Rec and Sports

Mountain Bike Tyres – Inner Tubes or Tubeless?

The sort of tyres you choose for your bike depends on what you use it for. Mountain bikes are used for many different things over different ground, and each discipline requires different tyres. If you have the right tyres for the job they will make it safer and improve your riding as well.

Tyres either have an inner tube that keeps them inflated or they are tubeless, but which one sort should you choose?

Most tubeless tyres have a tough sidewall that locks into a sealed-bed rim. This kind of tyres are hardy enough for rough terrain so they are good for downhill riding but they are expensive.

The advantages of an airtight seal and a stable, puncture-resistant, low-pressure performance are balanced out by the high price. You also need a clean rim and tyre to fit them, along with a big pump to inflate them.

Clean conditions are usually unavailable if the tyre has to be replaced on the trail. And even with a C02 cartridge pump you’ll usually have to use an inner tube to get you home and then repair the tyre later. Also while small holes might be repairable, a big hole can mean the tyre is completely written off as well.

Tubeless tyres are heavier than tyres with inner tubes so if you are looking for fast start times and riding speeds choose a lighter tyre. Inner tube tyres also offer greater flexibility as you can get them in a wider range of design and tread styles.

You can now get kits to convert a conventional tyre with an inner tube to a tubeless tyre. These combine a latex-based filling liquid and a rubber rim strip to seal the inside of the tyre and rim. You will probably have to top off the filler now and then, but the cost is still much less than a standard thick wall tubeless tyre.

You will still get most of the benefits of a tubeless tyre but with a much wider choice of treads and rims, and with only the cost of the kit and latex-based filler to pay for. They are lighter as well, but you might still get the same repair issues while on a trail.

Whatever tyre you go for it is vital to replace them regularly. A blow out can cause injury and cost competitions. With the right selection and maintenance your tyres will make a huge difference to your riding.