Tubeless Tyres 101: Pros, Cons & What Works
Let’s talk tubeless. Not the tech specs, not the hype, just why we ride it (or stubbornly refuse to), and why it makes a massive difference on the trails around Queenstown. From Skyline to Seven Mile, Fernhill to Coronet, tubeless keeps you riding smoother, faster, and spending far less time standing on the side of the trail pretending you’re definitely enjoying yourself.
Why tubeless?
Short answer: it just works.
Long answer: yeah alright, pull up a chair.
The pros
Lighter & less rotating mass
No tube equals less weight spinning around. Your wheels feel snappier, accelerate quicker, and pop more easily over bumps. Basically, your bike feels less like it’s dragging a sack of potatoes uphill.
More grip & lower pressures
Tubeless lets you run lower pressures safely, which means a bigger contact patch, more traction, and way more confidence in corners and loose trails.
Sacha sums it up with his trademark depth, straight from the home of philosophy and fine wine:
“Tubeless. Because it’s better. That’s it.”
Seals punctures while you ride
Hit a thorn? Sealant plugs it on the fly so you can keep rolling.
Mat delivers his reasoning with traditional Scottish restraint:
“Tubeless. I feel naked if I’m not riding tubeless.”
Anyone else get an unwarranted mental image?
Less unsprung weight
With no tube slowing things down, your suspension works better and tracks bumps more smoothly, especially handy on rough Queenstown trails that are actively trying to rattle your fillings out.
Leaks over time
Sealant dries and pressure drops, so checking your tyres every ride isn’t optional. If that surprises you, we need to chat. Honestly, this is a pro: it’s the perfect motivator to actually check your tyres before they betray you mid ride.
You can run inserts
Tubeless lets you run inserts, because sometimes your tyres need a little backup.
The cons
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A smidge more expensive: valves, sealant, tape it adds up.
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Sealant dries out overtime.
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Doesn’t seal HUGEE holes. If you turn your tyre into modern art, sealant taps out and you’re reaching for a tube.
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Sealant does its job so well it occasionally decides your valve doesn’t need to open ever again.
- Rim condition matters - dents or old tape can stop a seal, because tubeless still has standards about its living conditions.
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If you ride hard enough, and we’re talking really, really hard, like Nathan Rennie in a proper huff - you might just fling your tyre off the rim.
(See: Mat. Happened. He’s still bragging about it.)
A brief Tristan moment
Flip the script: Tristan gives a very strong take on tubes:
“Tubes. Go full Iron Horse, 2006 Sam Hill World Cup Edition. Full box, open bath fork, and tubes. And then your OG, and probably Sam Hill would still be faster on the Iron Horse than you on a V10, the new one. So yeah, it's not about the components, it's about the rider, bro.”
Naturally, we then asked what he’s actually riding.
“Tubeless in front and tube in the back.”
German efficiency: talk tubes. Ride tubeless.
So… should you go tubeless?
If you ride mountain bikes in Queenstown - probably yes. Fewer trail side fixes, more grip, better suspension feel, and confidence pushing into the good stuff.
It’s not perfect. It’s a bit messy. But the payoff? Massive.
And if you’re unsure, come chat to us. We’ll help with pressures, tape, sealant, and plugs so you’re covered when things go sideways.
Because at the end of the day, it’s about riding more, fixing less, and having a bloody good time doing it.