Let's think about which tires are better for a car, tubed or tubeless? Just 10 years ago, in 90% of cases tires with tubes were installed on cars, but now it’s exactly the opposite, that is, almost 90% are without tubes. So why did this happen? Why are tubeless options taking over the automotive market? Let's find out...

Tube tires

The chambered versions were the first to appear, it was quite a long time ago, already in 1887 (it was invented by a veterinarian - John Dunlop, and even then he put them on a bicycle) and those chambered types are not similar to today’s ones. They were widely used until the 90s - 2000, then they were replaced by tubeless ones.

Structure

It consists of a top/outer part, often the tire itself, which does not fit so tightly to the metal disk and can deflate, so it needs a lower sealed contour that will hold pressure. This is exactly the outline of the wheel chamber, which is inserted inside the tire. It is clear that this entire structure is placed on a metal disk.

Advantages and disadvantages

It has a number of advantages, as well as a number of disadvantages, compared to the tubeless type. The advantages include low price and insusceptibility to wheel rim deformation. But, unfortunately, the advantages end there. But there are a lot of disadvantages - they wear out much faster, heat up more, and accordingly the car’s handling is worse, and when a tire is punctured, it loses air very quickly.

Tubeless tires

Next in question is a more advanced option, which does not have a camera in its structure. They appeared relatively recently, about 10 – 30 years ago. However, they have only been in widespread use for 10–15 years and are quickly capturing the market.

Structure

It consists of an upper/outer part, a tire, which is also the inner layer of the wheel, that is, there is no usual tube in such rubber. The inner layer consists of a special sealing rubber, which holds the pressure inside very well (that is, two in one), fits tightly to the disk, and therefore does not require any additional contours inside. In case of a puncture, it envelops a foreign body. It fits directly onto the metal wheel.

Advantages and disadvantages

There are many advantages, this is a long service life, much superior to tube options, and low heating due to the absence of an air cushion between the tire and the tube (correspondingly better handling), and in case of a puncture it will hold air longer (than the opponent), which will allow you to get there at least to a car service, and at most you can drive for weeks, pumping up the tire, the main thing is not to remove a foreign object. But it also has disadvantages - the price is much higher than the chamber version. It is also susceptible to disc deformation; if you bend the disc by flying into a large hole, then you need to go to a tire shop and straighten the disc, otherwise the tubeless wheel will flatten.

That's all in our article, I would like to summarize. Of course, tubeless options are more advanced, and there is less hassle with them, they last longer, this is a step in evolution if you want. When you get a puncture, you don’t need to remove the tire, just screw the tourniquet into the puncture site - that’s it! It seems to me that the second type will soon become a thing of the past forever.

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A couple of decades ago, tube tires ruled the roost and were installed on almost every car. However, since the 2000s, tubeless tires began to confidently conquer the market, and today it is almost impossible to see passenger cars on tube tires. What is the fundamental difference between tubed and tubeless tires? Why are some better than others and what disadvantages do both have? Let's figure it out.

As is obvious from the name of the tires, their main difference lies in the design itself. A tube tire consists of a tire and a special chamber with a valve, which is inflated with compressed air. The tire is the upper (outer) part of the tire, it comes into contact with the road when driving, has a tread and all the characteristics we are familiar with. And the chamber is a sealed internal circuit, which is a rubber tube closed in a ring and inflated with compressed air. The tube is inserted into the tire, and the entire structure, in turn, is put on the disk. Because of this structure, the tire of a tube tire does not fit particularly tightly to the disk, and the main burden of maintaining pressure in the tire falls on the tube. In turn, the tube does not have great mechanical strength, and therefore needs protection from external influences, punctures and impacts, which is what the tire provides. Such is the symbiosis.

A tubeless tire is both a tire and a tube. The design of a tubeless tire is such that it does not have a separate tube; its role is played by an internal sealing layer a couple of millimeters thick, which is “welded” to the tire from the inside during the vulcanization stage. This elastic layer, made from a mixture of synthetic and natural rubbers, holds compressed air well and at the same time fits tightly to the rim - which is why the tubeless tire device does not require any additional internal contours; it is put directly on the rim. The inner sealing layer also helps with punctures: if a small sharp object (a piece of wire, a nail, etc.) is stuck into the tire, it will get stuck in the inner layer and will not fall out, preventing air from leaking through the puncture.

The design of a tubeless tire, by the way, requires a more complex rim. In particular, such a disk has special humps - annular protrusions on the rim landing flanges, with the help of which tubeless tires are securely fixed. The beads of tubeless tires are sealed with an additional layer of rubber, which ensures a tight seal where the tire sits on the rim.

Today, tubeless tires are used by all passenger cars and many trucks, but there is still a place for tube tires. Tires with a tube are installed on motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, scooters and bicycles - on so-called spoked wheels, which, as a rule, do not hold a tubeless tire with the required tightness. In addition, tube tires are still used on trucks and light trucks - tubeless tires are just beginning to gain popularity here. Tube tires are also used by some “old believers” who consider the main advantage to be the ability to replace a punctured tube without replacing the tire, as well as the ease of repairing the tube with your own hands.

Tube tires are more affordable than tubeless tires;

In case of lateral damage, it is enough to replace only the punctured tube, and not the entire tire;

Tube tires do not require special rims and can fit on any tire.

A tube tire is much heavier than a tubeless tire;

A punctured tube tire will deflate almost instantly and require replacement right on the road; you won’t be able to get to a service station on it;

There is a high probability of internal puncture of the chamber due to torn or worn cord threads;

Repairing even small punctures requires disassembling the wheel.

Slow depressurization and the ability to maintain normal pressure for a long time after a puncture, which increases traffic safety and allows you to drive a punctured tire to the repair site;

A tubeless tire is much lighter than a tube tire, which reduces the load on the car’s suspension;

Tubeless tires have greater durability because they are less susceptible to overheating, have stable internal pressure, and do not suffer from friction between the tube and the tire;

Driving comfort on a tubeless tire is much higher because its sidewall is softer.

Installation and major repairs of tubeless tires require complex manipulations that can only be performed by a specialist using the necessary equipment; independent repair and installation of tires is impossible;

Damage or deformation of the wheel rim at the junction with the tire bead will lead to depressurization and flattening of the wheel;

Driving on a flat tubeless tire can destroy both the sealing layer and the tire as a whole.

1. In a tube tire, the size of the tube must correspond to the size of the tire. Trying to squeeze a larger tube into a smaller tire will result in wrinkles forming as the tube fills with air, and any wrinkle is a potential weak point.

2. A tube is not installed in a tubeless tire. At all. Even if it is damaged. It would seem that this should increase the strength of a damaged tubeless tube, but in reality it is simply dangerous. An air cushion forms between the tube and the sealing layer in a tubeless tire, which can lead to damage to the tire, especially when the load on the wheel increases sharply when cornering and braking.

3. Of course, tires of the same structure must be installed on all four wheels. But this doesn't even need further mention.

This question often arises among buyers of used cars already equipped with tires. How to determine whether you have tubed or tubeless tires? Doubts may also arise when contacting an unreliable tire shop: did they install the wrong tires? Externally, tubed and tubeless tires, already placed on the rims, do not differ from each other - all the difference is hidden inside, and we do not see the insides. Most

The obvious and undeniable way, of course, is to bead the tires: this way you will be able to visually evaluate the inside of the tire.

If this option is not suitable, refer to the markings on the sidewall:

TT – marking of tube tires, abbreviation for Tube Type – “tube type”

TL or single T - marking of a tubeless tire, from Tubeless - “without a tube”

The option with markings may be questionable if all the inscriptions on the tires have been erased during use and will no longer help determine whether the tire is tubed or tubeless. On very old tires, the Tube Type or TT inscription may be completely absent, since at that time there were no options, all tires were tube-type and did not need marking. But do you need tires that old?

The last option for distinguishing a tube tire from a tubeless tire is to carefully inspect the nipple. On a tube tire it is longer and smoother, on a tubeless tire it is short, with a small bead. If you lower the wheel and try to press the nipple, the tubeless tire will not allow it to sink, since the nipple is rigidly attached to the surface. But on a tubed tire the nipple can fall almost to its entire height.

If you are reading this article, then you already know that there are two types of tires - tubed and tubeless, therefore, you are interested in which one is better. This is exactly what this article will be about today. In the "" section, we have more than once weighed the pros and cons of this or that controversial issue; today we will talk about tires, and more specifically, about. Go...

• The marking of tube tires is TT (from the English Tube Type - tubular, tube type or simply tube type).
• Tubeless tires are usually designated - (TL from the English. Tubeless - without a tube, tube or simply tubeless).

What is a tubeless tire

The main question that arose for me when I first learned or heard about this type of rubber was - “How is the air retained and not released out, that is, what ensures the tightness of the connection between the tire and the disk?” As it turned out, a special layer of special rubber, which is applied during production on the inner ring of the tire, is responsible for the tightness. A tubeless disc differs from a regular disc in that it has a more complex structure and reliable fixation. On the rim of a tubeless tire there are so-called “humps” that firmly hold the tire bead in the right place.

Advantages of tubeless

1. Tubeless tires have more than enough advantages, but the main thing is considered to be the ability to maintain normal pressure in the tire in the event of a puncture. Simply put, if you puncture a tire with a tubeless tube, then you can drive on it for more than a dozen kilometers, and if you have one, even several hundred. In addition to convenience, this advantage also provides a high degree of safety, since if the pressure in the wheel instantly drops, you can lose control and get into an accident. For example, in the event of a puncture, a tube tire almost instantly loses pressure, the reason is especially the tire and the disk; there is no strong connection between them and air under pressure leaves the tube through the puncture, as well as past the rim of the disk, after which the air goes outside through the valve hole of the rim. In the event of a puncture, a tubeless tire loses air only at the puncture site and then, as a rule, only in the event of a collision with this place. If the puncture is small, the pressure drops very slowly.

1. The next advantage of a tubeless tire is weight. Tubeless significantly lighter than tires with a tube, therefore the load on the suspension will be lower.
2. While riding, tubeless tires generate less heat during fast and long rides.
3. The increased safety and reliability of tubeless tires is beyond doubt; due to the design features and high strength of the tires, the likelihood of rapid depressurization is almost zero.
4. Simple and quick repair. There are special pastes and sprays that can instantly solve the puncture problem. Compared to tube tires, the repair of which requires a lot of time and tools, even women can repair tubeless tires. This means repairs, after which you can get home or to the nearest station for a full repair.
5. Tubeless tires have a longer service life, approximately 10-12%. This can be achieved due to better temperature conditions and increased heat transfer from the tire to the disk, as well as the stability of the internal air pressure in the tire and the absence of any friction between the tube and the tire.

Disadvantages of a tubeless tire

1. Tubeless also has disadvantages. For example, their installation requires special attention, special equipment and certain skills. Damage to the bead and flanges may cause the tubeless tire to depressurize or require repair.
2. Major repairs of a tubeless tire are carried out using special equipment by specialists and this “pleasure” costs a lot of money. Unlike tube tires, which you can repair yourself, tubeless repair requires great skills and appropriate tools.
3. Driving for a long time on a flat tubeless tire (please do not confuse it with a punctured tire, but pumped up to the optimal pressure) is fraught with destruction of the sealing layer and the tire as a whole.
4. Tubeless tires often blamed on a flaw called weak sidewall. However, in my subjective opinion, the accusations are groundless. First of all, it should be noted that ideal tires do not exist and, no matter what manufacturers lie, ideal tires are still only a myth. The manufacturer's goal is to achieve not only strength from the tire, but also to provide comfort to passengers while driving. The aforementioned sidewall is responsible for this factor; its softness provides a feeling of smooth movement. A hard sidewall will not do anything good other than racing; even a smooth road will seem bumpy with a “wooden” sidewall.
5. Another significant drawback of tubeless tires is the vulnerability in the area where the rim and tire bead meet. If, for example, you “dent” the disk even a little (by getting into a hole, or catching a curb), you will be in trouble, the wheel will deflate instantly, almost like a tube tire with a puncture. The fact is that a violation of the tightness of the connection, which occurs due to damage to the disk, will lead to the fact that the pressure in the tires will begin to drop rapidly, in other words, the tire will go flat.

Tube tires: features, advantages and disadvantages

Tube tires, perhaps, could have lived for a very long time if they had not been supplanted by more advanced tubeless successors. The latter simply supplanted their predecessors and were warmly received by the entire global automotive community. By the way, some “old believers” still use tube tires, they have their own reasons for this, for example, the tube can be replaced, repaired, and done with your own hands - cheap and cheerful! In principle, they are right in some ways, and if you do not take into account all the dubious “advantages” of tubeless, then differences between tubed and tubeless only that the latter, in the event of a breakdown, will allow you to get home or to the nearest service station, without problems and danger to life. The chamber wheel, as mentioned above, will deflate almost instantly.

Besides other shortcomings, tube tires They are also dangerous because there is a high probability of the camera being punctured from the inside by a worn or torn cord. As a result, you will end up with a punctured tire and a stationary car. Even if a tubeless tire is punctured, the air does not have the ability to quickly leave the boundaries of the tire due to the reasons described above, and also due to the fact that in the event of a puncture by a sharp object (screw, wire, wooden thorn, etc.), the object itself gets stuck in tire, it becomes a kind of traffic jam. By plugging the hole he made, he does not allow air to escape through the puncture.

On the other hand, you can always use the spare tire and use it to drive home or to a service center; it is not necessary to start disassembling and tube tire repair. Although from time immemorial, sealing the inner tube and disassembling the wheel was considered a “trifle” for the stern Russian peasant. It is not surprising that tubeless was not invented by “us”, but by some “foreign wimp” who could not or did not want to tinker with a jack, glue and other tools. 🙂 But, all these are jokes... In fact, tubeless was invented by a good, smart person, thanks to whose efforts we solve problems related to punctures easily and simply, without wasting time and effort. In addition, now developing greater speed, you do not need to worry about losing control in the event of a puncture.

As you can see, in the question Which is better, tube or tubeless tires?, the answer will be obvious, tubeless ones have a number of advantages, so when buying tires, you should choose them. Thank you for your attention, those who wish to add to this opus can do so through the comment form. See you again on the site website.

When replacing chutes, any car enthusiast is faced with the problem of choosing whether to install tubeless tires or assemble wheels with tubes. Seeking help and advice from friends and fellow car owners, as a rule, does not give a definite answer, and even real professionals cannot agree on a clear opinion.

So the driver has to choose the type of wheel assembly at random. And to make it easier to make a choice, it is worth considering the positive and negative aspects of tubeless and tube wheel assembly.

Tubeless tires

At their core, tubeless and tube tires today are no different; more precisely, all tires are produced for tubeless installation. And the very concept of a tubeless wheel means the absence of a tube inside; the air in the wheel is retained only due to the hermetically sealed fit of the tire on the rim and a special nipple with a spool (air valve) installed in the rim.

What advantages do they have that they are praised so much:

• The absence of a tube makes the wheel lighter, which has a positive effect on its balancing and reduces the load on the suspension during high-speed driving.
• A tire without a tube can withstand less load, which means it behaves softer on uneven sections of the road, i.e. vibration and noise are reduced.
• Tubeless tires cool easier, which does not lead to overheating at high speeds during long trips.
• The tire is capable of maintaining operating pressure with several nails or screws, provided they are securely fixed in the tread. And such punctures can easily be sealed on the road without even removing the wheels.

At first glance, the positive features of tubeless tires are quite enough to make you “fall in love” with them. But it is worth considering the negative side, which adds a big fly in the ointment.

• A tubeless tire successfully holds air only if it is tightly connected to the disk, so even with the slightest depressurization, you will have to send the wheel to a service station. A violation of the tire's fit on the rim can be caused by a banal impact when falling into a hole or when crossing difficult areas: mud, sand, snow.
• or breakdowns in large quantities (from 5 pieces) are not acceptable, because do not allow you to reliably seal the tire. At the same time, only new slopes with a high protector can be glued hermetically.
• Depressurization of a tubeless wheel in most cases occurs with a sharp loss of pressure in the form of a pop, which leads to a rapid deflation of the wheel and the problem of keeping the car on the road (you may not be able to control it), especially at high speeds.
• Independently re-flashing a tubeless wheel is practically impossible due to the use of specialized materials and equipment. In addition, the quality of the disc seat must meet the requirements, which means that not every disc can be installed on a tubeless wheel.

Tube wheels

If tubeless tires are so good, then why are tubed wheels still used so often? The best aspects of the chamber assembly:

• Assembling wheels on tubes allows you to slightly relieve the tire from the effort, which means that the wheel is not so intensively developed and is able to withstand a greater load.
• The tightness of the connection between the tire and the disk does not matter, so even slight movement of the tire relative to the disk is allowed. In this case, the number of previous punctures does not matter at all, and small side cuts are completely repairable.
• A tube tire can withstand large radial loads and is capable of operating in any difficult terrain, and storage is not as critical as for tubeless tires.
• Repairing camera tubes on the road is a completely acceptable thing; you can either seal the camera or simply replace it. And when there is a puncture, a sudden release of pressure is very rare; generally, the loss of pressure in the wheel occurs more smoothly, which makes it possible to notice the puncture and stop in time.

What is it about tubeless tires that fans of tubeless wheels don’t like so much:

• If a wheel breaks, it is necessary to flange it, which is cumbersome, not so fast and requires special skills and tools.
• The camera adds weight to the wheel, which is more problematic when balancing it, and there are additional loads on the suspension at speeds over 140 km/h.
• A tube wheel is more rigid in operation, which, when the load is low or high, leads to excess vibration.

So the car owner has to choose between soft tubeless tubes, which descend sharply, and hard tubes, which are easily repaired. As a result, it turns out that tubeless tires are very practical, but do not withstand much “torture,” and it’s not without reason that professional trail runners mount the wheels on tubes.