Dirt Bikes are made to withstand extreme roads, conditions, and insane stunts. This is why their tires must be top-notch when it comes to durability, puncture resistance, traction, and stability.
Over the past decade, dirt bike tires have encountered various improvements, such as tread design, rubber stiffness, dimensions, and inner components.
There’s one question that most dirt bike riders are concerned about: are dirt bike tires tubeless? The short answer is not all dirt bikes. There are three different types of tires: tube, tubeless, and mousse.
Depending on your riding style, you’ll find a tire that fits the purpose. Let’s look at each type of tire and detail, and discuss their pros and cons.
Are Dirt Bike Tires Tubeless?
Not all dirt bikes have tubeless tires. In fact, there are different tire systems that fit each rider’s style.
That said, tubeless tires have piqued the interest of many dirt bike riders.
A tubeless tire system is a rubber tube that fits inside the tire; it acts as a high-pressure secondary chamber, while the tire itself becomes a low-pressure primary chamber.
Although a tubeless system isn’t 100% tubeless, this system can turn any conventional dirt bike tire into a tubeless tire, which eliminates the use of regular tubes.
The idea behind a tubeless system is to effectively maintain the air inside the tire regardless of the conditions it faces.
While riding on rough terrain, you can easily pinch your tires, which will let the air escape from the gap between the tire and the rim. The tubeless system acts as a 360-degree rim lock, which significantly reduces the chance of pinching the tire.
Benefits of Tubeless Tires on Dirt Bikes
As one of the most expensive tire systems, tubeless tires are considered one of the most reliable tire systems available on the market.
Tire Pressure
The tubeless system allows you to reduce tire pressure without worrying about the tire shifting off of the rim.
The fact that you can reduce air pressure and still maintain a good grip is enough reason for some riders to choose the tubeless system.
Puncture Resistance
The second benefit to switching to tubeless tires is puncture resistance. We’re not saying puncture-proof here!
The tubeless system acts as a special type of clamp that holds the tires firmly to the rims. This is what’s known as rim lock.
This feature means that if a tire gets punctured, you can still ride the bike without having the rim spinning on its own.
Weight
Weight is another advantage of tubeless tire systems. It’s a few pounds lighter than a regular tube, which makes handling while riding smoother.
Disadvantages of Tubeless System
Because tubeless tires are considered a reliable tire option, the system doesn’t have many drawbacks.
Price
Tubeless systems are in the same price range as mousse systems. They range anywhere from $100 to $250.
Tire Puncture
You may run flat. No matter how reliable a tire system is, you’re always at risk of puncturing your tire.
You’ll still be able to ride your dirt bike while it’s flat, but doing so for an extended period of time isn’t recommended. If a tire is punctured, you need to replace it as soon as you can.
Difference Between Tubeless Tires and Other Types of Tires
Now that you know how the tubeless system works, let’s see how it compares to different tire systems on the market. The competing systems are the regular tube system and the bib mousse system.
Tubes
Inner tubes are by far one of the oldest tire systems you can lay your hands on. They’ve proven their durability for decades, long before tubeless and mousse systems were invented.
The tube system is pretty straightforward. You put the tube inside the tire and inflate it. The tube will do a great job of maintaining air pressure. It’s used not only in dirt bikes but also in cars and trucks.
Pros
The major advantage of having a tube system is its low cost. Tubes are considered the most affordable system compared to tubeless or mousse.
The second advantage is that tubes come in a variety of thicknesses, which can suit different riders, from the safe and slow to the tough and risky. So if you’re one of those riders who always puncture their tires, you can go with a thicker tube system.
What’s more, installing tubes is fairly easy. You remove the tires, put the tube inside the tire, and place the new combo back. That’s it! You don’t need a specialist to do it for you.
Cons
The first disadvantage of the tube system is that it’s not suitable for riding with low pressure. Depending on the terrain, you’ll be increasing or decreasing the tire pressure to reach a sweet spot of good grip and slick handling.
Lowering your tube’s pressure can significantly mess up your dirt bike’s handling and decrease the overall performance of your bike.
Tire puncture is another issue with tires with a tube system. The risk of puncture is like cancer to all tires, except for mousse. You may have the thickest tube out there, but you’re never safe from punctures.
This leads us to the third downside, which is having to keep a spare tube or tire repair kit on hand. This won’t be very convenient when you’re trying to enjoy a dirt bike ride.
Mousses
A mousse, commonly known as bib mousse, is a butyl foam ring insert that replaces the regular tire tube. However, unlike regular tubes, mousses don’t require any pressure adjustment.
Mousses technology was first introduced in 1984 by Michelin and was designed to fit motorcycle endurance races.
Pros
Unlike regular tires, bib mousse completely eliminates flat tires, which is very helpful for rough riders. Not having to change your tires on the trail side is incredibly advantageous.
Another significant advantage of mousse is that it’s surprisingly long-lived. So, there’ll be no need for adjusting air pressure or any type of maintenance. Just install and ride!
What’s more, mousse foam tubes dramatically reduce riding impact, which is helpful when riding on rocky terrain.
Cons
As we’ve mentioned, not having to adjust tire pressure is a great advantage. However, it can be a disadvantage if you want to change the tire pressure to fit a certain terrain.
Mousses retain tire pressure, which can limit what conditions you ride in. In that case, it may be better to switch to a heavier-duty tube system or tubeless system.
Another downside for mousses technology is their high cost. Depending on the tire size, mousses range from $150 to $200.
To Sum Up
Tubes are certainly the more affordable option, but they’re not good to ride with low pressure. What’s more, you’ll be having a lot of problems with flat tires.
Tubeless, on the other hand, is a good system for almost everything. It protects the motorcycle rim, handles well at low pressure, and can be easily patched if you puncture the tire.
Bib mousse is a great option for serious riders, and it’s the only system that offers puncture-free tires. The problem is that you can’t change the tire pressure.
Now you know the pros and cons of each tire system, which one would you choose for your next enduro?