I think the whole tubeless tire craze is overhyped

I've been running clinchers with tubes for 15 years at my shop in Columbus and I still see more issues with tubeless setups than benefits. A customer came in last month with a brand new tubeless system that wouldn't hold air after 3 rides, we found 4 punctures from tiny glass shards. With a tube, that's a $6 fix in 10 minutes, but with tubeless, I had to clean the sealant mess and patch the tire from the inside. The sealant dries out after 2 months in Ohio weather, and half the riders don't check it until it's too late. Everyone says tubeless rides smoother, but I've done back to back tests on the same gravel loop and the difference is barely noticeable with good tire pressure. Has anyone else dealt with more roadside failures from tubeless than it's worth?

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abbyd364mo ago

I think the whole tubeless tire craze is overhyped" - I'd push back just a little on the punctures thing though. With tubeless, sealant is supposed to seal small cuts like glass shards on its own, not leave you with four separate holes after three rides. Something was off there, either the sealant was already dried out or the tire pressure was way too low for the road conditions they were riding.

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william8164mo ago

Man, I feel you on this. @abbyd36 makes a good point about sealant quality though, it really depends on the brand and how fresh it is.

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