This is another common question on Warp 9 Supermoto Conversions. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so let’s get into a little more details why you may choose one over the other because ultimately, it’s up to you.

First, let’s talk about wheel types. In the motorcycle world we have two options: spoked wheels or mag-style solid wheels. Generally speaking, spoked wheels run tubes and cast, or solid, wheels do not. This is because spoked wheels do not have a way to create an airtight seal and therefore require the use of a tube to hold the air. On the other hand, solid cast wheels don’t have spoke holes and therefore can create an airtight cavity between the wheel and tire itself. There is an exception to this rule, and that is on some modern adventure bikes that are made with spokes attached to the side of the rim (so-called cross-spoked rims) rather than laced in, which makes it possible to keep the wheel airtight. Tubed tires still find a necessary application on certain types of bikes and are typically used for motorcycles meant for off-roading, such as dirt bikes and adventure bikes. More than likely, the bike you are currently interested in converting to Supermoto is running spokes wheels with tubes. So, a good rule of thumb to go by is spoked wheels need tubes, whereas cast or solid wheels do not.

Next, let’s discuss the tires themselves a little. Some tires are tube-type, while others are tubeless. Briefly, tubeless tires are meant to run on tubeless wheels, yes. However, you can run tubes in a “tubeless” tire. It’s been done for years and will likely continue to be done for many more on large street bikes such as classic Harley-Davidson's. These bikes run spoked wheels for a classic look and therefore need tubes to hold the air but are almost always running “tubeless” tires. Running tubes in Supermoto conversions has also been the norm for many years and continues to be on most aftermarket wheel brands since they do not offer a tubeless system. Now that said, this is a debate that will probably last longer than you, me, or our grandchildren’s grandchildren. And, since it’s not what we’re really trying to accomplish in this article, we’ll leave that for you to go down a Google rabbit hole on if you’re so inclined. But, in conclusion, you can run tubes in tubeless wheels on your Supermoto conversion.

So, now that we understand why a particular type of wheel requires the use of a tube or not (and have a brief understanding of running tubes with “tubeless” tires) we can discuss Warp9’s tubeless spoked wheels. Warp9 began offering a tubeless option for their spoked wheels several years ago and it’s been quite popular ever since. But you may wonder, how do they do it? Basically, it's a sealant that seals off the spoke holes, making a spoked wheel able to run tubeless. Pretty nifty, right? I mean, it's not reinventing the wheel (see what we did there) by using it, but it’s a unique offering on Warp 9's Supermoto wheels. That’s why we love these guys! But is it always better? That’s a tough question to answer, mainly due to one small problem. It is still a spoked wheel and making a spoked wheel airtight isn’t a “perfect science”. We will get into that in more detail shortly, but first let’s go over the pros and cons of tubeless.

The number one reason to run tubeless is they handle a puncture much better than a tube type tire. When a tubed tire is punctured, it can deflate almost immediately, which can obviously be hazardous. A tubeless tire has the ability to seal itself around the object and a slow deflation will almost always happen. “Almost” being the operative word as they aren’t impervious to popping, as it could still happen in extreme situations. Tubeless set-ups also reduce weight, run cooler, and a flat can often be repaired with a simple plug.

The cons of tubeless truly are minimal. Really, the only disadvantage is the potential for the sealant to fail. We have had instances of tubeless failure/leaking with the product and while it is a small percentage, it’s still a bummer. The bright side? Warp9 stands behind their product and will repair any leak free of charge. However, the disadvantage is obvious, you’re without your bike for a few weeks while it’s being repaired and shipping it back and forth can get rather costly. Warp 9’s—and therefore our—current policy is that all tubeless wheels must be ordered WITH tires, otherwise, the warranty on tubeless repairs is void. The reasoning for this is that if we mount the tires before shipping them, we can check for any leaks before they arrive on your doorstep and create a headache for us all. Can we still sell you a set of tubeless wheels without tires? Sure, but you assume all subsequent shipping costs if it fails. Again, Warp9 will repair the leak itself at no charge, but the shipping (both ways) would be your responsibility. Contact us is you still want to order tubeless spoked wheels without tires for further details.

So, what about just running with tubes? You sure can! Again, it’s been done for years and will continue to be done on many motorcycles. The cons for running tubes are they run hotter, they’re slightly heavier, you’d be running a tube in a “tubeless” tire, fixing a flat isn’t as simple, and most importantly, a puncture can be more dangerous than if it were tubeless. And, opposite of tubeless, tubes have only the one advantage and that is no need to worry about a tubeless leak/failure. But, again, we can mitigate this issue from the get-go by installing tires and making sure the sealant is properly seated. This will reduce the potential of losing riding time, money, and overall happiness with your new wheels! When you’re happy, we’re happy, so take some of the headache out of the equation and purchase your tubeless wheels with tires.

Conclusion:

Tubeless PROS

• Likely safer in the event of a puncture
• Easier to repair a flat
• Runs cooler
• Lighter weight
• Running a tubeless wheel with a tubeless tire

Tubeless CONS

• Potential for sealant failure and leaks
• More expensive

Standard Tubes PROS

• No potential for sealant failure or leaks
• Less expensive

Standard Tubes CONS

• Risk of abrupt air loss if punctured
• More complex flat repairs
• Runs hotter
• Heavier weight
• Running a tube in a tubeless wheel

Want to run tubeless but not deal with the potential of a sealant failure? Pick up the cream of the crop and spend the extra cash on the Tubeless Forged Supermoto Conversion! Solid wheels will always be the best option for running tubeless. They also have the added advantage of replaceable hubs, meaning if you change bikes, you can still use your wheels and just buy new hubs to swap out!

Well, there you have it. Hope we didn’t bore you too much with the details, but they’re there if you want them! Still unsure of what you want to do? That’s what we’re here for! Contact one of our friendly staff anytime and we’ll be happy to discuss options and answer any questions you may have.