Low pressure tubeless, rolling resistance holy grail?
03-12-22, 04:35 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Low pressure tubeless, rolling resistance holy grail?
Anyone switched from high pressure tires to lower pressure tubeless with similar rolling resistance? Most specifically any increase in comfort?
03-12-22, 05:22 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,843
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6935 Post(s)
Liked 10,940 Times
in
4,674 Posts
Yes, and yes.
Likes For Koyote:
03-12-22, 05:43 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,083
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2332 Post(s)
Liked 2,097 Times
in
1,314 Posts
Q1. no/yes
Q2. Yes/No
Q2. Yes/No
03-12-22, 05:53 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,516
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20808 Post(s)
Liked 9,450 Times
in
4,668 Posts
I've been running modern 28s on wide, hookless rims at <60psi for a couple years. Wouldn't go back.
Likes For WhyFi:
03-13-22, 02:07 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Denver area (Ken Caryl Valley)
Posts: 1,802
Bikes: 2022 Moots RCS, 2014 BMC SLR01 DA Mech, 2020 Santa Cruz Stigmata, Ibis Ripmo, Trek Top Fuel, Specialized Levo SL, Norco Bigfoot VLT
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 182 Times
in
118 Posts
I used to run 23s at 105ish, and then moved to 25s at 90-95ish. I now run 28/29s (these are all true measured sizes) at 75F/80R. I go as low as 70 but beyond that, they definitely FEEL more sluggish when accelerating especially. I'm quite comfy at 75-80 and my times on segments are similar so that is where I am. If the roads are rougher, I'll drop to 70/70. If I went to 30-32, I'd run 60-65. I also have used (I'm 176 lbs bodyweight) a couple of apps to determine optimal PSI and I'm close to those as well.
Likes For Chandne:
03-14-22, 06:55 AM
#7
Senior Member
I use the pressure calculator at zipp.com. It was spot on with 19mm hooked rims and 28mm tires, but recommended only 52 psi front with 23mm hookless rims and 30mm tires. I ran that pressure for a few rides, but it felt too squishy for me, so I added 5 psi. It's important to have an accurate pressure gauge. Many aren't. Very happy with lower pressure tubeless.
Likes For DaveSSS:
03-14-22, 06:57 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,083
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2332 Post(s)
Liked 2,097 Times
in
1,314 Posts
I use the pressure calculator at zipp.com. It was spot on with 19mm hooked rims and 28mm tires, but recommended only 52 psi front with 23mm hookless rims and 30mm tires. I ran that pressure for a few rides, but it felt too squishy for me, so I added 5 psi. It's important to have an accurate pressure gauge. Many aren't. Very happy with lower pressure tubeless.
03-14-22, 11:12 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 700
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
The speed and rolling is the same (or slightly changed, I can't tell) but the comfort is greatly improved.
Likes For vespasianus:
03-14-22, 03:44 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 2,873
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1455 Post(s)
Liked 1,477 Times
in
867 Posts
7-8 years ago I was running 23s with tubes at 110psi on 16mm i.d. hooked rims.
Today I'm running 28s without tubes on 23mm i.d. hookless wheels at 60psi.
I have no idea what the rolling resistance situation is, but I'm faster now than I was then. Also more comfy.
Today I'm running 28s without tubes on 23mm i.d. hookless wheels at 60psi.
I have no idea what the rolling resistance situation is, but I'm faster now than I was then. Also more comfy.
Likes For msu2001la:
03-14-22, 06:28 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 700
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
Likes For vespasianus:
03-15-22, 01:01 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
My bad. I wrongly assumed the implication that was that switching to tubeless let you drop the pressure 30psi by itself. The correct pressure between tubes and tubeless shouldn't differ much
03-15-22, 01:29 PM
#16
Fat n slow
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Saratoga, NY
Posts: 4,301
Bikes: Cervelo R3, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3253 Post(s)
Liked 2,079 Times
in
977 Posts
I agree, I’m faster now on 28s running at 55/58 than I was on 23 running 100+ 8 years ago.
I was also 15 pounds lighter then and likely in better cardiovascular condition. I’m actually considering going even a little bigger.
03-15-22, 02:20 PM
#17
Shawn of the Dead
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 578
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 277 Post(s)
Liked 448 Times
in
216 Posts
This is me almost exactly. My old bike has 700x23's at 110 or higher I'm running 32's at around 70-80.Now I'm faster and more comfortable. My new build is old school and wont take wide tires so I'm running 700x25's tubed at 90-100. A fair compromise but not nearly as nice as the 700 x 32's.
03-15-22, 04:07 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 700
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
In some ways it can. I would never have gotten away with running 80 PSI in my tubed tires without getting a flat. With the tubeless set up, I can.
Likes For vespasianus:
03-15-22, 04:29 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
It gives you a little buffer from pinch flats but the psi difference is not that much. Especially if you are running latex tubes which already are more pinch flat resistant
03-15-22, 10:13 PM
#20
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,184
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2566 Post(s)
Liked 5,599 Times
in
2,906 Posts
These two sites are very helpful when figuring out which tires to buy for low rolling resistance https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com
And the optimal pressure to run your tires at: https://silca.cc/pages/sppc-form
And the optimal pressure to run your tires at: https://silca.cc/pages/sppc-form
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
