UST wheel comparison

[johnjr75]

Once you account for heaver tires and no-flat goop, do UST wheels really offer that much of a weight reduction over standard wheelsets of the same weight? I am having a hard time compairing apples and oranges.

[AnandK]

Not much, but that's not really the point.  Tubeless tires self seal and allow you to run lower pressures without the risk of pinch flats.

[ridingillini]

You are probably right that there really isn't a great deal of weight reduction if you use UST wheels and UST tires.  The main advantage is the ability to run at lower tire pressures without worrying about pinch flats.  Lower tire pressures are desirable because they have less rolling resistance off-road and probably allow you to corner at higher speeds.  Also, you get fewer flats in general because the sealant fixes all of the common causes of flats.  So you wind up with a more reliable ride and you don't have to spend money on spare tubes.

You don't have to use UST wheels and UST tires to go tubeless, though.  Tubeless ready tires are generally lighter than UST tires and I'm assuming the same applies for tubeless ready wheels being generally lighter than UST wheels.  So you can get a larger weight advantage going tubeless ready than UST.  I think one of the main disadvantages with tubeless ready tires and tubeless ready wheels is that they won't hold air without sealant and won't hold air if the sealant dries up.  That's not the case with UST tires and UST wheels, which are supposed to be air tight.  I only have experience with UST wheels and UST tires but I didn't realize that my sealant had dried up until it got a thorn because it was otherwise air tight.  Another potential disadvantage with tubeless ready tires and tubeless ready wheels is the potential of compatibility issues - specifically getting a reasonably tight seal between tire and rim.  The UST standard is supposed to insure compatibility amongst all UST components while there is no tubeless ready standard so it that's more of a crapshoot.

I don't actually know what I'm talking about I'm just recalling what I thought I read in some mountain biking magazine.  Somebody will inevitably correct me where I am wrong.

[johnjr75]

I know weight reduction is not the point of running UST. I was just compairing two wheelsets and was a little put off by the weight difference of the tubeless wheel. I'm guessing with respective tires mounted, both wheels will probably weigh about the same.

I could go eather way with tubeless. I want to run lower psi but I'm not thrilled about the chance of 'burping'. All things considered, the UST set are stronger and of better quality, so I'll probably go with them.

  

[Jeff Hanson]

If you're pinch flatting at the tire pressure you like to run, try tubeless.  If not, don't.

IMHO, there's not enough traction problems, or rocks around here to make tubeless a big necessity.

[johnjr75]

I haven't had any pinch flats yet, but when I get near the pressures I like, I can feel and hear my wheels bouncing off SWK.

[Jeff Hanson]

SWK does have some pretty rocky sections, but most of the rocks are relatively small and rounded.  I've never had a pinch flat there due the rocks, but did make a stupid move on a big root once that got me.  I knew the tire was going to go flat as soon as I did it. 

[gearhead313]

Stans kit i believe can be added to your fav wheels to make them toob less.. but Im not completely sure. i used to run Stans ztr 355 rims like that and they were light and fantastic. now i run crank brothers iodine wheels since I've destroyed those Stans O:-).