29
I use inner tubes on all my road bikes: Here's why I still haven't embraced tubeless
(www.cyclingnews.com)
this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2025
29 points (89.2% liked)
micromobility - Ebikes, scooters, longboards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility
2499 readers
25 users here now
Ebikes, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, longboards, eboards, motorcycles, skates, unicycles: Whatever floats your goat, this is all things micromobility!
"Transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, especially electric ones that may be borrowed as part of a self-service rental program in which people rent vehicles for short-term use within a town or city.
micromobility is seen as a potential solution to moving people more efficiently around cities"
Feel free to also check out
It's a little sad that we need to actually say this, but:
Don't be an asshole or you will be permanently banned.
Respectful debate is totally OK, criticizing a product is fine, but being verbally abusive will not be tolerated.
Focus on discussing the idea, not attacking the person.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I know there's an actual product category called "tubeless," but do airless tires fall into this category? Because after a run of bad luck where I was getting flats nearly every other time I rode, I put a set of Tannus on my bike and it was the best bike-related thing I think I've ever done.
I run TA inserts on my electric fatbike: Slows things down a decent amount, but I have not gotten any sort of flat since installing them.
Not sure that would really be classified as "tubeless" though they technically are without tubes, those are usually classified s solid tires if you're talking about the actual tires they make and not the inserts (though the inserts do give me run-flat, which isn't too terrible).
Right; this was my question. Technically, they are tubeless - just not in the original and traditional way the term was coined. I'm not using inserts, BTW - I went the whole-tire route, and - yeah - they're solid.
I can't really tell the difference, but I'm a casual rider. The benefit to me is that they've improved my riding experience immeasurably, as I no longer have anxiety about getting a flat on long rides. I hate changing tires in the middle of a ride; it's dirty, and never easy, and takes time I'd rather be riding. So any extra firmness or weight which - again, I really can't detect - is well worth being able to enjoy the ride without worry.
My wife, who still has tubes, says she can feel that they're more firm, but not substantially. Mine are three years old now, and I think it'll be interesting to see what improvements will be available by the time I ride the rubber off and need to change them. I'm really excited to see reviews about METL tires - also airless and tubeless, but not solid like Tannus.
In any case, I was mostly curious about the taxonomy. Airless, then, are not considered tubeless even though they don't have tubes, merely because of how tire technology has evolved - right?
If you were going to categorize them, they'd fall under the distinct category of solid tires IMO