Tubeless Tyres And Their Benefits
Everything you need to know about tubeless tyres
Tubeless tyres, now seen as a standard default feature on most new modern passenger car vehicles, were introduced 70 years back as an innovative element by the tyre manufacturers. Let’s take a look at the various aspects of tubeless tyres that contribute to their growing popularity.
What are tubeless tyres?
Tubeless tyre technology does precisely what the name implies, it eliminates the use of inner tubes. A tubeless tyre once installed makes an airtight seal with the rim of the wheel. With the absence of the tube, air filling in tubeless tyres is done exactly like the normal tube tyres. Air is pumped in between the rim and the tyre and the airtight seal between the two prevents air from passing through. The valve is secured tightly to the rim and hence does not move out, and there is no tube to rupture when an item pierces the tyre. In case of a puncture, air leaves slowly via the hole produced by the nail, allowing the punctured more time before it flattens compared to tube type tyres before it flattens.
Benefits of tubeless tyres
1. Slow air leakage
Air leakage is slow as compared to tube type tyres. Incase of puncture you might not need to instantly search for a roadside tyre puncture repair shop for immediate assistance. However, even though the air loss is slow it is recommended you stop by at the nearest tyre shop because the further you drive on a damaged tyre the bigger the damage to the tyre might get, eventually deflating the tyre. Hence, try to seek help at the earliest. If puncture is severe, stop at a safe place and replace it using spare tyre or use puncture repair kit if equipped.
2. Enhance safety
It is hard to control the vehicle if a sudden puncture occurs in tube type tyres. This situation becomes much more perilous when driving at high speed on a highway. This risk is considerably reduced with tubeless tyres since the air seeps out slowly and the tyre does not go fully flat at once. As a result, the driver does not lose control and might get more time to move on the side of the road comparing to tube type tyres or drive to the tyre shop nearby. While the risk is reduced, driving at high speed is still a safety risk; has a maximum speed limit and risk of blow out is high if breached
3. Fuel efficient
The tubeless tyres are lighter in weight due to the absence of the tube. Due to reduced weight, the stress on the engine is lessened and less energy is consumed, as a result, you get more miles out of the same quantity of fuel.
4. Less friction
In tube type tyres driving on a highway at high speed can cause friction between the tube and the tyre. This increases the temperature inside the tyre. Overheating increases the chances of tyre burst. This friction that is commonly found between the tyre and the inner tube is eliminated in tubeless tyres hence, there is reduced rolling resistance and improved riding comfort.
5. Use of sealant for an automatic puncture repair
Modern tubeless tyres can come with a liquid sealant. When a puncture occurs the liquid sealant oozes out and seals the hole (depending on the diameter of the hole) thus, preventing the air from passing out.
6. Riding comfort
Unlike in tube type fitment, tubeless tyre assembly consist of only two components, the wheel and the tyre. This allows more precise seating of the tyre on the wheel, better uniformity of the assembly overall and enhance the ability to balance the assembly which eventually will lead to improve the riding comfort compared to tube type fitment.
Will tubeless tyres get puncture?
Tubeless tyres are not puncture-proof. They do get punctured. But what gives them an edge over the tube tyres is that when punctured air does not escape out of the tyre instantly. Even when there is a puncture the strong sidewall stays firm to the rim. Hence the air moves out only through the opening caused by the piercing. This might give the driver more time to move safely to the roadside or reach the nearest tyre repair center.
Can one drive with a puncture in a tubeless tyre?
A tubeless tyre is designed to temporarily support your vehicle in case of a puncture so that you don’t instantly lose control of the vehicle while driving on the road. Even though there is no sudden air loss in a tubeless tyre, the air does move out slowly. It does provide some cushioning but only for a short distance. If you continue driving you run the risk of the rubber disintegrating and cracking. This not only damages the metal of the wheel and suspension of the car but is extremely unsafe. Hence, the simple answer is as soon as you notice the puncture you should pull over to the side of the road when possible or head to the nearest tyre repair shop. Depending on the severity of the damage you might require a tyre replacement or repair.
With all these advantages of a tubeless you can be confident of having a tyre that conforms better with the road surface, absorbs bumps and maintains forward momentum, all this saving you valuable energy.