28mm Schwalbe Pro One Tubeless on my Giant TCR - nice!
I’ve just fitted some tubeless 28mm Schwalbe Pro One tires to my 2018 Giant TCR (Advanced 1), and I’m very pleased with the results. I was a bit concerned that the tires wouldn’t fit the frame, but my internet research proved to be correct: the 28mm Schwalbes inflate to just under 30mm @80psi and are about 26mm in height above the rim. This is on the 17mm internal width Giant PR2 rims. There is about 3-4mm clearance to the fork crown at the front, and a similar distance from the seat tube at the rear. Clearance everywhere else is ample. The ride quality is *way* better than the stock 25mm Giant Gavira tires. I had a near miss at a junction with those tires on a slightly damp road, when they had very little grip. That relegated the TCR to be a “dry roads only” bike until I found a solution. The Schwalbe Pro Ones apparently need about 60 miles / 100km “run-in” to get maximum grip in the damp, but they feel grippy to me even in the early morning dew-covered roads. They also roll really well, feel great in the corners, and are really comfortable after the 25mm Giant tires. I started at 85 psi, but found that to be uncompliant, so reduced to 70-75psi for my 72kg (158lb) weight. Below 65psi, the front wheel squirms a bit when riding out of the saddle, but would be fine if seated. These pressures make for a really comfortable ride that makes me want to use the TCR for commuting. It isn’t all roses though; getting the tires on the PX2 rims was very easy - I didn’t even need tire levers. However, I couldn’t seat them with my track pump and had to go my LBS to pay for the privilege of them fitting the tires. It took them a while, even with a compressor. One tip they gave me was to do an initial fit of a new tire with an inner tube so that the tire expands to it’s final shape, and then remove the tube, and fit again. The tire loses a bit more pressure during my normal ride than a 28mm GP4K II with a butyl tube, but I always check my tires before a longer ride, so this isn’t a big issue for me. Time will tell if the puncture protection and durability of the Schwalbes is good or not, but they’ve given a new lease of life to my Giant TCR and I’m loving it! |
Welcome to the wonderful world of slightly larger tubeless tires. It didn't take me long to decide that there'd be no going back.
What sealant are you using? I'm surprised that they're losing more air than your tubed setup. I haven't been able to get a set of Schwalbes to seat with a track pump and would recommend a flash charger if you don't want to buy a compressor. There are two ways to go about it: a) new pump with the charger built in b) secondary canister that you charge with your existing track pump. I'm doing the latter, a unit from Specialized. It's only okay, if I'm being honest. From what I've seen from tests online, my Spec model doesn't have the greatest volume/sec, so I'd encourage you to look online at some of the alternatives (I think that the Schwalbe canister is supposed to be decent). Getting a secondary canister is the less expensive option of the two. You'll also continue to refine your technique as you go, so don't get too discouraged by the difficulty of mounting the first few times. The first time I mounted Schwalbes, it was a bear. The last few times have been easy peasy. The thing that helped me the most is utilizing the center channel in the rim bed, both for getting the tire on the rim and for seating the tire. Before attempting to seat, make sure the beads are in the middle, all the way around, and spray the rim bed/tape with slightly soapy water - it'll reduce the friction between the beads and the tape, making it a easier for the beads to pop up in to place. |
I'm using the standard Giant sealant, but I'm sure there are better ones. The pressure loss was about 10psi after leaving the bike in my garage for 5-6 days, and bout 3-4psi after a 30km ride - nothing to worry about.
I'm not sure if my rims have the "center-channel" you mention & which I've seen on some web-sites, and I can see how this would make the job easier. So far, I only tubless tires on one bike, but provided my rims can be adapted, I'd now consider doing this on all my bikes. Pity I still have a large stock of spare inner tubes :-) |
Sweet pics.
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Congrats! I’ve used the schwalbe’s as well with great success. Like you, incredibly easy to install but needed compressor to seat. I found them to be great tires and in conjunction with sealant didn’t lose much from one day to the next. ive never gone beyond 25mm but you folks are instilling the itch to try 28’s! |
Isn't it amazing how much the tires affect your ride?
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
(Post 20815805)
I haven't been able to get a set of Schwalbes to seat with a track pump and would recommend a flash charger if you don't want to buy a compressor.
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Originally Posted by noodle soup
(Post 20817095)
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Interesting. I’m running 30mm Pro Ones on carbon RCG36 wheels from November Bicycles. For me the mounting process was difficult, I had to resort to using a tire lever for the last bit. And I was careful to make sure the bead was in the center channel all the way around. But, once mounted I was able to inflate them with my standard floor pump. I didn’t do anything special, just pumped them up. I suspect it has to do with how deep the center channel is. If it is deeper it is easier to mount the tire, but then the tire is looser around the rim and needs a bigger blast of air to overcome the initial leakage and seat. |
I also enjoy 28mm tubeless tires and will not go back. Previously I was running 25mm clinchers then 28mm tubeless. The clinchers initially "felt" faster because I was used to riding on them and it felt like I was flying over every imperfection on the road. I wasn't used to the supple ride provided by tubeless. I guess this might be the "dead" feeling that some might be talking about. I still run 25mm clinchers on my secondary bike (because the wheels are not setup for tubeless). It didn't take me long to realize that the tubeless 28's were faster. It's a night and day difference when I switch bikes.
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Thanks for the comments!
Having ridden on the tubeless tires for the last week, I think I may have a problem with seating or the sealant - I seem to be losing more significant pressure than I initially thought. My tires were down by about 25-30psi over the last 3 days (without riding the bike for 2 days), which is clearly too much. I do have farily rough roads to contend with, and I'm wondering whether going over a big bump (pothole or speed-hump) could cause the tire to "burp" and allow air out from the side? Should I try increasing pressure to reduce the likelihood of this? I'm currently aiming for 68-70psi front and 75-78psi rear. Any suggestions for how to determine the cause of the pressure loss? What's nice is the fact that even at 40psi, I can still ride home without worrying about pinch-flats :-) |
How much sealant are you using per tire and are your tires on tubeless compatible wheels? There should be no reason to loose pressure like that.
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Originally Posted by johngwheeler
(Post 20821038)
Thanks for the comments!
Having ridden on the tubeless tires for the last week, I think I may have a problem with seating or the sealant - I seem to be losing more significant pressure than I initially thought. My tires were down by about 25-30psi over the last 3 days (without riding the bike for 2 days), which is clearly too much. I do have farily rough roads to contend with, and I'm wondering whether going over a big bump (pothole or speed-hump) could cause the tire to "burp" and allow air out from the side? Should I try increasing pressure to reduce the likelihood of this? I'm currently aiming for 68-70psi front and 75-78psi rear. Any suggestions for how to determine the cause of the pressure loss? What's nice is the fact that even at 40psi, I can still ride home without worrying about pinch-flats :-) you can simply do a soap and water test, grab some suds and roll them around the wheel and see where bubbles come out just like when finding a leak with an inner tube. Sometimes I’ve see the valve cores be a bit loose or bent and when using caps on the valves they get depressed and lose air from the valve stem as well. Check spoke holes and where the valve comes through the rim as well. good luck! |
Good to know. My 2013 TCR SL1 fit Schwalbe One tubed 28c, measured 31+wide, and yes, tall on a 17c internal rim (Campy Zondas C17s) and I pumped 90psi thru them . That was thru ultegra 6700 rim brakes too.
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To the OP. Have you put the wheel in water to see where it's leaking? I'll bet you have leaks around the spokes and also perhaps the valve stem. I run the same tire on ENV wheels and at first had this. My philosophy is, if you need sealant to stop leaks other than road punctures there is a problem with the wheel rim tape and/or mounting. No leaks first then add sealant. I stopped going to a bike shop after they created a royal mess by pumping more and more sealant to try to mount a tubless tire and eventually gave up.
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Originally Posted by johngwheeler
(Post 20821038)
Thanks for the comments!
Having ridden on the tubeless tires for the last week, I think I may have a problem with seating or the sealant - I seem to be losing more significant pressure than I initially thought. My tires were down by about 25-30psi over the last 3 days (without riding the bike for 2 days), which is clearly too much. I do have farily rough roads to contend with, and I'm wondering whether going over a big bump (pothole or speed-hump) could cause the tire to "burp" and allow air out from the side? Should I try increasing pressure to reduce the likelihood of this? I'm currently aiming for 68-70psi front and 75-78psi rear. Any suggestions for how to determine the cause of the pressure loss? What's nice is the fact that even at 40psi, I can still ride home without worrying about pinch-flats :-) https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...tex-tubes.html https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...overnight.html https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocros...ing-event.html |
Originally Posted by Sy Reene
(Post 20828342)
You're not alone.. it's these types of periodic stories that make me think again about whether to go tubeless.
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...tex-tubes.html https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycl...overnight.html https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocros...ing-event.html FWIW, of the threads that you posted, the second one had troubles with really weird tires that had obstructions at the bead that caused leakage (he replaced the tires with another brand/model and the install looks like it went smoothly) and the third one said that he used the minimal amount of sealant and that the sealant had been added at the beginning of summer, six months prior... yeah, sealant doesn't work like that. |
Originally Posted by robbyville
(Post 20826449)
that’s a lot of pressure to lose so quickly. In all my years with tubeless I average less than 5lbs per day. you can simply do a soap and water test, grab some suds and roll them around the wheel and see where bubbles come out just like when finding a leak with an inner tube. Sometimes I’ve see the valve cores be a bit loose or bent and when using caps on the valves they get depressed and lose air from the valve stem as well. Check spoke holes and where the valve comes through the rim as well. good luck!
Originally Posted by Ald1
(Post 20828329)
To the OP. Have you put the wheel in water to see where it's leaking? I'll bet you have leaks around the spokes and also perhaps the valve stem. I run the same tire on ENV wheels and at first had this. My philosophy is, if you need sealant to stop leaks other than road punctures there is a problem with the wheel rim tape and/or mounting. No leaks first then add sealant. I stopped going to a bike shop after they created a royal mess by pumping more and more sealant to try to mount a tubless tire and eventually gave up.
Maybe I went over a big bump and lost air through the side or even had an unnoticed puncture that sealed itself? I'm still really happy with the tires - they feel both fast and comfortable, which is the winning combination :-) |
I use tubeless on my MTB bike and cross bike which are great but switched back to clinchers on the road, the hassle with road tubless is just not worth it. Also road tubeless systems are generally heavier and if your confronted with an issue on the road (slashed sidewall, large gash that will not seal it's a real hassle)
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Originally Posted by rick1
(Post 20829889)
I use tubeless on my MTB bike and cross bike which are great but switched back to clinchers on the road, the hassle with road tubless is just not worth it. Also road tubeless systems are generally heavier and if your confronted with an issue on the road (slashed sidewall, large gash that will not seal it's a real hassle)
Heavier? I thought they were lighter. |
Originally Posted by deepakvrao
(Post 20830185)
Heavier? I thought they were lighter.
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Originally Posted by deepakvrao
(Post 20830185)
Heavier? I thought they were lighter.
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Originally Posted by deepakvrao
(Post 20830185)
Heavier? I thought they were lighter.
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Any difference in rim weight is essentially moot. Almost all self-respecting wheelsets are tubeless compatible at this point. 1.5oz of sealant is a fraction of what a tube weighs, too.
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
(Post 20830241)
Any difference in rim weight is essentially moot. Almost all self-respecting wheelsets are tubeless compatible at this point. 1.5oz of sealant is a fraction of what a tube weighs, too.
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