I’m a 70 year old MTB Stan’s tubeless rider for many, many years. You give sage advice. A little more psi over a given riders threshold and pinch flats are all but nonexistent.
Unpopular opinion, but I took my cuchcores out of all my bikes and started running a heavier casing tire and more pressure About 9 months ago. Oddly enough I haven't broken a rim since and only had 1 flat, to be fair it was an odd one ripping a gash in the side way. I agree 100% with this video.
At least for Maxxis, there’s about a 200g jump from the exo+ tires to dd/dh, cushcore pro being 250g. So deciding between going with full downhill tires VS using cushcore with exo+ adds about the same weight. Id like to find comparisons of those two options
I run inserts for one because I have carbon rims on a used bike so no warranty. As someone who doesn’t have sponsors to replace a rim every time I break one, it makes sense to invest in protection. Two I think the extra vibration absorption is pretty nice. I ride a snappy 150/140 27.5 carbon trail bike, so it makes the bike feel a bit more composed when I put it in the chunk and chunder.
Mazza 2.4 x 29 TNT(950g) + Rimpact Original(90g) is 1040g, Mazza 2.4 x 29 2ply 1300g. I don't have a problem with puncture from sharp rocks in my area, so the insert option is better performance at a much lower weight. I have 2 wheelsets. I used both setup types back to back all year. I liked almost everything better with the lighter insert option. With the 2 ply tires I still had to run high pressure in the tires in the bike park. I could go lower with the inserts, that was less vibration in the hands and better grip.
As someone that enjoys mountain biking,and comes from a back ground of using closed cell foam in my industry,I never understood the point of running tire inserts,even at comp levels,unless you are getting them for free,especially knowing how durable they are NOT! Brian is 100% right,there are other ways,better ways.
Well said, I had an insert in the back tire on my hardtail (the "aggressive" one...). It was beneficial, since the rim got flat spotted a bit even with the insert. Now I got a new bike, full suspension and no inserts and I can already tell the difference. It is a 29er and the hardtail was a 27,5 and the feel from the wheels is a lot better.
Well, I partly agree with you when it comes to the right wheel setup, but as you said, not everyone is a racer and buying a €3000 wheelset just isn’t an option. So they would rather buy a €50 insert and save both their rims and their runs. Also another important topic is the actual racing you are doing. Overall I would never use inserts on my enduro bike for all of these reasons you already mentioned. But racing downhill, is whole different story. The tracks are different, there's not much sudden change of direction like tight corners etc, and the speeds are different so you don’t even have to try to get the bike up to speed. Plus dh tracks are 2-4 minutes long so I just need to have a setup that can get me through the finish line. Lastly, not all tire inserts are the same. I tried pretty much all inserts i could find on the market. The Tannus Armour tubeless insert is simply the best one out there when it comes to protection, ease of installation, rolling resistance plus you don’t even need special valves. I’m not quite sure it is the lightest one out there, but i can set up both wheels in less than 10 minutes.
since you tested so many different inserts id like to hear your take on rimpacts and why they are inferior to tannus' product. i might have to switch hehe
I'm planning to add tire inserts on my hardtail and here's why: 1. Weight: 100g per wheel? I can put that in a lighter tire and it's basically a wash. 2. Rim protection. I ride the hardtail hard. I've been running higher air pressure and I'd like to go a little lower for a little more give. Lower air pressure puts the rim at risk. Inserts protect. 3. Dampening. The hardtail is...well...hard...in the tail. Staying with the bigger tire, going down to lower pressure, adding inserts will all add some invisible suspension to help with the chunder. 4. Get Out Of Jail Free. I don't want to carry tubes, extra tools, and a pump. I also don't really have a lot of trail centers near me so I'm often riding away from the car (or home). I also have very little time to ride so rides are almost always spontaneous and happen on a whim between other hard-scheduled things. If I have a significant flat somewhere, I'm just walking for a few miles for some unknown amount of time. If I flat with an insert, I can ride those miles a lot faster than I can walk. All of that adds up to offset the cost of the inserts for me.
For high level racing, everything is absolutely preference and I see alot of your points. For me though, DH casing tires at 30psi at 180lbs, im still going to be dinging rims regularly. The cushcore really doesn't save the wheel but it does spread out the load and totally prevent pinch flats. Im not baller enough for fancy carbon wheels but always run DT EX511 or FR560s, and they'll still pinch a tire good without inserts.
For me it's more about the insurance of not having to think about my wheels. I go for long rides to remote areas, rocky peaks, and places where I don't want to have to deal with a flat. Also I've ran rimpact pros front and back for two years now, and I haven't had a single flat, ping to my rim, or any negative impact for my riding as a whole. Over time, I think inserts pay for themselves in value. Sure, for some of the reasons you listed, they might have *some* reason to maybe go for non-inserts, but I do think for almost everyone on the market, inserts are a legitimately godly tool that can not be appreciated enough.
The strongest argument for running an insert is rim protection! For someone without a sponsor like me the weight is a nonissue. Some of us can’t afford to get a replacement rim ever few months.
My racer friend was running inserts for awhile. He would constantly blow up wheels at race pace. He’s since changed to e13 carbon wheels and always DH casing tires. E13 has lifetime warranty of their carbon wheels so even if you do crack one it will be replaced. He claims to have less issues with this method.
i run inserts because being able to smash things as hard as i can (for example rocks) without without worrying about destroying rims as much is worth it for all the other penalties
It's mostly that hobby rider like myself run quite low tyre pressure when riding techy slow trails, but then I have to jump a gap with sharp boulder edge before landing and when I case it into the sharp edge the insert can save the rim... it's more like I am a fool who is still learning and I don't want to destroy my wheels by accident... this video has some good points and at some point after I hone my skills I also see step up to thicker casings as way better solution than the insert
I’d be super interested in a review of Berd spokes from an Enduro viewpoint. I’m with you though about running heavier casing tires for support and a damper feel
I run cushcore because as an intermediate level rider it allows me to take lines on rock gardens to improve my riding skills while giving me piece of mind I won’t dent my rims due to poor line choice or just lack of speed to not hit a rock fully. But it is clearly a huge weight penalty and i will probably Not run them again when i change to either a new set of wheels next year
Braking news: tire insert doesn't mean just Cushcore. There are much better, cheaper and lighter options out there and they do their job great when running really low pressures.
Seems the whole XC side is missing from the comments and video. I love a fast exo style XC tire, low drag, supple, and light. Ripping around in rocky desert conditions where harsh hits and steep techs climbs are frequent, the lower the pressures I can run to keep the traction up and the ride cozy/compliant is key. I’m sure my inserts have saved my rims many times judging by the snake bites the rim has punched into them. I think it can also allow one to use lighter rims in general. I do think for pure enduro riders the video is much more useful. . .
Another thing to think about, the insert acts like a fork token. Taking up space in the tire the suspension through the tire now ramps up quicker. I only ride hardtails. I’m experimenting with one bike less insert vs bike with. You can really feel the difference and I’m starting to realize the non insert bike may ride better.
Right on man. I had my full circle a few months ago when my last Rimpact inserts stretched out too far to be able to mount them properly and I couldnt afford to buy a new set. Right away, when I went out on my 1st ride without them I couldn't believe how much easier it felt to pedal everywhere. The bike felt snappier and like it had some extra energy somehow. I'm good without them for now i think. Are you running higher pressures than average? You didnt mention much about pressure except "just enough"
interesting! i still run the first generation rimpact insert and i didnt notice any stretching and i also weighed it after one season to see how much sealant it absorbed (about 10g of dried up milk on the surface). are you using ammonia-free sealant?
thanks fo all the quality videos dude. Ive got an i9 enduro s wheel set that I run Tannus tubeless insert only in the back with Schwalbe super gravity tires but also have a Spank wheel set, Spike 33 rear and a spank 350 Vibrocore front wheel that I run with no inserts, just a DH casing in the rear and enduro casing up front. No issues on either wheel set so far. Running these wheel sets on a v3 Evil Insurgent 27.5
I run inserts because they provide some insurance against smashing my rims, and that's it really. I'm not a racer looking for the most optimal possible solution, the weight penalty is a non-issue compared to my lack of fitness, and I don't have a sponsor to provide me with new rims that are designed to prevent pinch flats. My number one priority in equipment decisions is prolonging the lifespan of my bike and it's components, because marginal performance improvements are lost on a punter like me who has miles of skill ceiling above me.
Personnaly I've ridden with FTD 2, Cushcore and Tannus, and everytime I took them off to run insertless it was a day & night difference. Way more responsive without inserts.
As your standard joey i only run an an insert to safe my rims 🥲i already run dh tires and i was riding a few psi more but if you ride blind a lot theres always one square edge that will also square up your rim... also i feel like youre not talking about inserts in general but rather about cushcore specifically. i personally run the standard insert from rimpact on the rear which only weighs 95g (29"). anyways thanks for sharing your point of view
I run tannus on my rear nobl tr37s. I race too but never come close to blowing a tyre off. I like the deaded feeling it gives on chattery shit. and the benefit of running 2-3 psi lower in the wet.without getting rim strikes.i am 190lbs so I could see if you were under 160lbs maybe the benefit would be less? I think running clipless to flats has a huge deal too. I was on flats for a few years and I would destroy way more wheels then what I do now on clipless. just my 2 cents
I am very light (sub 135 lbs) so even when I'm pushing, I'm not hard on my bike. I'm not racing fast anyways so my wheels have it pretty easy. I have killed wheels before, usually from just brutal rock hits at speed on a hardtail in a bike park that cracked the rim...strong rims and decent pressures have kept my wheels intact for some time now. I have never flatted or had a tire fail. Just direct rim failure.
have crushcore both front and rear, compare to the risk to damage the rim, the extra weight for my 25kg ebike seems nothing, and also allows me to run low pressure for 2.8 tyre
I've never run full cushcore, but I have run some of the lighter inserts, including rimpact, cushcore xc, and vittoria airliner lites. My goal was to try to limit dings in alloy rims and I still got dings anyway with the inserts. I'm probably not aggressive enough to see the other benefits, and I'm not willing to take the weight penalty of full cushcore. So from the perspective of a more casual rider, I also gave up on inserts. I just had to learn to be less anal about my rims being perfect (they still work fine anyway, they just need a closer eye on spoke tension once they have dings).
Thank you for this video. I just want to get off the tubes cuz of the weight and effect with rolling resistanc... im running 27.5/2.8 with 1mm thick wall tubes inside ( ebike ) and its rolling too hard on flat surface whan not peddaling.. So im going minimum w8 on tires..
I race some enduro and downhill and only weigh about 145 and I will absolutely abliterate raceface arc rims and get flats quite often id say for me I must have it and I like the feel it gives
Thanks for posting this. You make some really good points that have my rethinking my current rear only cushcore pro setup on my trail bike. What are your thoughts on being able to step down in casing while running an insert. It looks like the difference between an exo+ and DD is about 130g. If cushcore is about 100g as you mentioned, it seems like running the exo+ with cushcore could be a good option. I struggle a lot with pinch flats on trail casings (even with cushcore pro) running 26psi and I'm only 140 lbs. I hardly ever tear sidewalls though. That kind of leaves me thinking a heavier weight trail casing like exo+ with cushcore is the best solution for me. Thanks for making put some thought into this! Curious to hear what you think.
He kinda understated the weight. Cushcore is about 260g each. The XC version is 150g. The tendency to pinch flats comes from multiple sources - low tire pressure, rim design, tire casing, terrain, riding style, etc. There's a lot that can be changed other than inserts.
@@JD-dw3jp Good catch on the weight for cushcore pro. I pinch flatted/dented my rims front and rear on my last ride with Cushcore XC up front and Cushcore Pro rear at 24/26 on Specialized Butcher/Eliminator 2.6's. I really hate those tires due to the width, but that's what came with that bike so I'm running them until they're dead. I feel like a narrower casing with more reinforcment would probably help, but I'm still hesitant to run DD or similar casing without cushcore. I feel like I'd need to be running ~28-30psi rear without cushcore which just seems so high.
Thank you for this video. Very nice delivery. Would you consider cushcore in the back for a hartail? Since it gets banged up a lot more due to no suspension in the back.
I'm that one weirdo who only runs an insert (cushcore) in the front. The traction gains are unmatched. I don't think I'll ever go back to not running one.
Casings > inserts. Same weight, but beefier casings are easier to maintain and install. It’s a pain in the ass just to refill your sealant with Cush core. Also, trail side repair is 5 minutes with a tube.
One thing not often talked about is the effect of reduced air volume when running an insert. If you have 2 identical tires running the same pressure, one with an insert, one without. In theory, the one with the insert, because of the reduced volume will be more prone to rolling in corners, burping, and just plain ripping the bead off. As an example take fat bike and a road bike and put 30 psi in each. One is like a rock and the other is damn near flat. Same pressure, different volume. Do you think you could rip the bead off that road bike? Now try the fat bike. Whats interesting is when you consider that some inserts, like cush core offer increased sidewall support and (maybe) bead hold, so you are getting some of that support back that you lost when you reduced the volume. So whats better? Is the volume reduction enough to make a difference? I don't know, but I think its something to consider. Btw (not that it matters) I run an insert in the rear for flat protection.
I ride my stumpy all day long, i dont like running 40 in pressure but i must because when i need it. Now i got my pump and gague so i can put in after what i run, When i ride with s hard presasure i almost bounce of things. So would be nice with protection but maybe its better learning tighten spokes and wheel service more
Good thoughts! I just removed my big cush core pro and went with the lighter xc in the rear only. Mixed results thus far but it's definitely been interesting to experiment.
I've been testing different inserts this past season and I've found my happy medium with huck Norris and double downs. It give me a just a little more protection and support with out a shit ton of weight and they are stupid easy to install
Inserts exist because tyres sidewalls are too weak (even DH) and like you said most rim sidewalls are too thin and sharp. I run singleply tyres with cushcore plus so I can run super low pressure for maximum grip and not worry about destroying my aluminium rims. And I run tubes on top pf those inserts because I don't want to deal with tubeless mess.
I think the problem with mtb is people feel they need the best of everything when the type of riding they do is not even close to the bikes potential. I have a GT Aggressor with different tires, and I have never popped a tube or got a flat in a rocky area with jumps.
I’m a 70 year old MTB Stan’s tubeless rider for many, many years. You give sage advice. A little more psi over a given riders threshold and pinch flats are all but nonexistent.
Unpopular opinion, but I took my cuchcores out of all my bikes and started running a heavier casing tire and more pressure About 9 months ago. Oddly enough I haven't broken a rim since and only had 1 flat, to be fair it was an odd one ripping a gash in the side way. I agree 100% with this video.
Refreshing to see an honest video by a knowledgable person someone not selling something.
At least for Maxxis, there’s about a 200g jump from the exo+ tires to dd/dh, cushcore pro being 250g. So deciding between going with full downhill tires VS using cushcore with exo+ adds about the same weight. Id like to find comparisons of those two options
I run inserts for one because I have carbon rims on a used bike so no warranty. As someone who doesn’t have sponsors to replace a rim every time I break one, it makes sense to invest in protection. Two I think the extra vibration absorption is pretty nice. I ride a snappy 150/140 27.5 carbon trail bike, so it makes the bike feel a bit more composed when I put it in the chunk and chunder.
Mazza 2.4 x 29 TNT(950g) + Rimpact Original(90g) is 1040g, Mazza 2.4 x 29 2ply 1300g. I don't have a problem with puncture from sharp rocks in my area, so the insert option is better performance at a much lower weight. I have 2 wheelsets. I used both setup types back to back all year. I liked almost everything better with the lighter insert option. With the 2 ply tires I still had to run high pressure in the tires in the bike park. I could go lower with the inserts, that was less vibration in the hands and better grip.
As someone that enjoys mountain biking,and comes from a back ground of using closed cell foam in my industry,I never understood the point of running tire inserts,even at comp levels,unless you are getting them for free,especially knowing how durable they are NOT! Brian is 100% right,there are other ways,better ways.
Good to hear how a racer thinks these things through 🤘🏼🤙🏼🙏🏼
wow man! the slo-mos are awesome!! super nice video
Well said, I had an insert in the back tire on my hardtail (the "aggressive" one...). It was beneficial, since the rim got flat spotted a bit even with the insert. Now I got a new bike, full suspension and no inserts and I can already tell the difference. It is a 29er and the hardtail was a 27,5 and the feel from the wheels is a lot better.
Well, I partly agree with you when it comes to the right wheel setup, but as you said, not everyone is a racer and buying a €3000 wheelset just isn’t an option. So they would rather buy a €50 insert and save both their rims and their runs. Also another important topic is the actual racing you are doing. Overall I would never use inserts on my enduro bike for all of these reasons you already mentioned. But racing downhill, is whole different story. The tracks are different, there's not much sudden change of direction like tight corners etc, and the speeds are different so you don’t even have to try to get the bike up to speed. Plus dh tracks are 2-4 minutes long so I just need to have a setup that can get me through the finish line.
Lastly, not all tire inserts are the same. I tried pretty much all inserts i could find on the market. The Tannus Armour tubeless insert is simply the best one out there when it comes to protection, ease of installation, rolling resistance plus you don’t even need special valves. I’m not quite sure it is the lightest one out there, but i can set up both wheels in less than 10 minutes.
Love to hear it *Andreas Theodorou!* We agree. Cheers
since you tested so many different inserts id like to hear your take on rimpacts and why they are inferior to tannus' product. i might have to switch hehe
@@HannyDart Give us a try! We think you'll like our dual air chamber designed tire insert. Cheers
I'm planning to add tire inserts on my hardtail and here's why:
1. Weight: 100g per wheel? I can put that in a lighter tire and it's basically a wash.
2. Rim protection. I ride the hardtail hard. I've been running higher air pressure and I'd like to go a little lower for a little more give. Lower air pressure puts the rim at risk. Inserts protect.
3. Dampening. The hardtail is...well...hard...in the tail. Staying with the bigger tire, going down to lower pressure, adding inserts will all add some invisible suspension to help with the chunder.
4. Get Out Of Jail Free. I don't want to carry tubes, extra tools, and a pump. I also don't really have a lot of trail centers near me so I'm often riding away from the car (or home). I also have very little time to ride so rides are almost always spontaneous and happen on a whim between other hard-scheduled things. If I have a significant flat somewhere, I'm just walking for a few miles for some unknown amount of time. If I flat with an insert, I can ride those miles a lot faster than I can walk.
All of that adds up to offset the cost of the inserts for me.
For high level racing, everything is absolutely preference and I see alot of your points. For me though, DH casing tires at 30psi at 180lbs, im still going to be dinging rims regularly. The cushcore really doesn't save the wheel but it does spread out the load and totally prevent pinch flats. Im not baller enough for fancy carbon wheels but always run DT EX511 or FR560s, and they'll still pinch a tire good without inserts.
For me it's more about the insurance of not having to think about my wheels. I go for long rides to remote areas, rocky peaks, and places where I don't want to have to deal with a flat. Also I've ran rimpact pros front and back for two years now, and I haven't had a single flat, ping to my rim, or any negative impact for my riding as a whole. Over time, I think inserts pay for themselves in value. Sure, for some of the reasons you listed, they might have *some* reason to maybe go for non-inserts, but I do think for almost everyone on the market, inserts are a legitimately godly tool that can not be appreciated enough.
nice scenery Brian !
The strongest argument for running an insert is rim protection! For someone without a sponsor like me the weight is a nonissue. Some of us can’t afford to get a replacement rim ever few months.
My racer friend was running inserts for awhile. He would constantly blow up wheels at race pace. He’s since changed to e13 carbon wheels and always DH casing tires. E13 has lifetime warranty of their carbon wheels so even if you do crack one it will be replaced. He claims to have less issues with this method.
i run inserts because being able to smash things as hard as i can (for example rocks) without without worrying about destroying rims as much is worth it for all the other penalties
Great reason to run inserts! Cheers
Can you post a video or share more of your thoughts on what’s an intelligent rim design? Particularly on aluminum rims. Cheers
I’ll put it on the list. Thanks for the interest!
It's mostly that hobby rider like myself run quite low tyre pressure when riding techy slow trails, but then I have to jump a gap with sharp boulder edge before landing and when I case it into the sharp edge the insert can save the rim... it's more like I am a fool who is still learning and I don't want to destroy my wheels by accident...
this video has some good points and at some point after I hone my skills I also see step up to thicker casings as way better solution than the insert
I’d be super interested in a review of Berd spokes from an Enduro viewpoint.
I’m with you though about running heavier casing tires for support and a damper feel
I run cushcore because as an intermediate level rider it allows me to take lines on rock gardens to improve my riding skills while giving me piece of mind I won’t dent my rims due to poor line choice or just lack of speed to not hit a rock fully.
But it is clearly a huge weight penalty and i will probably Not run them again when i change to either a new set of wheels next year
Running cushcore for 3 years. Rims like new, no pinch flat. But im e-bike rider, for me durability is a must have.
Braking news: tire insert doesn't mean just Cushcore. There are much better, cheaper and lighter options out there and they do their job great when running really low pressures.
Seems the whole XC side is missing from the comments and video. I love a fast exo style XC tire, low drag, supple, and light. Ripping around in rocky desert conditions where harsh hits and steep techs climbs are frequent, the lower the pressures I can run to keep the traction up and the ride cozy/compliant is key. I’m sure my inserts have saved my rims many times judging by the snake bites the rim has punched into them. I think it can also allow one to use lighter rims in general. I do think for pure enduro riders the video is much more useful. . .
Another thing to think about, the insert acts like a fork token. Taking up space in the tire the suspension through the tire now ramps up quicker. I only ride hardtails. I’m experimenting with one bike less insert vs bike with. You can really feel the difference and I’m starting to realize the non insert bike may ride better.
Good point and interesting feedback. Too much ramp is not good in forks as well. Thanks for the share!
You don’t blowing up your casing while ripping those corner ? It’s my major problem with maxxis tires, and that’s why i run an insert
Right on man. I had my full circle a few months ago when my last Rimpact inserts stretched out too far to be able to mount them properly and I couldnt afford to buy a new set. Right away, when I went out on my 1st ride without them I couldn't believe how much easier it felt to pedal everywhere. The bike felt snappier and like it had some extra energy somehow. I'm good without them for now i think.
Are you running higher pressures than average? You didnt mention much about pressure except "just enough"
interesting! i still run the first generation rimpact insert and i didnt notice any stretching and i also weighed it after one season to see how much sealant it absorbed (about 10g of dried up milk on the surface). are you using ammonia-free sealant?
Episode on tyre casings?
thanks fo all the quality videos dude. Ive got an i9 enduro s wheel set that I run Tannus tubeless insert only in the back with Schwalbe super gravity tires but also have a Spank wheel set, Spike 33 rear and a spank 350 Vibrocore front wheel that I run with no inserts, just a DH casing in the rear and enduro casing up front. No issues on either wheel set so far. Running these wheel sets on a v3 Evil Insurgent 27.5
I run inserts because they provide some insurance against smashing my rims, and that's it really. I'm not a racer looking for the most optimal possible solution, the weight penalty is a non-issue compared to my lack of fitness, and I don't have a sponsor to provide me with new rims that are designed to prevent pinch flats. My number one priority in equipment decisions is prolonging the lifespan of my bike and it's components, because marginal performance improvements are lost on a punter like me who has miles of skill ceiling above me.
Personnaly I've ridden with FTD 2, Cushcore and Tannus, and everytime I took them off to run insertless it was a day & night difference. Way more responsive without inserts.
As your standard joey i only run an an insert to safe my rims 🥲i already run dh tires and i was riding a few psi more but if you ride blind a lot theres always one square edge that will also square up your rim...
also i feel like youre not talking about inserts in general but rather about cushcore specifically.
i personally run the standard insert from rimpact on the rear which only weighs 95g (29").
anyways thanks for sharing your point of view
I run tannus on my rear nobl tr37s. I race too but never come close to blowing a tyre off.
I like the deaded feeling it gives on chattery shit. and the benefit of running 2-3 psi lower in the wet.without getting rim strikes.i am 190lbs so I could see if you were under 160lbs maybe the benefit would be less?
I think running clipless to flats has a huge deal too. I was on flats for a few years and I would destroy way more wheels then what I do now on clipless. just my 2 cents
I am very light (sub 135 lbs) so even when I'm pushing, I'm not hard on my bike. I'm not racing fast anyways so my wheels have it pretty easy. I have killed wheels before, usually from just brutal rock hits at speed on a hardtail in a bike park that cracked the rim...strong rims and decent pressures have kept my wheels intact for some time now. I have never flatted or had a tire fail. Just direct rim failure.
Isn't a 50 gram foam core a better option than a 225 gram tube? Weight wise speaking.
have crushcore both front and rear, compare to the risk to damage the rim, the extra weight for my 25kg ebike seems nothing, and also allows me to run low pressure for 2.8 tyre
E bikes are another story haha kinda negates the downside of weight
I've never run full cushcore, but I have run some of the lighter inserts, including rimpact, cushcore xc, and vittoria airliner lites. My goal was to try to limit dings in alloy rims and I still got dings anyway with the inserts. I'm probably not aggressive enough to see the other benefits, and I'm not willing to take the weight penalty of full cushcore. So from the perspective of a more casual rider, I also gave up on inserts. I just had to learn to be less anal about my rims being perfect (they still work fine anyway, they just need a closer eye on spoke tension once they have dings).
Thank you for this video. I just want to get off the tubes cuz of the weight and effect with rolling resistanc... im running 27.5/2.8 with 1mm thick wall tubes inside ( ebike ) and its rolling too hard on flat surface whan not peddaling.. So im going minimum w8 on tires..
Not sure when this was recorded but what’s with the zeb?
I race some enduro and downhill and only weigh about 145 and I will absolutely abliterate raceface arc rims and get flats quite often id say for me I must have it and I like the feel it gives
Thanks for posting this. You make some really good points that have my rethinking my current rear only cushcore pro setup on my trail bike. What are your thoughts on being able to step down in casing while running an insert. It looks like the difference between an exo+ and DD is about 130g. If cushcore is about 100g as you mentioned, it seems like running the exo+ with cushcore could be a good option. I struggle a lot with pinch flats on trail casings (even with cushcore pro) running 26psi and I'm only 140 lbs. I hardly ever tear sidewalls though. That kind of leaves me thinking a heavier weight trail casing like exo+ with cushcore is the best solution for me. Thanks for making put some thought into this! Curious to hear what you think.
He kinda understated the weight. Cushcore is about 260g each. The XC version is 150g. The tendency to pinch flats comes from multiple sources - low tire pressure, rim design, tire casing, terrain, riding style, etc. There's a lot that can be changed other than inserts.
@@JD-dw3jp Good catch on the weight for cushcore pro. I pinch flatted/dented my rims front and rear on my last ride with Cushcore XC up front and Cushcore Pro rear at 24/26 on Specialized Butcher/Eliminator 2.6's. I really hate those tires due to the width, but that's what came with that bike so I'm running them until they're dead. I feel like a narrower casing with more reinforcment would probably help, but I'm still hesitant to run DD or similar casing without cushcore. I feel like I'd need to be running ~28-30psi rear without cushcore which just seems so high.
Def help if ur a bigger heavier rider I feel especially nice on descents bike park stuff
Thank you for this video. Very nice delivery.
Would you consider cushcore in the back for a hartail? Since it gets banged up a lot more due to no suspension in the back.
We definitely recommend an insert in the rear of a hardtail mtb. Welcomed upgrade! Cheers
@@RideTannus hahahahaha
@@RideTannus Cushcore not you tannus
I'm that one weirdo who only runs an insert (cushcore) in the front. The traction gains are unmatched.
I don't think I'll ever go back to not running one.
Casings > inserts.
Same weight, but beefier casings are easier to maintain and install. It’s a pain in the ass just to refill your sealant with Cush core. Also, trail side repair is 5 minutes with a tube.
One thing not often talked about is the effect of reduced air volume when running an insert.
If you have 2 identical tires running the same pressure, one with an insert, one without. In theory, the one with the insert, because of the reduced volume will be more prone to rolling in corners, burping, and just plain ripping the bead off.
As an example take fat bike and a road bike and put 30 psi in each. One is like a rock and the other is damn near flat. Same pressure, different volume. Do you think you could rip the bead off that road bike? Now try the fat bike.
Whats interesting is when you consider that some inserts, like cush core offer increased sidewall support and (maybe) bead hold, so you are getting some of that support back that you lost when you reduced the volume.
So whats better? Is the volume reduction enough to make a difference? I don't know, but I think its something to consider.
Btw (not that it matters) I run an insert in the rear for flat protection.
I ride my stumpy all day long, i dont like running 40 in pressure but i must because when i need it. Now i got my pump and gague so i can put in after what i run, When i ride with s hard presasure i almost bounce of things. So would be nice with protection but maybe its better learning tighten spokes and wheel service more
Tyre inserts weigh less than the difference between a regular tyre and a double weight downhill tyre. By far.
Man Cuchcore isn't to protect it is to hold tire. There is many other inserts eadsy to instal with tyre. I need it only to protect rear rim.
Good thoughts! I just removed my big cush core pro and went with the lighter xc in the rear only. Mixed results thus far but it's definitely been interesting to experiment.
any update on this setup? thinking about running this since i have some small dings only in the rear rim
I've been testing different inserts this past season and I've found my happy medium with huck Norris and double downs. It give me a just a little more protection and support with out a shit ton of weight and they are stupid easy to install
I'm going to be getting inserts again to save my rims
Low psi has negative effects for your suspension performance
I cracked a carbon rim with inserts. I'm pretty sure it was because of the inserts. They should never have cracked otherwise on that drop.
Cudhcore yes, Tannus no!
2 years in Bentonvilke on Cush core zero flats, 2 weeks on Tannus 2 flats and a bent wheel!
I just threw some enve wheels on my new ride
I don't run inserts because Continentals.
You saying they're that good?
doubt it
Inserts exist because tyres sidewalls are too weak (even DH) and like you said most rim sidewalls are too thin and sharp.
I run singleply tyres with cushcore plus so I can run super low pressure for maximum grip and not worry about destroying my aluminium rims. And I run tubes on top pf those inserts because I don't want to deal with tubeless mess.
I think the problem with mtb is people feel they need the best of everything when the type of riding they do is not even close to the bikes potential. I have a GT Aggressor with different tires, and I have never popped a tube or got a flat in a rocky area with jumps.
Double ply tyres are +300 grams, over damped and slooow.
procore schwalbe
oh no 100g