alij2018

Hi,

My actual tires are worn and I am changing. I use tubes and my rims are not tubeless. I have a hardtail and the reason I am staying with tubes is because I rarely and rarely get a flat, so pointless for me to invest on tubeless.

However, most bike shops in my town do not have non-tubeless tires in the stock right now. They only have tubeless.

My question is, can I run tubes in tubeless tires?

Thanks

PeteHski

Most of them you can yes. Post again with a specific tyre(tire) for confirmation.

Chuck M 

Not meaning to thread-jack, but I've not considered this. What criteria is there to determine what tubeless tires would not be suitable with a tube? I remember as a kid and tubeless car tires were becoming the norm that it was advised to not run tubes in them for some reason. What would the reasons be for bike tires as long as the tube doesn't create bead seating issues?

chaadster

There are tubeless tires you cannot run tubes in? I didn’t think there were, but maybe I’m not up on the current state of affairs.

Or are we talking about problems using hookless tubeless tires in hooked rims with tubes? And is that a problem?

msu2001la

I'm pretty sure you can run a tube inside any tubeless tire. This is not an optimal setup, as tubeless tires are heavier, more difficult to mount and often more expensive, but it'll work in a pinch.

I have no idea where the OP is or what kind of tire is being sought here, but scanning online stores shows lots of availability for popular road tires. If you can find them on Amazon with overnight shipping, your LBS can likely get them within a day or two.

msu2001la

If you have hookless rims, you can only use tubeless tires, but you can still run an inner tube in them if you want. It just doesn't make sense to do so, as it adds weight, rolling resistance and nerfs any benefits of tubeless.

I'm not aware of any tubeless tires that don't work with hooked rims.

Sy Reene

but not necessarily any TL tire. Eg. scroll down in this to near the bottom https://www.cadex-cycling.com/global...rim-technology
or this as another example: https://www.enve.com/learn/tire-comp...caAj96EALw_wcB

msu2001la

The OP says their rims are not tubeless, so they are not hookless. I'm pretty sure the OP can run any tubeless tire they want (with an inner tube) on their standard hooked rims.

A better/cheaper solution would be to ask an LBS to order them a set of regular tires, or buy a set online if the LBS can't do that for some reason.

chaadster

That’s what I think, too…on both counts.

prj71

This is true.

This is not true.

There is more to tubeless than whether or not you get a flat. Tubeless is better ride quality, no pinch flats, and if you happen to get a puncture...sealant seals the hole so you can keep on riding or at minimum add a little air, instead of having to stop and change or patch the tube etc.

msu2001la

Just to be clear... I'm talking about running an inner-tube inside a tubeless ready tire, on non-tubeless rims.

There are no benefits to this setup vs. using a standard non-tubeless clincher.

prj71

You said "tubeless tires are heavier" which is simply not a true statement. And they are not more difficult to mount than a tubed tire.

Sy Reene

They are typically heavier. Compare a Conti GP5K tubed vs TL, which is what most folks always refer to. I think the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR vs the NonTL weighs about 50-60g more. In turn, the beefier bead/sidewall area, where the extra weight is evidently residing, makes for a less compliant mounting experience.

alcjphil

Any tubeless tire is heavier than a tubed version of the same tire. However, once you count in the weight of the tube, the tubed version plus tube can easily be heavier than the tubeless version without the tube. If you install an inner tube in a tubeless tire, it will be heavier than the same tire in a tubed version using an inner tube

msu2001la

It's 100% true.

25mm Continental GP5000 = 215g
25mm Continental GP5000 tubeless = 300g

If you have examples of tubeless tires that are lighter than a non-tubeless version, please post them.

msu2001la

28mm P Zero Race = 225g
28mm P Zero Race TLR (tubeless ready) = 295g

alij2018

Well good debate going on. I guess, I will stay with tubular tire. The CST Camper maybe. I see the Maxxis Ikon is rare on the market. I'm not from US. I use tire liner to protect from flats. Since 2018 I am using Mr Tuffy. Rode on thorns, broken glasses etc and got only 1 flat since. So, pointless to switch to tubeless. Not a necessity for me.

PeteHski

I would agree in general, but Pirelli P Zero Race TLRs are about the easiest tyres I've ever mounted (of any type). However, I've heard GP5Ks are a ***** to mount, but haven't tried them personally. Obviously it depends on rims a lot too.

mstateglfr 

Eric F 

A "tubular" tire is something different than what you're talking about. It is not the same as a clincher tire with a tube.

alij2018

So I haVe the WTB Ranger with inner tube, it's not a tubular tire?

Eric F 

I mounted a pair of Pirelli P-Zero Race TLRs on Enve 3.4 wheels this week. One was moderately easy. The other was a beast. This was very similar to my experience mounting Conti GP5kTLs.

I remember mounting tubed clinchers without needing a tire lever. I have not experienced that with any TL tire, so far.

Eric F 

No. You have a clincher tire.

Tubular tires - also known as "sew-ups - have the tube built into the casing of the tire, and the casing is literally sewn around the tube. Tubular tires are glued onto the rim, and require rims specifically built for tubular tires. This is the type of tire most commonly used at the top levels of road racing (although that is starting to change).

Clincher tires come in 2 types - tubeless and non-tubeless. As has been said before in this thread, you can use a tube in a tubeless tire.

alij2018

Oh. Holy s....I always thought it's called tubular lol. So, if i run tubeless tires on my rims which are not tubeless, can i stikl use inner tubes in these tubeless tires?

Eric F 

Yes. No problem at all.