bruce19

This is my experience.....I have Mavic Ksyrium Elite USTs w/Mavic Yksion tires. They were developed as a "system" by Mavic. You can inflate with a regular floor pump. I'm in my 3rd season (I have them on my GFs bike too) and neither of us has had a flat. They are lighter than my Ksyrium Elite clinchers. They seem to roll more easily and they are definitely more comfortable. I haven't encountered any down side yet.

bruce19

This is my experience.....I have Mavic Ksyrium Elite USTs w/Mavic Yksion tires. They were developed as a "system" by Mavic. You can inflate with a regular floor pump. I'm in my 3rd season (I have them on my GFs bike too) and neither of us has had a flat. They are lighter than my Ksyrium Elite clinchers. They seem to roll more easily and they are definitely more comfortable. I haven't encountered any down side yet.

Sorcerer

We have 3 of our mountain bikes in our stable that use the UST system and I have to agree that it works great. Problem is that the tires no longer seem to be made, and that early standard has been abandoned.

Chuck M 

Functionally nothing. But it is interesting to read through this thread to see how many other older riders view newer technologies such as tubeless tires.

And it appears I am in the camp that resists tubeless for most of the reasons cited. I haven't had a flat in years (knock on wood), tubes work well enough and messing with the sealant thing just sounds like trouble to me. And I have to wonder if my age is a factor in all those reasons against tubeless.

caloso

You’re probably right. I’ll say nonstandard tubeless instead.

VicBC_Biker

IIRC, whenever I questioned something that was a 'bad idea' at work, the answer was "you are afraid of change".

downtube42

Hacked tubeless. Modifying something to use for other than it's intended purpose. Seems appropriate, but doesn't exactly flow off the tongue.

downtube42

An result of age is number of iterations of doing things, which results in some degree of proficiency. Patching tubes, replacing tubes, finding holes n tubes, avoiding pinch flats, seating a tire with a tube, ensuring the valve stem comes out straight, getting the bead even around the rim. A bunch of fiddly stuff that becomes second nature with practice.
Then a new thing comes along with a new set of fiddly stuff. The advantages of that hard earned skillset are reduced, and new things must be learned The retro grouch response is so easy, and maybe even rational. We could just stop learning, and fade away.

philbob57

What thoughts are associated with the term 'ghetto tubeless'?

*****

The term shows contempt for residents of less desirable neighborhoods, especially neighborhoods in which members of minorities live.

I could say it bothers me, as long as it's understood that 'bother' is an understatement.

leob1

Well, I never though this would have the legs it did. And mostly stayed on topic!
So, the consensuses seems to be that if you flat often then you might be better off with tubeless. I don't flat a lot, this is the bike I ride the least. (yes, it looks at me hanging in the garage forlornly)
I Think I'll not convert this bike to tubeless. Maybe I'll revisit when I need new tires.
Or maybe I'll go tubeless on the new bike I'm getting to celebrate my 65th revolution of the sun.

Thank you all for your thoughts and responses. Too bad we all can't get together IRL for some food and drinks, I think we'd have a really good time!

Enjoy the Ride!

prj71

Whoever recommended that doesn't know what they are talking about. Just add a few ounces every 4-6 months. The only time you'll need to de-mount the tire is because it punctured beyond repair or you wore it out.

prj71

Do you have tubes in your car tires?

prj71

No. The biggest tubeless advantage is that a small puncture seals itself while you are riding meaning you can keep riding and not have to stop. Or if the puncture is a little larger you may lose some air and have to stop and pump it up a little. The main advantage is less of a chance of having to stop and de-mount the wheel, tire and tube and reverse the process.

This tubeless thing isn't THAT difficult to understand.

Bald Paul

And soon you'll have a tire that weighs......?

If I get one or two flats a year, I consider the time I spend installing a new tube less of an inconvenience than messing with sealer. To each his own, I guess, but I'll stick with tubes.

terrymorse 

The stated "tubeless advantage" is due to liquid sealant, which also works rather well inside an inner tube.

prj71

You'll wear the tire out before you ever add enough sealant that weighs as much as a tube.

Adding sealant is a piece of cake. Less than 5 minute job. Remove the valve core with valve core removal tool. Pour in sealant. Put valve core back in. Done.

prj71

I don't think you are "getting it" it's more than that.

https://www.alpecincycling.com/en/eq...es-road-bikes/

terrymorse 

Ow! My brain now hurts from all that marketing hype, presented uncritically and without supporting facts.

prj71

Comprehension is hard...

terrymorse 

Critical thinking is an acquired skill.

prj71

Much like there was resistance to disc brakes on road bikes...Tubeless tires on road bikes is the next disc brake right now.

Eventually you'll get it. It's one of them things...You don't know what you don't know.

DiabloScott

Literally everyone understands why some types of riders prefer disc brakes for the riding they do.
Literally everyone understands why some types of riders prefer tubeless tires for the riding they do.
And I certainly underestimated how popular these technologies would become on road bikes.

But there is a certain contingent of forum posters who refuse to believe that not everyone has the same preferences, even with a completely informed understanding of the differences.
How many flat tires per year do I have to have (or avoid) to make the hassles of a tubeless tire system preferable? The answer is "more than the two or three that I get currently."

Cpn_Dunsel

What hassles? (especially when set up on a new bike).


The only hassles would come from doing something incorrectly and that remains true with tubes or even tubular.

DiabloScott

Incorrect. You know what the hassles are and you're ignoring them.
There are dozens of threads on this topic across multiple forums where people with real experience have expressed legitimate gripes about those hassles.
And the fact is, tubeless systems offer zero advantages over tubed tires for someone who gets zero flats... the benefit to hassle ratio is a continuum beyond that, and different riders can draw the line at different places.

PeteHski

Aside from flats, the other real advantage of tubeless is the ability to run lower pressures, especially on wider road tyres. I find that a real bonus on our crappy chip seal roads.

I haven’t personally had any more hassle running tubeless tyres over tubed, but some people clearly do. Those who have never even tried tubeless tyres often presume them to be a big hassle based on what they read. Most of which is from people attempting to run tubeless for the first time. There are new skills to be learnt (as with any change), but there is enough good info out there to get it right. We forget tubes can also be a hassle for someone who has never fitted one before.