Tubeless Tyres: Worth the Hassle?

Tubeless tyres do away with the inner tube, sealing the tyre directly to the rim with an airtight tape and a splash of liquid sealant inside. Small punctures, from thorns or flint, often seal themselves before you even notice — you keep riding, and the hole plugs itself.

The setup process puts some people off. It usually needs a compatible tubeless-ready rim and tyre, tubeless valves, sealant, and often a track pump or compressor with enough force to 'pop' the tyre bead onto the rim initially. It's a fiddlier first job than fitting a standard inner tube.

Once set up, the ongoing maintenance is fairly light — sealant dries out and needs topping up every few months, and larger punctures still need a plug or, occasionally, an emergency inner tube as backup. Most tubeless riders carry a small tubeless repair kit and a spare tube just in case.

For anyone riding regularly off-road, or commuting through debris-strewn city streets, the reduction in roadside puncture stops is usually worth the initial setup faff. For occasional, careful road riding on cleaner tarmac, a good quality tube and tyre combination remains a perfectly sensible, simpler choice.