Comments on: Clincher Vs. Tubular Tires

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:41:19 +0000

I have been riding Tufo tubular-clinchers for some time now. I have ones that max at 175psi, and others that max at 220psi. I usually fill both up at 150/165psi. I must say, these tires are pretty amazing. First, you dont have to worry about high psi damaging your rims because the tire’s tube does not sit inside the rim. Second, you don’t need rim tape, which eliminates some weight, although not that much. Third, I have found that when you use a high psi in these tires, they are less susceptible to punctures because things shoot out from under them like they are being shot out with a rubber-band. I have ridden over glass, sticks, rocks, everything, and my tires have held up well. Tufo does make a sealent that is easy to carry and use, and I also carry a CO2 cartridge. I don’t know what I would do if I got a major slice, but if that happened I would probably be done for the day anyways. I will say, that when you run a high psi the ride is not as comfortable as you might want it to be. Yes, it is fast, but you feel the road and the bumps. It is a small trade off in my opinion though, because these tires are awesome. I highly recommend you try some tubular clinchers, and although they are expensive, my friend has replaced four tubes on his clinchers since I got my tubular-clinchers. I think in the end the price is comparable, but the quality, ride, and speed you get out of these tires is not.

By: Alan Huntley

Alan Huntley — Fri, 27 May 2011 11:47:07 +0000

I have alwasy reduced pressure in between races, can’t do any harm, would be intresting to know what the manufacturers say.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:17:24 +0000

As a result of a recent bike purchase which came with tubulars, I am now being indoctrinated to the world of tubular tires. I gather the psi s/b 140-160, but my question is do we need to release that pressure when the bike is not in use for more than a couple of days? Any thoughts?

By: Antwaan

Antwaan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 17:05:30 +0000

well… I am about a year-and-a-half late responding, but I hope you are still around to help me out! Question is: have you had success using Vittoria Pit Stop with a tubular tire THROUGH a valve extender? I have heard that the sealant may not make it all the way through to the tire… but I am not sure anyone who said this was speaking from experience. Thanks!

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:07:40 +0000

I’ve used both tubulars and clinchers extensively, and I’ll say there are a lot of myths about tubulars. They are much easier to change on the road vs. clinchers, and it’s not even close. However, you can carry a couple spare tubes with you, but if you travel light, that’s not possible with tubulars. I’ve also used a number of different rims, and under the vast majority of cases, you do not need to re-glue the tire. Rip off the old one, put the new one on, and ride. If you are going down a mountain full bore with sharp turns, yes, re-glue. It is very, very difficult to roll an unglued tubular off, though. Fixing a tubular at home is only slightly more difficult than fixing a tube, so that isn’t a consideration. As for punctures, I can’t tell a difference. A piece of embedded glass in a tubular is a pain to find, though! Tubulars do have a nicer ride, and the fast on-the-road fixes are both pluses. The downside is the cost and the ability to carry multiple spares.