Tubeless Accessories

There are a few variables which affect how long tyres last. Tyres designed for longevity should last considerably longer than thin race tyres. However, under inflation and trail debris, can all reduce the lifespan of all bike tyres. Riding mountain bike tyres on roads can also speed up the wearing process on chunky treaded tyres. Deterioration of the rubber on the tread surface, lack of grip, frequent punctures are all signs that your tyres might be getting towards the end of their life.

No. Tubeless tyres take a bit of effort for setting up, they also need regular top ups of sealant. How often and how much sealant for the top-ups depends on the tyre volume and the temperature where you live.

While they do take a bit of effort to get set up, tubeless tyres offer a few very real advantages. Firstly, the sealant can plug  punctures without you even knowing about them - there are limits though, bigger holes will need a tubeless plug. Generally, having no inner tube reduces the weight of wheels, making for a more 'sprightly' ride and improving performance. Tubeless tyres can be run at much lower pressures (if you need more grip off-road for example) without risking pinch flat punctures.

However, tubeless isn't ideal for everyone. If you just want to hop on and ride, and maybe don't have patience for the inevitable initial 'letdowns' of tubeless, it might be better to stick to tubes.

Probably yes. While some lower air capacity tubeless tyres (road tyres for example) can be set up with a regular floor pump, tyres with a bigger air capacity volume (such as gravel and MTB tyres) will usually need a bigger blast of air to properly seat the tyre onto the rim.

Yes, either use with an inner tube, or there are tubeless conversion kits available, they work better on some rims than others. The best option with tubeless tyres is to use tubeless ready rims.

Because tyres have flexible side walls, it is possible to use wider tyres on narrower rims. However using 2.8” tyres on a narrow rim, for example, would result in a lightbulb shaped tyre which would negatively affect cornering and the feel of the tyre. It is best broadly speaking, to stick to manufacturers recommended guidelines to get the best performance. If you are planning on using wider tyres, also make sure they will fit your frameset before purchasing.

Stick to recommended tyre pressures and avoid speeding up the wearing process by skidding and regularly loosing grip (although it can be fun...). Nice smooth roads tend to wear road tyres less