No Tube Required

We’ve been running tubeless tires on our mountain bikes for over 25 years. Since Stan’s NoTubes first launched its tubeless tire solution in 2001, we were on board—long before owning a bike shop. Back then, we found ourselves acting as test pilots on early versions of sealant, rim strips, and plenty of creative, make-shift tire and rim combinations.

Fast forward to today, and tubeless technology has moved well beyond mountain bikes. Gravel and road bikes have fully embraced tubeless, and most modern mountain, gravel, and road rims and tires are either tubeless-ready or available in tubeless-specific versions. Here at The WORKSHOP in Tenafly, serving riders throughout Bergen and Rockland Counties and our local mountain bike trail systems, we’re seeing more cyclists riding tubeless—and more riders asking about the real-world advantages and disadvantages.

Here’s a brief summary:

✅ Pros

• Fewer flats: Sealant automatically plugs small punctures while riding

• Lower tire pressure: Improved traction, comfort, and control—especially off-road

• Reduced rolling resistance: No tube friction means a faster, smoother feel

• No pinch flats: Eliminates classic “snake bite” flats from hard impacts

• Weight savings (sometimes): Often lighter than a tube-and-tire setup

❌ Cons

• More setup complexity: Initial installation can be messy and frustrating

• Ongoing maintenance: Sealant dries out and requires periodic refreshing

• Burping risk: Poor setup or extremely low pressures can release air

• Higher upfront cost: Tubeless tires, valves, tape, and sealant add up

• Compatibility matters: Not all rims and tires play nicely together

The WORKSHOP Difference

The good news? Our service technicians have mastered all of this.
We handle the setup, compatibility, and performance details so tubeless is no longer a consumer headache.

Your only responsibility: bring your bike in periodically so we can inspect the system and check or top off your sealant. We’ll take care of the rest—so you can enjoy fewer flats, better ride quality, and more time on the bike.