Why Run Tubeless Part 3

Why Run Tubeless? Part 3

With all the hype and benefits of running tubeless are you going to convert your setup?  If money is no object I would say go for it.  A nice set up would be Mavic’s Crossmax SLR Wheelset, (1,440 claimed grams), Schwalbe’s UST Fat Albert 2.4 front (995g) and 2.25 rear (890g). A 3,325 gram wheelset? No more flats? Better performance? I say yes please. I'm sure there are many UST wheel setups that are lighter or heavier but is it worth that price tag is the question. For around $1,400 after some discount shopping, valve cores and some sealant, the price can get higher and higher but the benefits out on the trail are priceless. That is where the debate begins.

   

For all the down hill riders, have you seen the Deemax Ultimate? If I don’t end up getting the new Easton Havoc’s UST wheelset, hello Deemax Ultimate, 1,965 bombproof grams and UST. 

Where the majority of mountain bikers are leaning towards are your standard (non-UST) rims being converted with a conversion kit, Stan’s conversions or Caffelatex conversions, and a tubeless ready tire. Not all wheelsets will convert easily or even at all. I have read the pre 2012 Easton Havocs have a tall side wall and makes it hard to convert to tubeless with a conversion kit if even at all. Even on converted rims, regular folding tires are used in some cases rather than a tubeless ready or a full UST tire. Although not all converted wheel setups will work as in any case but converting your rims with a conversion kit is definitely a popular method of converting to tubeless these days. With a broad mix of tire types you can use (regular tubed, tubeless ready, and UST tires), this is a very forgiving tubeless set up.

Last but not least and definitely not recommended is the ghetto tubeless set up. Where the UST and tubeless tires fail with the UST rims and converted wheelsets, comes into play the ghetto tubeless setup. With a huge warning when attempting this setup, it is very clever, cheap, and easy. With it all being home made and with no standards, there is no compatibility guarantee, as this is all trial and error converting. With that being said saving a couple bucks on a tubeless set up is not worth you're tire exploding as your landing sideways into that huge berm next to a cliff!
Now with the warnings out of the way and fear struck in you to not try it, there are some awesome set ups out there I have seen that blow away a UST tire and UST rim set up on weight and price, not saying it is safer though. I have a pair of 2010 Easton Havoc AM’s I am going to try ghetto converting. I have heard some good results converting these rims ghetto tubeless because of the high sidewalls. I will pick up some 20” tubes and get to work.

Check back for some ghetto tubeless details and installation pics.