reading over the internet people are using tubeless not only for protection, but to run lower pressure for gravel. I get it. I tried to install tubeless tires and failed need to retape it. I putted tubes again. I use Vitoria pressure calculator and the difference between tubes and tubeless is really marginal, within the measurement mistake of my compressor. I was wondering does it really feel much smoother if you run tubeless with 2.2 front and 2.3 rear and tubed tires with 2.3 and 2.4 respectively? Tubeless is a bit hassle for me. I know the pros and cons. All I want is to avoid pinch flats with tubeless. That is pressure related flat. I will try 2.5 bars on tubed to avoid that. I run 40mm tires, maybe smoothness comes from larger tires?
There is no scenario ever that I would willingly run tubed tires over tubeless for Gravel or MTB. The hassle is way, way worse the first time you puncture a tube that you would never even have noticed tubeless. It’s not just impact strikes and pinch flats - a tiny thorn that punctures the casing ruins your tube, you never even notice it with tubeless. Granted you need to have the tape and sealant on hand, but I can pull a tire, remove the tape, clean the rim, re-tape, reinstall the tire with new sealant in let’s call it 30 minutes, and re-taping is a very infrequent occurrence.
The lower pressures you can run with Tubeless also translate to lower rolling resistance, and faster with more traction and control off road.
My opinion - Tubes are for emergencies. Get on with it, re-tape the rim, and set it up tubeless. Road for me is a different story and I still will run tubes on my road bike, but I’m even looking at switching there too.
I think the pressure calculators are often too high for tubeless. For example, I run 45mm tyres on my gravelbike at about 20psi/1.4 bar, nowhere near the 2.3 you’re being recommended.
On the road, I run 60psi/4.1bar vs I think 80/5.4bar before tubeless (30mm tyres). I’d probably run bit more pressure for a TT or a race on nice surfaces, but there’s definitively a difference you can feel.
For road use, I think tubes might still be ok, especially if you have narrow tyres and good roads. Offroad, tubeless is just less hassle, more grip, smoother rides.
FWIW: I haven’t come across a pressure calculator that isn’t higher than what I wind up running. I’ll start with a pressure calculator’s recommendation, then lower the pressure until I get tire squirm or feel rim strikes, then increase it a few PSI. I rarely ride the road bike anymore and use tubes in that. Gravel and mtb are tubeless.
For sure i will try tubeless again,those gravel kings are really hard to seat the bead. Tried everything from the internet. It should not be that hard. Even used ratchet strap. I was in hurry, because i wanted to train / time and availability is limited with toddler/. I am all in for tubeless, will give it a try once i have more time.
That is interesting… my bike+weight is 90kg. few calculators set my pressure 2.1-2.3 bars with tubeless. One way or another i will get tubeless and will try with even lower pressure. Just wanted to know what is the noise around “super low pressure” that i don’t get with calculators.
It’s also to do with the surface and the conditions. If it’s wet and muddy, I’ll run lower pressures. Hard, dry, tarmac - higher pressures. I think tubeless gives you a much wider range, with the option to go really low, if the conditions allow.