Since a couple of years, tubeless tires are gaining ground in mountain biking and have become the state of the art in the competitive side of the sport. For some good reasons.
Swedisch MTB stalwart Calle Friberg
Calle Friberg is a well-known figure in professional mountain biking. He’s been at the start line of nearly every renown race one can think of, from XCO World Cups to the Cape Epic. Over the years he has gained invaluable experience. Also when it comes to product choice.
We’re proud to work with Calle. Besides putting the Scope O2D through their paces, he also provides us with valuable feedback to make our products even better. Calle rides his O2D tubeless. Of course. And together with him, we would like to give you a few tips on how you can run your tubeless wheels.
Why Tubeless
Before going into detail, let’s start with a few brief points on why you should choose to ride tubeless.
Since a couple of years, tubeless tires are gaining ground in mountain biking and have become the state of the art in the competitive side of the sport. For a good reason. If paired with a tubeless optimized wheelset, tubeless tires are a lot more puncture proof than tires with an inner tube.
Tubeless tires seal on the rim interface. The right fit easily makes the system airtight. Adding sealant helps to prevent air leakage, in case of punctures. And, for example, it eliminates the risk of pinch flats.
Adding to this, running a tubeless system will offer you more comfort and control when riding. You can run tubeless tires with much less pressure than tires that are paired with an inner tube. Tubeless tires also feature a minimized rolling resistance, meaning that you can go faster without an increased effort.
There are a lot more benefits in running a tubeless system on a mountain bike. “I wouldn’t ride with an inner tube anymore”, says Calle. “Inner tubes are just for emergency.”
Tire Choice
An important factor for a well-performing tubeless system is the choice of tires. While it is possible to run nearly any tire without an inner tube, it is recommendable to use a tubeless specific tire.
We have developed the rim interface of our O2D wheels in close collaboration with Schwalbe. The German tire manufacturer has been on the forefront of tubeless tire development and has been pushing the boundaries of this technology ever since they started to introduce their first tubeless models.
However, there are more manufacturers that offer tubeless specific tires. Being sponsored by Maxxis, Calle runs a mix of their XC specific tires, namely the Aspen and the Rekon Race, depending on the terrain and condition he’s going to ride in.
The Scope O2D rims feature an outer width of 31 millimeters and an inner width of 25 millimeters, with the wheelset weighing in at 1.380 grams. A wider rim benefits the comfort and stability of the system, while a low weight and high lateral stiffness helps the responsiveness.
“Compared to traditional rims, the O2D rims are a little bit wider. I like that, since it helps the fit of my tires and also slightly increases the volume.”
There are obvious differences regarding the discipline. “For XCO races I choose 2.25” tires with more knobs as they offer more grip. But it really depends on the weather condition and surface. For XC marathon races it can be a little different. At the recent Swiss Epic I used Recon Race 2.35″ tires to increase the comfort on the challenging course.”
Also, depending on the terrain and surface, one might select different tires; either on the front or the rear, or even on both front and rear. “I often use Aspen 2.25” at the rear and Rekon Race 2.25” at the front. In wet conditions I switch to the Rekon Race at the rear as well. If the course is fast and totally dry, then the Aspen 2.25” is my go-to-choice for both front and rear.”
Tire Pressure
It’s not always easy to choose the best suitable tire for a specific terrain and surface. There’s always a tire that one prefers and that, in combination with the optimal pressure, can do wonders when it counts.
“On XC courses I normally opt to ride a mix of Rekon Race 2.25” EXO and Aspen 2.25” EXO tires, which I pump up to around 1.3 to 1.4 bar. In wet conditions or when the course features a several root sections and rock gardens, I go down to 1.2 bar.”
That, however, is only half the story. Calle weighs 68 kilograms and as a seasoned XC marathon rider he also knows that one can ride with a higher pressure, if the course allows it.
“For a couple of super-fast XC marathon races in Norway and Sweden, which normally only feature gravel roads I pump my tires up to around 1.5 to 1.6 bars.”
Surging Up
Tire choice and pressure always depends on different aspects. Weather conditions, surface and body weight are just three of them. There is, without a doubt, no reason not to use tubeless tires when it comes to cross country mountain biking. Especially when they’re paired with a tubeless optimized rim. The pro’s just simply outweigh the con’s. While one might have some troubles to set up a tubeless system at first, one will quickly adapt to it. Once set and ready it’s time to simply enjoy a (nearly) hassle-free time on the trails. No matter how challenging they are.
Also, depending on the terrain and surface, one might select different tires; either on the front or the rear, or even on both front and rear. “I often use Aspen 2.25” at the rear and Rekon Race 2.25” at the front. In wet conditions I switch to the Rekon Race at the rear as well. If the course is fast and totally dry, then the Aspen 2.25” is my go-to-choice for both front and rear.”