jonathanf2

I'm planning to setup a 2nd wheelset with deep dish wheels. I'll use this wheelset for fast group rides on city streets. I can't decide if I want to go with lightweight 25c tires with TPU tubes focusing on speed or 28c tubeless tires for the slightly better comfort and puncture resistance? I like the idea of lighter weight and speed with the 25c tires, but knowing how bad the roads are in my area, going tubeless with bigger tires might be better especially with the endless road cracks and potholes. My only issue with the tubeless 28c tires is the increase in weight.

Given the choice between the two, which would you choose? Thanks for any responses!

t2p

28mm tires and TPU tubes an option ?

weight increase might be small ?

example: +15g per tire GP5000 when moving from 25mm to 28mm (?) - and can use same size tube

HTupolev

If you're expecting the narrow option to preclude comfortable pressure choice on the roads you'll be riding, the wider choice may well be faster.

DaveSSS 

No brainer. Wider tubeless. My new Zipp 303s homeless wheels are working great. I'm using Pirelli p zero 30mm that measure 31.5mm on 23mm internal width rims. For my weight 54/57 psi. Great for chip sealed roads.

Koyote

Tubeless.

WhyFi

I'm not a fan of tubeless for secondary wheelsets that are used sporadically and may go unused for long periods of time - I think that the maintenance starts to outweigh the potential benefit.

That said, if these are going to see regular use, then I'd absolutely go tubeless optimized for modern 28mm tires. Like DaveSSS, I have Zipp 303S and find them to be fast, comfy, and light... which then raises the question: why wouldn't something like that be your everyday wheelset?

jonathanf2

I'm already running tubeless on my gravel bike and love them. I was planning to run tubeless on the road bike, but I'm currently running lightweight TPU tubes with 30c clinchers. I actually have no issues with this setup either since they're quite lightweight. Though in the long run, I do see myself migrating fully tubeless, but clinchers with TPU tubes do tend to save quite a bit of weight by almost 100g.

terrymorse 

I'm tempted to try TPU tubes, but currently I'm staying with Vittoria latex. The Vittorias, at 80 gm, are heavier than TPU, but they tested better than any other tube for rolling resistance.



Source: bicyclerollingresistance.com

Racing Dan

Sure, even compared to light butyl tubes, the lightest TPU tubes are only marginally (<1W) faster and the standard Tubolito is in fact slightly slower. I've used light butyl for next to two years by now. No issues at all. light, low packed volume, holds air fine, normal patch routine and waaay cheaper than TPU.

Sy Reene

Thought about which tire width would be more aero with whatever rim width your deep wheels have?

WhyFi

So, what's the secondary set of wheels going to get you that your current, primary set doesn't provide, then? Are the new wheels going to be deeper? Unless you're running super delicate tires for special events - like very supple TT/race tires with little protection - secondary wheelsets for a dedicated road bike just don't make a whole lot of sense to me, anymore. With modern wheels, tires, you can kinda have your cake and eat it, too.

jonathanf2

So I picked up the tubeless 28c tires. I'm having a hard to beading the tire. With my Gravelkings, I can just bead most of the tire by hand and then use the air compressor to finish the rest. With the smaller 28c tires, it's much more difficult to bead. Would using the inner tube method work by beading one side and then pouring sealant on the non-beaded side work to get a proper seal?

vtje

Did you try to apply some soap water? Do you have access to a compressor? I second WhyFi here - tubeless are more hassle then they are worth if you don't ride them regularly.

jonathanf2

I have no problem beading my gravel tires, but this the first time I've tried beading 28c road slicks. Maybe this is why Panaracer only does tubeless up to 32c with the GKs? I'll try a couple tricks today and the soapy water to see if it'll help. If not, I'll head over to my LBS. Thanks!

tankist

For me Kool-Stop Tire Bead Jack is a life-saver when dealing with tight tires.

Koyote

Are you using an air compressor or booster pump?

jonathanf2

I was able to get the tires beaded by removing the valve core + using the inner tube method (beading one side) + wrapping the tire with rim tape to keep air in the tire while using a gas station air compressor. This method was a bit tedious, but it worked perfectly and I think I can easily repeat the results later on to make the process simple and painless specifically for road tubeless tires. I didn't even bother with soapy water. Anyways, I plan on doing a fast group ride tomorrow, so I'll see how this setup works. Thanks everyone for the advice!

WhyFi

What wheels and tires are you using?

There's always a bit of a tubeless learning curve and it sounds like you're doing more/making it harder than it needs to be. The soapy water works well and is quick - you just need a $2 spray bottle with water and a few drops of soap. I just give each wheel a few sprays to make sure the rim tape is slippery (pinch and wiggle the tire all the way around the wheel to confirm). With a halfway decent compressor (or just a floor pump, in many cases), most modern wheel/tire combinations should pop on without much fuss - no need to use a tube, seat one side, yadda, yadda.