Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Hi guys/gals,

Can anyone tell me if I purchased those wheelset, then I won't need sealant because Fulcrum claim that it doesn't need them. I'm planning the switch to tubeless.

Thanks,

Dan

You don't need sealant with any tubeless tyre usually... but it is needed if you get a puncture to seal up the hole.
So it is up to you if you put sealant in or not... but for the extra weight of 30mls of sealant it is probably worth it if you are going to run tubeless.

danny.nguyen wrote:Hi guys/gals,

Can anyone tell me if I purchased those wheelset, then I won't need sealant because Fulcrum claim that it doesn't need them. I'm planning the switch to tubeless.

Thanks,

Dan

Tubeless is pretty pointless if you don't run some sealant in there.

Then I'm confused by Fulcrum's claim from their website saying that the tubeless wheels are sealed?

danny.nguyen wrote:Then I'm confused by Fulcrum's claim from their website saying that the tubeless wheels are sealed?

If you have a "tubeless compatible" wheel, you don't need the liquid sealant for the tyre to seal. However if you don't use the sealant and you get a small hole in the tyre it will go flat.

The sealant in the tyre will (hopefully) seal any small holes preventing a flat tyre. For most riders this is the reason they look to tubeless, to reduce punctures - without sealant you won't get that benefit.

For me, using better quality normal tube tyres is my preferred solution of reducing punctures rather than tubeless but you'll find pleanty of happy people from both camps.

danny.nguyen wrote:Then I'm confused by Fulcrum's claim from their website saying that the tubeless wheels are sealed?

I think when Fulcrum state their wheels are "sealed" they mean there are no spoke holes that need blocking off compared to a standard rim, hence "tubeless compatible". You don't usually need sealant to fit a tubeless tyre to any rim, but you may have to use special tape to block off the spoke holes first.

jacks1071 wrote:

danny.nguyen wrote:Then I'm confused by Fulcrum's claim from their website saying that the tubeless wheels are sealed?

If you have a "tubeless compatible" wheel, you don't need the liquid sealant for the tyre to seal. However if you don't use the sealant and you get a small hole in the tyre it will go flat.

The sealant in the tyre will (hopefully) seal any small holes preventing a flat tyre. For most riders this is the reason they look to tubeless, to reduce punctures - without sealant you won't get that benefit.

For me, using better quality normal tube tyres is my preferred solution of reducing punctures rather than tubeless but you'll find pleanty of happy people from both camps.

Can you recommend me the best quality tube? I'm so sick of getting flat in the middle of the night!!! Luckily I got a taxi so I could get home!

toolonglegs wrote:

danny.nguyen wrote:Then I'm confused by Fulcrum's claim from their website saying that the tubeless wheels are sealed?

I think when Fulcrum state their wheels are "sealed" they mean there are no spoke holes that need blocking off compared to a standard rim, hence "tubeless compatible". You don't usually need sealant to fit a tubeless tyre to any rim, but you may have to use special tape to block off the spoke holes first.

Ah I see. Thanks for explaining more clearly about it.

Can you recommend me the best quality tube? I'm so sick of getting flat in the middle of the night!!! Luckily I got a taxi so I could get home!

have you thought about carrying a spare tube?

TimW wrote:

Can you recommend me the best quality tube? I'm so sick of getting flat in the middle of the night!!! Luckily I got a taxi so I could get home!

have you thought about carrying a spare tube?

Yeah I did as always but I realised the pump with the value gone missing, hence I was struck in the middle of the night, luckily, there was a tennis centre nearby where I went to see old friends.

Use a tyre like Continental Gatorskin and any tube the bike shop recommends should solve your puncture problems. If your rim tape is old or stretched maybe consider installing fresh tape at the sametime then you can forget about it for a good while.

jacks1071 wrote:Use a tyre like Continental Gatorskin and any tube the bike shop recommends should solve your puncture problems. If your rim tape is old or stretched maybe consider installing fresh tape at the sametime then you can forget about it for a good while.

Yeah I have one called 4000GP All season tyres.

danny.nguyen wrote:Yeah I have one called 4000GP All season tyres.

Please understand that some tyres are much more puncture resistant than others.

I've not used GP4000 although I understand they are alright. A Gatorskin will be more puncture resistant.

jacks1071 wrote:

danny.nguyen wrote:Yeah I have one called 4000GP All season tyres.

Please understand that some tyres are much more puncture resistant than others.

I've not used GP4000 although I understand they are alright. A Gatorskin will be more puncture resistant.

I will have a go when mine will wear eventually.

Sorry it was actually Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Folding Road Tyres and tube set

As far as I'm aware the GP4 seasons are more puncture protective than the GP4000's. They're not touring tyres but in my experience they're pretty good, I've ridden maybe a combined total of 3000km on two sets (25c on my road bike now on my fixie and 28c on my commuter bike) and the only 'puncture' I got was an enormous tyre-wrecking gash from riding over half a shattered beer bottle.

I'm also riding with the conti force-attack combo on my race wheels and schwalbe ultremo ZX on my road training wheels and they've both been puncture free so far too but they haven't done that many km. Coincidentally I really love the ultremo ZX's, I thought they'd be more puncture prone (and they may well be) but they're fantastically fast and feel great to ride. I went with a 25c on the rear tyre for comfort and durability and a 23c on the front for aerodynamics (like it actually makes a difference).

Durano Plus with a layer of tyre liners works for me.

However flats are simply part of cycling and its something you'll just have to accept. Some are luckier than others