Tubeless tyres: why and how

What is tubeless?

In a tubeless setup there is no inner tube. The tyre seals directly against the rim, and liquid sealant inside the tyre plugs small holes as you ride. It is standard on mountain bikes and increasingly common on gravel and road bikes.

Benefits

• Lower pressures – more grip and comfort, because there is no tube to pinch between the rim and an obstacle.
• Fewer flats – the sealant plugs small holes made by thorns or glass.
• Lower rolling resistance – no friction from an inner tube.

What you need

• Tubeless-compatible rims (or tubeless rim tape to seal the rim)
• Tubeless-ready (TLR) tyres
• Tubeless valves
• Sealant
• A powerful pump or air tank to seat the tyre on the rim

Choose the rim tape width according to the rim's internal width.

Maintenance

Sealant dries out over time, so top it up or replace it regularly – a common rule of thumb is every few months, more often in warm weather. Check the valve seal at the same time. Carry a repair kit and a spare tube: if you get a large hole, you fit the tube just as you normally would.

Let our workshop do it

Our workshop does tubeless conversions and sealant refreshes. You will find the prices on our service page, and you can book a slot directly through service booking.