Rene Herse sued over tubeless tire blowoff on hookless rims
#1
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 15,881
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 121 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10284 Post(s)
Liked 6,725 Times
in
3,807 Posts
Rene Herse sued over tubeless tire blowoff on hookless rims
https://www.bicycleretailer.com/indu...9#.YlA8oMjMKUk
RH has changed their guidance at least a couple times in the last 4 years, right? At least thats how it seems.
Tubeless for road is still a mess, despite what a few on here claim. It just is. Between higher pressures, rims that are cheaper to make being pushed as better, and sizing of both rims and tires being less than ideal...it is a mess. There is simply no other honest way to assess the situation from 30,000 feet.
Maybe nothing comes of this? Or maybe more uniformed tolerances are pushed more quickly?
RH has changed their guidance at least a couple times in the last 4 years, right? At least thats how it seems.
Tubeless for road is still a mess, despite what a few on here claim. It just is. Between higher pressures, rims that are cheaper to make being pushed as better, and sizing of both rims and tires being less than ideal...it is a mess. There is simply no other honest way to assess the situation from 30,000 feet.
Maybe nothing comes of this? Or maybe more uniformed tolerances are pushed more quickly?
It says Little had researched the Compass tire model on the brand’s website and concluded it was an appropriate fit for his rims. He said nothing on the company's website or the tire’s packaging suggested the tire was inappropriate for use with hookless rims. The complaint alleges that the company was aware of other consumer complaints about the tire model blowing off hookless rims.
The suit alleges that after the crash Little sent the tire to Rene Herse for inspection and that the company later told him they had lost the damaged tire despite promises to return it.

#2
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,229
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 624 Times
in
331 Posts
As for the lawsuit, Rene Herse’s big problem is spoliation of evidence in not preserving the tire. At a minimum the plaintiff gets a jury instruction that the tire would have been helpful in proving their case.
As for tubeless road being a mess, I think you’re painting with way too broad a brush. The issue here appears to be whether this particular tire was safe to use with hookless rims.
The one incident may or may not tell you much about hookless rims with other road tires. And it tells you nothing about road tubeless on hooked rims.
As for tubeless road being a mess, I think you’re painting with way too broad a brush. The issue here appears to be whether this particular tire was safe to use with hookless rims.
The one incident may or may not tell you much about hookless rims with other road tires. And it tells you nothing about road tubeless on hooked rims.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
Likes For merlinextraligh:
#3
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,229
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 624 Times
in
331 Posts
Also, being a defense lawyer, I may not be very sympathetic to plaintiffs, but who files a law suit over what essentially appears to be some road rash?
Any tire can blow out and lead to a fall, for any number of reasons. It’s a risk inherent in cycling. When the adverse consequence is some road rash and a pulled muscle, put on some tagaderm, and suck it up.
Any tire can blow out and lead to a fall, for any number of reasons. It’s a risk inherent in cycling. When the adverse consequence is some road rash and a pulled muscle, put on some tagaderm, and suck it up.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
Likes For merlinextraligh:
#4
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 15,881
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 121 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10284 Post(s)
Liked 6,725 Times
in
3,807 Posts
Industry news op-eds write about the confusion. Industry insiders have discussed the frustration.
It sure doesnt seem like too broad a brush. Saying its a mess seems very much on point.
Likes For mstateglfr:
#5
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,424
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1919 Post(s)
Liked 2,870 Times
in
1,524 Posts
I have some Compass [sic, NOS] 38mm Barlow Pass tires on my (hooked, tubed) rims now. I think more changed than just the Rene Herse label, and that the ones that actually say "Compass" on them, even if they are NOS, aren't "tubeless ready." They don't say "don't use as tubeless," but I got the impression somewhere that I shouldn't.
#6
Fat n slow
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Saratoga, NY
Posts: 3,871
Bikes: Cervelo R3, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2902 Post(s)
Liked 1,802 Times
in
854 Posts
Am I though? You have rim/wheel brands that specify which tires they accept on their wheels. I would say that alone is clear evidence that road tubeless is a mess. Tire brands and wheel brands are both constantly checking compatibility for safety. Users at home are constantly confused as to what will or wont work and what combo of tire with their rim will actually even mount without using a mounting tool that looks like the Jaws of Life.
Industry news op-eds write about the confusion. Industry insiders have discussed the frustration.
It sure doesnt seem like too broad a brush. Saying its a mess seems very much on point.
Industry news op-eds write about the confusion. Industry insiders have discussed the frustration.
It sure doesnt seem like too broad a brush. Saying its a mess seems very much on point.
I haven’t mounted a tubeless tire with any other than my hands in over two years. Everyone paints tubeless as this horrible to maintain process where it’s really not much more effort than a tubed tire- again jmo
Likes For phrantic09:
#7
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,424
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1919 Post(s)
Liked 2,870 Times
in
1,524 Posts
The problems with "road" tubeless, specifically (which is what mstateglfr was focusing on), are the much higher pressures and typically narrower tires. The current Rene Herse (formerly Compass) recommendation is not to use tubeless for anything less than 35mm tires. The wider tires like the 38mm Barlow Pass are run at much lower than typical road pressures (eg: 40 psi vs 80+ psi).
Likes For Polaris OBark:
#8
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,229
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1398 Post(s)
Liked 624 Times
in
331 Posts
Am I though? You have rim/wheel brands that specify which tires they accept on their wheels. I would say that alone is clear evidence that road tubeless is a mess. Tire brands and wheel brands are both constantly checking compatibility for safety. Users at home are constantly confused as to what will or wont work and what combo of tire with their rim will actually even mount without using a mounting tool that looks like the Jaws of Life.
Industry news op-eds write about the confusion. Industry insiders have discussed the frustration.
It sure doesnt seem like too broad a brush. Saying its a mess seems very much on point.
Industry news op-eds write about the confusion. Industry insiders have discussed the frustration.
It sure doesnt seem like too broad a brush. Saying its a mess seems very much on point.
Admittedly, there’s some confusion to sort out, as different manufacturers take different approaches. However, like most things it will sort itself out.
And even now, many of us seem to be successfully managing putting the right tire in the right rim. It”s not rocket surgery.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#9
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 15,881
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 121 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10284 Post(s)
Liked 6,725 Times
in
3,807 Posts
^ I call that 'a mess'. It certainly isnt a harmonic and tidy process.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,193
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3434 Post(s)
Liked 6,224 Times
in
2,516 Posts
#11
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,424
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1919 Post(s)
Liked 2,870 Times
in
1,524 Posts
So you need to know that your tire is compatible with your rim, and you run appropriate tire pressure.
Admittedly, there’s some confusion to sort out, as different manufacturers take different approaches. However, like most things it will sort itself out.
And even now, many of us seem to be successfully managing putting the right tire in the right rim. It”s not rocket surgery.
Admittedly, there’s some confusion to sort out, as different manufacturers take different approaches. However, like most things it will sort itself out.
And even now, many of us seem to be successfully managing putting the right tire in the right rim. It”s not rocket surgery.
My kid is running 23 mm Vittoria tires tubeless at high pressure on Bontrager carbon rims. Supposedly this will work fine (and so far it has), but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he blows a tire off. I had a tubed 28mm Vittoria blow off a hooked rim. Shyte happens. If it happens at high speed, the results can be problematic.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20789 Post(s)
Liked 9,429 Times
in
4,662 Posts
I guess that I don't understand why people that think XYZ is a mess don't just leave well enough alone from XYZ.
I have TSS wheels (Zipp 303S) and I know to pair them with tires that the manufacturer has stated are compliant with ETRTO TSS standards - simple enough. If one wishes to avoid that kind of "mess," fine, but it's dreadfully tedious to defend the hyperbolic admonitions being hurled from people on the sidelines.
I have TSS wheels (Zipp 303S) and I know to pair them with tires that the manufacturer has stated are compliant with ETRTO TSS standards - simple enough. If one wishes to avoid that kind of "mess," fine, but it's dreadfully tedious to defend the hyperbolic admonitions being hurled from people on the sidelines.
Likes For WhyFi:
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,193
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3434 Post(s)
Liked 6,224 Times
in
2,516 Posts
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,193
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3434 Post(s)
Liked 6,224 Times
in
2,516 Posts
I guess that I don't understand why people that think XYZ is a mess don't just leave well enough alone from XYZ.
I have TSS wheels (Zipp 303S) and I know to pair them with tires that the manufacturer has stated are compliant with ETRTO TSS standards - simple enough. If one wishes to avoid that kind of "mess," fine, but it's dreadfully tedious to defend the hyperbolic admonitions being hurled from people on the sidelines.
I have TSS wheels (Zipp 303S) and I know to pair them with tires that the manufacturer has stated are compliant with ETRTO TSS standards - simple enough. If one wishes to avoid that kind of "mess," fine, but it's dreadfully tedious to defend the hyperbolic admonitions being hurled from people on the sidelines.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20789 Post(s)
Liked 9,429 Times
in
4,662 Posts
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,193
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3434 Post(s)
Liked 6,224 Times
in
2,516 Posts
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20789 Post(s)
Liked 9,429 Times
in
4,662 Posts
Okay, sure. So why not just wash your hands of it and be done with it? Those that are comfortably navigating the waters don't need to constantly be told about how treacherous it is from those on shore.
Likes For WhyFi:
#18
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,424
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1919 Post(s)
Liked 2,870 Times
in
1,524 Posts
My main point is the 38mm Barlow Pass tires may have changed as well since 2019. About six months ago I purchased some "Compass" 38mm Barlow Pass tires from a LBS, which presumably are NOS dating to 2019 or before (when the name and label changed to "Rene Herse"). The packaging did not explicitly say that they were tubeless-compatible, and I do know that the treading was slightly thicker that what is on the current Barlow Pass tires labeled "Rene Herse," so some things have actually changed with these tires as well, not just the website description. Whether that change is limited only to the label and the tread thickness and tire mass, I do not know.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,193
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3434 Post(s)
Liked 6,224 Times
in
2,516 Posts
What's your problem? This thread is about a lawsuit involving tubeless tires, and the primary issue in the lawsuit will be compatibility of the defendant's tires when used on the plaintiff's wheels. Comments about present compatibility issues are spot on topic.
#21
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 41,652
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 556 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21177 Post(s)
Liked 7,681 Times
in
3,612 Posts
Likes For datlas:
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,505
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 353 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20789 Post(s)
Liked 9,429 Times
in
4,662 Posts
I'm commenting on the practice that's rampant on BF, in general. Lots of comments, like the OP, exist solely provide unsolicited *****ing, moaning, and complaining while warning off others from something that they seemingly have little interest or experience with. Why dedicate time and energy to something like that? It's like hate-watching a show just so you can enumerate its flaws to fans of the show. It's weird.
Likes For WhyFi:
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,193
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3434 Post(s)
Liked 6,224 Times
in
2,516 Posts
I'm commenting on the practice that's rampant on BF, in general. Lots of comments, like the OP, exist solely provide unsolicited *****ing, moaning, and complaining while warning off others from something that they seemingly have little interest or experience with. Why dedicate time and energy to something like that? It's like hate-watching a show just so you can enumerate its flaws to fans of the show. It's weird.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 896
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 307 Post(s)
Liked 243 Times
in
198 Posts
In fact over the years they've been able to make much finer extrusions anyway.
#25
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,424
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1919 Post(s)
Liked 2,870 Times
in
1,524 Posts
You call attention to it by going to the hospital and wracking up charges. The attention of your insurance company, specifically. THEY go after whomever they believe they can recover costs from. They even have a BS term for the procedure: subrogation.