Tubeless - How much more cushion?
 

This is directly related to helping me determine my next bike. I've noticed that it's very difficult to find road tires over 700x38. I'm riding Panaracer Paselas right now, and with the roads I'm on, it's not enough for me. My rims have 17mm internal width. With the combined weight, the charts tell me I should put the tires at 60psi in back and around 52-55 in front. This feels and handles great, but with all the broken pavement, I put the back closer to 50 and the front around 45. Never a pinch flat in 5 years, but I don't like the way they handle and feel and still not enough cushion.

So for those of you that have gone tubeless, how much more cushion will I get from going to a wider rim, say 23mm IW, and 38mm tubeless?

Don't get me wrong; I plan on going tubeless in the next step. IMO, there are too many advantages aside from tire suspension. The wheel format is the question. My wife just went from 26x1.5 to 26x1.75, and she is thrilled with the change. So if I can't get very close to the effect off going to a tubed 44mm, I'll probably shop for a bike suitable for 650b road+ tires.

There’s more push in’ for the cushion.

sorry, had to say that. Free bump!

I run tubeless also. I can’t quantify how much improvement it offers but all the advantages of tubeless and wider tires than I had ran with skinny roadies previously are worth it.

Night and day difference going from 700x32 tubed @ 60 psi to 700x35 tubeless @ 40 psi. I no longer notice the bone chattering crappy potholed filled roads anymore.

Well, my Roubaix has 25c tubed Rubino Pros and my Domane has tubeless 32c GP 5K at 60 psi. No comparison between the two. The 32s really knock down the vibrations from our wonderful chip and seal roads. How much is due to tubeless? Don’t know because I jumped straight to 32s and tubeless. All I know is that I like the ride and that’s what counts. FWIW, I didn’t have issues with flats on my Roubaix. 5500+ miles and I can count the number of flats on one hand. I just wanted to try tubeless.

PSI depends on more than your rim width and tire width; it also depends on your weight, road surfaces, and riding style. Depending on those variables, you might be able to run 700cx38 tires as low as 32/35 front/rear, or thereabouts. If you also go with relatively supple tires (look at the Rene Herse offerings, for example), you'll get a smooooth ride.