen the overwhelming majority of the pro peloton making the jump to tubeless systems.

• Read more: GCN Tech Clinic: Why do tubeless tyres have less rolling resistance?

3. Tubeless is lighter than a traditional clincher setup

© GCN

Inner tubes weigh a lot more than tubeless systems with the switch saving up to 200 grams

Another benefit of riding without an inner tube is the savings in weight. A typical butyl inner tube weighs around 140 grams. Stripping these out of your bike could save you nearly 300 grams. Of course, it’s not quite that simple as you’d need to replace the inner tubes with some sealant but this typically weighs around 50 grams per wheel. Add to that the fact that tubeless tyres are usually a touch heavier than non-tubeless tyres. However, even with those extras factored in, a switch to tubeless could save you around 200 grams, making it one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can do to save weight.

4. You get a more supple ride on tubeless

This one might have to be ridden to be believed, but tubeless tyres feel better. In a similar vein to the lower rolling resistance, tubeless tyres are more supple thanks to the fact there is no tube resisting the deformation of the tyre. This means that out on the road, tubeless systems can feel smoother and more compliant, leading to a more comfortable ride.

• Read more: Why tyre pressure and tyre width matter so much for cycling

5. They allow you to ride at lower pressure

© GCN

Tubeless tyres can be setup at far lower pressures than inner tubes leading to increase grip and control

This is a real benefit, especially when using modern, wider road tyres. Tubeless tyres can be run at lower pressures than tubed tyres because there is no risk of getting a pinch flat. A pinch flat is when your inner tube gets trapped between the ground and the rim of the wheel, and they occur when you hit a bump or pothole. To avoid them with a traditional tube and clincher setup, you need to increase the tyre pressure.

As there is no inner tube in a tubeless setup, this is not a concern, so you can significantly drop the pressure of the tyre. Wider tyres and lower tyre pressures have both been proven to roll faster out on the road – a performance benefit that is certainly worthwhile.

Read more: What tyre pressure should I be using and why?

5 Reasons to love inner tubes

The humble inner tube has been around for decades and is almost certainly what most of us have grown up with. It uses a rubber tube that sits inside the tyre to hold the air. In the event of a puncture, the tube will need to be repaired or replaced, but this is a quick job. Inner tubes are relatively easy to set up, repair and replace so depending on where your riding takes you, they could have the upper hand over tubeless.

• Read more: GCN Tech: The five worst things about tubeless tyres

1. Inner tubes are easier to fix

© GCN

When a dreaded puncture does stop you in your tracks at least with an inner tube a repair is normally a quick and easy affair

If you do run into an issue with a tubed setup, it will likely be a cheaper and easier fix than with a tubeless system. A puncture repair kit costs a few pounds, euros or dollars and should last you quite some time. Although a tubeless system is far less prone to getting a puncture, if the sealant cannot seal the hole, getting yourself up and running again can be a bit of an ordeal. With an inner tube, it is as simple as patching the hole or fitting a new inner tube, removing the offending item from the tyre, pumping it up and getting back on your merry way.

2. Repairing inner tubes is a more familiar process

Many of us will have spent most of our cycling lives using inner tubes. For this reason, the system is easy to understand, it is easy to maintain and it is likely that you already have all the tools and spares needed to keep your bike rolling without issue. When it comes to tubeless, not only do you need a range of new tools and spares but it can also take some time to get familiar with the maintenance as it’s a slightly more involved and regular process.

• Read more: Five roadside repair hacks: Keep a ride going with these quick fixes

3. Inner tubes are cheaper than tubeless systems

© GCN

Even premium inner tubes are cheaper than upgrading to a tubeless system, especially if you don't already have tubeless ready wheels or tyres

This one is undeniable – inner tube systems are cheaper than tubeless systems. The primary reason for this is that all tyres are compatible with inner tubes whereas tubeless-ready tyres tend to be reserved for the slightly more premium offerings from tyre manufacturers. There is also the cost involved in stocking up on tubeless rim tape, tubeless valves and the sealant which needs replacing every three to six months. A tubed setup on the other hand requires none of this additional cost. An inner tube can be repaired over and over again – if you have the patience. If you are riding on a budget, sticking with inner tubes is a surefire way to save some money.

4. Inner tubes are more reliable than tubeless

Inner tubes, especially TPU or butyl tubes are robust and dependable with the tube holding pressure for weeks on end with only small changes that might need correcting. The exception to this is latex tubes, however, this is a well-known issue and something people are generally happy to accept.

• Read more: Everything you need to know about tubeless tyre maintenance

Tubeless systems are less robust and can develop small air leaks that can be hard to hunt down and resolve. Although it might not cause an issue during a ride, it could see you reaching for a pump every time you go to grab your bike. Often, the only solution is to remove the tyre, clean out the sealant, retape the rim and set everything up again. This doesn't have to happen many times before it can feel like tubeless is more effort than it is worth.

5. Inner tubes are considerably cleaner

The sealant that allows tubeless tyres to seal small punctures is great, but it can become a nightmare. If you have ever had a large puncture with a tubeless system you will know exactly how messy it can be, covering you, your bike and anything else within range with latex sealant. If this happens out on a ride, by the time you get home and try to clean it off you are likely to have a mission on your hands as the dried tubeless sealant can be hard to remove.

© GCN

There is none of the associated mess that comes with a tubeless system with the good old fashioned inner tube

That’s not to mention the mess of setting tubeless up in the first place. Even the steadiest home mechanic is going to need an area that can be wiped clean. Inner tubes on the other hand have none of these issues. As a dry system, there is nothing that can cause a mess making it a great choice for people that don’t have their own workshop.

Which do you prefer and why? Are you a tubeless convert or are you a die-hard inner tube user? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.