Going to re-up this thread from 2021. It’s now 2024 and I am again considering going with a tubeless setup for new road bike. The difference for me now is that I’ve been running my 'cross bikes tubeless for two seasons now with great success.
Still not sold on the road though. Especially since I’m running 700x25’s on the road bike right now - would like to move to 28’s, but concerns remain. Still way faster with a tube and pump setup.
For me the appeal is self-sealing punctures. On Chicago roads, there’s lots of glass and potholes, so it’s worth it.
When the tires start leaking at rest, I take the bike to my LBS and have them freshen the sealant for about $20.
I’ve had a number of punctures, especially when the roads are wet. Only one has not sealed in the three years since going tubeless. That was fixed with a dart plug.
@CPT_A In my experience road doesn’t have as much need for lower pressure that MTB, gravel and even cross may need. I ran tubes on the road all summer because as you note it is easier. But there is the option of doing both - some tubes have removable valve stems that allow the addition of sealant.
I second what Sir Brian @Sir_Brian_M says. Puncture protection is the main reason for me. I ride in the outskirts of London and Kent countryside. The roads are in terrible condition and there is a large amount of glass and other debris on the roads.
I top the sealant up myself and bought an Airshot to seat any tyre (road/gravel) in a few seconds.
Yes it is more faff to get it set up compared to tube&tyre, but it’s worth it for me.
I (at 77kg) ride 28mm at 4.5 (rear) and 4.2 (front) pressure. (in Bar, I have no idea what that is in old money, let me check… 65psi rear, 61psi front - there you go)
I also still carry a spare tube that I’ve used twice:
Once when a piece of flint slit through my gravel bike tyre - must say the spare tube was useless too and I called for a ride shortly after;
and once when the sealant in my road tyres had apparently dried up and a piece of glass caused a puncture. Tube got me home this time.
I’ve dabbled in thinking about moving to tubeless - generally when I buy a new wheelset, and the manufacturer offers to set up the tubeless for me. But I’ve never taken the plunge.
I typically get 2-3 punctures a year over 5,000 miles or so. I use 32mm tyres at around 4 bar (55-60psi). If I was getting loads of punctures, I’d probably think more deeply about it, but it’s really not an issue for me. I live on the edge of a city, and seldom encounter glass. Conti Gatorskins (or Schwalbe marathons on my winter commute) do the job just fine.
Leave it to Cap’n Sir Ian to come from the past.
Just do it.
Fwiw, I’m running 35mm Panaracer Slicks on my road wheels. The inner rim on those are 21mm so my tires measure at almost 37.5 mm. Pressure is usually 46-47 in the rear and 45-46 in front. Makes for a VERY comfortable ride. Comparatively, my gravel wheels are 25mm inner rim and my 40mm Conti Terra speeds measure 40mm.
Haven’t had to use a tube in several years and had only 1 unsealable pinch flat on my road set up due to a failed bunny-hop over a gap in the road where the rear wheel came down VERY hard on the edge of the sharp concrete gap.
Sealant…in the tube…
Never occurred to me.
And what’s 77kg in American?
35mm?!? JEEBUS Sir @Glen.Coutts. Not even sure you’re in the “road bike” discussion!
My god, Sir. My CX tires are UCI-legal 31mm. OF COURSE those run fine with a tubeless setup.
(actual picture of Sir Glen’s road bike)
Checks out.
169.8 pounds
WOW. Are motorcycle tires more expensive?
I think my SuperSix can only clear around 34mm.
Thanks Sir Brian! (was a little joke)
Yep, figured as much. But I had to find out. Five pounds less than me.
The Black Knight is the One True Bike. Stock wheels with the Conti gravel tires and Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37s with the slicks. All tubeless all the time.
Oh, and I just started waxing 
(in case you want to dredge up another old thread from the lower dungeons somewhere )
5 pounds?!?!
22.2 Americans less than me. Almost exactly 10 kg 
Have I mentioned that I love climbing? Nothing must dull the suffering.
A Domane? Pics or it ain’t real.
well, there were pics above of the clearance but…if you insist…
Here is a pic of The Black Knight on his first Xmas with us Dec '23. Those tires were the ones I blew out during my failed bunny hop 
See, this is my beef with “imperial” measurements (I’m from the UK but have grown up in the far more sensible metric era). Does “169.8lbs” mean “169lbs 8oz” (thereby misusing the decimal system) or “169lbs 12.8oz” (thereby decimalising something that isn’t a decimal)?
Also, there’s 16oz in a pound so there must be 16lbs in a stone, right? RIGHT?!
I’ll also add that I am a mathematician, so misuse of numbers/notation and systems that don’t follow regular patterns generally annoy me.
