If you are riding a bike with tubeless tires, you may have been advised to use a tube as an emergency measure in case of a flat tire.
When I first heard the same, I was wondering if it’s possible to use a tube with tubeless tires? So I did some research and have summarized my findings in this article.
A tube can be fitted to a tubeless tire on your bike. A tubeless tire and wheel rim are constructed in a similar way to that of a tire with a tube, and thus a tubeless tire can easily accommodate a tube. However, this setup should only be used as an emergency measure and not as a long-term solution.
Let’s investigate what problems could potentially be expected with using a tube in a tubeless tire, which situations warrant the use of a tube, and what you can expect once you have this set up on your bike, even if it is only for an emergency situation.
Is it Possible To Put A Tube in A Tubeless Tire?
It is most certainly possible to fit a tube to a tubeless tire, in fact in many circumstances, it is a recommended method to repair a flat on a tubeless tire.
The way a tubeless tire
and wheel rim are constructed is very similar to that of a tire and wheel rim designed to take a tube.
The main difference between a tubeless tire and rim and the older tubed technology is that the seal between the tire and rim must be airtight, as well as the location where the spokes of the wheel are joined to the rim.
The standalone valve stem also needs to have an airtight seal around the hole in the rim that houses the valve.
The tubeless tire and tubeless rim have specially designed interfacing edges that mate perfectly and seal when the air pressure in the tire is raised.
This leaves a cavity in the tubeless tire that is filled with air, and this cavity can just as easily house a tube should the situation call for it.
The valve on a tubeless rim is a standalone unit that is designed to fit into the valve hole on the wheel rim and form an airtight seal.
This valve is removable for the purpose of a replacement should it go faulty, but this feature is also what makes it possible to fit a tube to the tubeless rim.
Fortunately, once the tubeless valve stem is removed, the hole in the rim is large enough to accommodate the valve assembly on a tube. The valve on the tube is simply passed through the hole in the rim and does not need to be secured in place with seals.
When the tube is inserted into the tire, it simply fills the cavity in the tire that otherwise was filled with air in the tubeless setup.
Why Would You Put A Tube In A Tubeless Tire?
Many riders who prefer tubeless tires for their bike setup will still carry tubes with them as an emergency roadside repair measure for their bikes.
Tubeless tires are often chosen above tubed versions because this technology is more resistant to flats. They can be run at lower psi pressures which offer a better grip on the riding surface as well as a more comfortable ride.
The lack of a tube means that there is no risk of a pinch flat where the tube is pinched between the rim and an obstacle, and the tube becomes compromised and leaks air.
However, flats on tubeless tires do occur, and they can be a bit more complex to address than a flat on a tubed tire. For a flat on a tubeless tire, there are sealants that can be injected into the tire through the valve, various parches that can be applied, and puncture repair kits that can plug holes.
However, sometimes when you are out on a ride, these measures may not be sufficient to seal the tubeless tire and get you back on the bike.
This is typically the case if the damage to the tire is too large to seal with other methods, or there is damage to the rim of the wheel, which does not allow for a good seal between the rim and the tire.
For this reason, many bike riders that have tubeless tires on their bikes will carry tubes with them as an emergency measure to get them going again and allow them to finish the ride. This is a better option than having to walk and carry your bike back to your car or home.
Once the tube is fitted to the rim and tucked into the tubeless tire, it can be inflated as you would with a normal tubed tire, and the makeshift repair should at least get you to the end of the ride.
Once you get back home, it is easy to revert back to the tubeless solution. Fix the cause of the leak, or get a new tire if required, re-insert the tubeless valve pillar, add sealant to the tire and inflate as normal.
Refitting the tubeless valve pillar is easy and does not require any special tools. Just make sure that the rubber ridges are sealing properly around the valve hole in the wheel rim.
Is It Safe To Put A Tube In A Tubeless Tire?
Many road bicycles have tubes, and these road riders prefer them to have tubes. This is because they can be pumped to higher pressures, and they are less likely to encounter thorns, sharp rocks, and other obstacles that are likely to cause a problem for a tubed tire.
There are some riders who use tubeless tires on road bikes, and there is a school of thought that putting a tube in a tubeless rim and tire on a fast road bike could be dangerous.
The thinking is that the tube and tire do not stick together, and at high speed, the tube and tire could slip and result in the tire coming off the rim. Obviously, at high speed, this could be a dangerous event for the rider.
While this is an unlikely event, it is a possibility. If you are concerned about this possibility, you may choose to not use the tube repair option or use the tube only as a measure to get to the end of the ride but do it at a slower pace to avoid this potential outcome.
Riders who ride Off-road style or trail riding bikes use tubeless tires frequently, but the speeds are generally lower than those achieved by road bikes.
The width of the tires on trail bikes also accommodates a tube better than the thin tires on a road bike. This makes the tire leaving the rim at speed a less likely event.
Conclusion
A tube can most certainly be fitted to a tubeless rim and tire, and it is often used by riders as an emergency repair measure to get to the end of the ride.
Of course, if you have a tubeless rim and tubeless tires, it definitely makes sense to use this technology and run your bike tubeless.
Adding a tube should only be considered an emergency contingency plan, and you should not run it as a permanent solution.
The benefits that tubeless tires and rims offer over the tubed variety make it worth the effort to get the problem fixed and return to the tubeless arrangement.
If You are going to carry a tube with you for an emergency situation, you may want to consider carrying two; one for the front wheel and one for the back. If you are going to need it once during a ride, you will be amazed at how often you will need it twice!