Originally Posted by
reggieray
Conti gp's or michelin power comps with latex are faster than anything tubeless
Reference?
There's not exactly a huge amount of testing on the current run of top tires, but Vittoria Corsa Speed tubeless seems
extremely low-hysteresis in steel drum tests at least (i.e. bicyclerollingresistance).
Originally Posted by
masi61
I'm about to build up a road disc wheelset. I am considering trying tubeless but there is a "yuck" factor with the sealant. I worry about all the sticky build up on the inner rim that would have to somehow be removed when changing tires.
It seems that latex tubes would save some weight (over butyl) & permit slightly more supple ride (compared to butyl). They would require daily or every other day pumping. Not sure how this compares to tubeless.
What say ye?
Somewhat different benefits. If you're looking to just ride road, want something suppler than butyl, but don't want to deal with tubeless setup and sealant, then latex is a reasonable option. If you're looking for a more durable ride that can also be run at very low pressure (i.e. for gravel riding), latex tubes won't really bridge that gap.
If you go latex, the main thing is to be careful on the installation. Make sure the inside of your rim is free of abrasive stuff including bad edges on rim tape, and make extra sure to not pinch the tube between rim and tire when you inflate. Butyl nearly always "just works", whereas latex
will seek out and find any installation issues. For this reason, I'd recommend still carrying a butyl as your spare tube.