The only thing going against a road tubeless setup is this: If it's a tubeless-ready tyre and rim combo, it'll be a very tight fit (I know I won't be able to change it easily in a race, and it'll take one hell of an effort). If it's a converted setup, it'll be hard to get the rim to seal in the first place.
Originally Posted by
Dannihilator
The negatives:
One puncture and you are done unless you have sealant in the tires.
A tubeless system is heavier than a clincher/tubular setup.
Wait, what?
My road bike has a Shimano WH6700 Ultegra wheelset - tubeless-ready out the box.
A) The valve weighs about the same as a regular tube's valve, while the sealant, which isn't strictly necessary, weighs less than the tube, and
B) If you flat, you just remove the special valve, and install a regular tube just like you would with any other wheelset.
In short - it weighs slightly less than a regular clincher, and once you flat, it's a regular clincher! A tubular is lighter, though.
I'm not running mine tubeless -
yet: My current (older than the wheelset) tyres still have plenty of thread on them.