A tubeless tire is a tire in a car, bus, motorcycle or bicycle that does not require inflation of the inner tube. Many passenger cars and even trucks in production today come with tubeless systems as standard equipment because of their increased safety, reduced risk of improper installation, and ease of puncture repair.
For the system to function properly, the tire and rim must form an airtight seal, preventing air from escaping by lowering the wheel. These tires have special materials and designs, and some have liquid sealants added to seal and self-seal when damaged.
History
Many patents have been filed for tubeless tires. Killen Tire filed an application in 1928 and was granted GB 329955 in the UK in 1930. Wingfoot Corporation, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire, received a patent in South Africa in 1944. Due to technical problems, most of the first designs were produced in limited quantities or abandoned.
Frank Herceg, who worked for BF Goodrich, applied for a patent in 1946 and received it (2,587,470) in the United States 6 years later. By 1955, tubeless tires had become standard equipment in many new cars.
BF Goodrich had to defend a patent several times in court due to similarities with previous designs. The main difference between its products and their predecessors was the use of butyl rubber, which was more resistant to air leakage than natural rubber used in other designs.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Tubeless Tires
Pros:
- no more breaks due to pinching: pinching the tube between the wall of a regular tire and the rim can damage it;
- driving with a drop in tire pressure: you can work with low air pressure, the car does not lose its ability to move;
- the cases of uneven air pressure, which are often observed when using conventional chamber systems, are excluded. In addition to eliminating other driving inconveniences, this makes tubeless cars more stable even at high speeds;
- automatic puncture repair capability: tubeless tires can be filled with liquid sealant. When a sharp object cuts a hole in the rubber, the sealant seeps out and dries, filling and fixing the hole;
- the slow release of air allows you to travel a long distance with a puncture: since the air release rate is low and uniform, you can safely continue the journey for tens of kilometers until you reach the nearest repair center;
- the right size improves handling and helps increase mileage. Since the tire is firmly fixed to the rim without any tube, there is less unwanted friction and drag while driving. This, in turn, reduces the frictional load on the vehicle and leads to an increase in mileage. In addition, such tires heat up less and cool faster, which prolongs their life;
- provides increased stability and ride comfort;
- the lighter weight improves the vehicle's fuel efficiency.
Minuses:
- installation difficulties. More knowledge, experience and time is required, since the connection must be neat and tight;
- fixing holes in tubeless tires is not easy;
- not suitable for all vehicles;
- more expensive than corporate counterparts with cameras.
Features of choice
Choosing the right shoe to fit your car is a daunting task, given the many offers from different brands on the market. When looking for the perfect tire set there are several factors to considersuch as size, grip, quality, brand, etc. Here are the main ones:
- performance parameters: if you are looking for good traction characteristics, look for a suitable speed index and tread pattern (directional, non-directional, asymmetric, etc., all designed for certain conditions);
- the size should not exceed the limit recommended by the car manufacturer;
- price range: MRF, Apollo, JK several budget proposals with decent quality;
- comfort: softer items will provide the most comfortable travel, but may lack durability.
Features of operation
The tubeless tire is made from butyl rubber, which is flexible enough to suit road conditions and is virtually impervious. When a puncture occurs, air comes out more slowly and safer than from a conventional chamber.
A conventional wheel can fail for a number of reasons - improper fit, friction against the tire wall, or puncture. Potentially, it can even explode and lead to a sudden loss of control of the vehicle. Although the scenario "bursts like a balloon" is unlikely due to the fact that the inner chamber is inside the ramp and deflates at a rate proportional to the size of the puncture.
Tubeless tires can be repaired using a special repair kit in the field. But if they need to be replaced, it is almost impossible to do this outside the car service, and not all car repair shops are equipped with the right tools and specialists. However, the installation itself is simpler - there is no risk that the camera will be pinched and damaged even before use.
Latex sealant can be found in some tubeless systems. To enhance sealing and impermeability, it is added directly to the tire before the bead is sealed to the rim and covers the inner wall with an even layer. In the event of a puncture, a resilient plastic mass will fill the hole and harden almost immediately, preventing critical air leakage.
Liquid tire sealant is widely used, but there is controversy regarding its compatibility with direct pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) using internal sensors.
Several sealant manufacturers claim that their products are truly compatible. Others warn that "the sealant can contact the sensor in a way that temporarily renders it unusable until it is properly cleaned, checked, and reinstalled by a professional." The use of such sealants may void the TPMS sensor warranty.
Frequently asked questions about tubeless tires
How does a tubeless tire work?
Tubeless tires (designated by the abbreviation TL or TUBELESS) are visually similar to traditional ones, only they are devoid of a tube: the air inside is trapped between the rim and the tire. Air is pumped through a metal valve, a tight fit with the rim ensures high tightness.
There are also so-called double-sheet designs. The outer shell is made according to the principle of a conventional tubeless analogue, but inside there are 2 cavities: it penetrates into one with the help of a valve, and into the other through a valve. When punctured, it leaves one compartment, but remains in the second, due to which the efficiency is preserved. But an ordinary "tubeless", pierced with a nail, can work for a long time.
How long does a tubeless tire last?
Usually 35-70 thousand kilometers (depending on the type of car and driving conditions). Due to the minimum tread height, coupes, sedans and hatchbacks experience faster tire wear than SUVs. It has also been observed that the front tires wear out faster than the rear ones. Even if the products have not been used, they have a shelf life - as a rule, 6 years from the date of manufacture. The life span of the most persistent usually does not exceed 10 years.
What damages tires?
Physical factors:
- age (whether the tire was used or not, if it is many years old, it is unreliable);
- road irregularities (potholes, obstacles, curbs, stones wear out faster and more damage the wheels);
- climate (intense sunlight, heat, snow and ice do not prolong the life of the rubber);
- oils, greases, alkalis, salts and other chemicals.
Driver habits:
- driving at high speed;
- sudden stops and sudden acceleration;
- cross-country / broken asphalt routes;
- ignoring unusual sounds, vibrations and sensations when driving.
Improper use:
- mixing different types or brands of tires;
- an attempt to dock with disks of incompatible sizes;
- refilling a flat tire into the damaged rim.
When should you change tires?
As it wears out. An urgent replacement is needed when:
- damage to the bead (edge adjacent to the disc);
- sidewall deformation;
- punch hole diameter over 6 mm.
Can different brands of tires be used for the same car?
Not recommended as each brand has its own characteristics.
Rating of the best offers of tubeless tires
- Based on user feedback, Michelin (France) tubeless tires come out on top. 100% customer satisfaction. The price is high, but thanks to their unrivaled grip and durability, they are truly competitive.
- Continental (Germany). Founded in 1871, the company produced carriage and bicycle tires decades before its competitors. Given this experience, it is quite logical that its products are kept at the top of the world rankings and disappoint few people.
- Goodyear (USA) great tires from every point of view. They serve for a long time, cope well with different road conditions, are beautiful and safe. Made from high quality rubber, they have a decent tread depth for long service life and are abrasion resistant due to their high carbon content.
- Bridgestone (Japan) products are good for dry and wet surfaces. Low rolling resistance improves fuel efficiency, unique formulation extends service life, and balanced performance makes driving a pleasure.
- Yokohama Bluearth products are compatible with most compact cars, durable, affordable, perfectly grip the car on the road, increase quietness and smoothness, and exhibit exceptional performance in wet conditions.
- The Apollo Alnac 4GS demonstrates all-round performance in terms of absolute performance. The improved grip with the 4GS tread pattern helps in precise handling, the relatively soft rubber compound reduces noise and absorbs bumps in the road well. One of the best accessories in its category, a new super hit on the European market due to its amazing wet performance and reasonable prices.
- Hankook creates excellent tires that embody cutting edge technology and design. Always at a good price and excellent quality. Innovative compound and design minimizes wear, improves wet traction and braking.
- MRF ZVTV is an option for those who do not want to overpay for a big name. Products are exported to over 65 countries worldwide. Designed to meet global automotive manufacturer standards for fuel efficiency, ride quality and ride comfort. Long tread life, increased durability.
- Kenda KR23: Unique design reduces noise and improves vehicle response, rubber has high wear resistance.
- JK Ultima XP provides low noise levels and slow, even wear. High-tech design with improved working formula, long service life.
Conclusion
You must understand that this is not a buying guide - there are a lot of offers on the market today, and all of them can be either ideal for specific requirements or completely inappropriate.
For example, many argue that Nokian (Finland) products are the best for ice and winter driving in northern climates, Firestone (USA) are especially good for towing, Dunlop (England) demonstrates one of the shortest braking distances on wet roads along with Pirelli, only costs less, and Kleber (France) is cheaper, but not much worse than Michelin.
No brand is really the best or the worst - the question is what exactly you want. Almost all brands have a rich assortment of models, so do your homework before buying, research the products on the manufacturers' official websites and choose your ideal option.
|| list |
- The history of tubeless tires
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Tubeless Tires
- Features of the choice of tubeless tires
- Features of the operation of tubeless tires
- Frequently asked questions about tubeless tires
- How does a tubeless tire work?
- How long does a tubeless tire last?
- What damages tires?
- When should you change tires?
- Can different brands of tires be used for the same car?
- Rating of the best offers of tubeless tires
