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Understanding your tubeless Zipp wheels

Zipp tubeless wheels are designed to maximize your efficiency, speed, and comfort on the bike. No tubes means no pinch flats, allowing you to run lower tire pressures for better cornering grip, improved vibration dampening, and reduced rolling resistance. We’ll equip you with the basics of your tubeless system so you can understand why tubeless is a significant part of what makes your Zipp wheels faster.

Rider on a white bike at sunset

Why tubeless makes you faster

Efficiency = Speed. With no tube inside the tire, tubeless systems have less friction for lower rolling resistance and better vibration dampening. The combination of a larger tubeless tire with lower tire pressure and a wider rim profile will provide you with a faster and more compliant ride. This concept is part of Zipp’s Total System Efficiency (TSE™), which overcomes the four barriers to speed: wind resistance, gravity, rolling resistance, vibration losses. Complete deep dives on Zipp technology are available if you want to understand the science behind Zipp’s mission to make you faster.

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Tubeless systems explained


With a tubeless setup, the tubeless-ready tire forms an airtight seal with a specially designed rim bed, tubeless rim tape, and tubeless valve. Instead of a tube, you’ll add sealant inside the tire to guard against punctures, as it seals off any small cuts or knicks your tire incurs while riding.

Tire pressure tips

Zipp wheel with axs sensor and green light

Lowering your pressure

One of the biggest benefits of tubeless tires and wheels is being able to run lower tire pressure. When you start riding tubeless, you’ll typically reduce your pressure by 10 or more PSI compared to clinchers with tubes. Less pressure not only makes your ride incredibly smooth by minimizing road vibrations, but it also allows the contact patch of the tire on the ground to spread out for better traction.

phone screen with AXS app open

Preparing for pressure loss

Tubeless systems naturally lose some air over time due to air molecules permeating through the tire’s rubber. While a 10-20% pressure loss overnight is normal, a significant loss of 50-100% within that timeframe indicates a leak within the system.

Image of tubeless valve with air valve open

Resolving leaks

There are many potential causes for air loss, including lack of sealant, a loose lock nut on the valve, a damaged o-ring, a bent valve, or issues with rim tape. View our Wheel Care and Maintenance Guide for simple fixes for all of these.

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Helpful tubeless tools

Plugs


There are many brands of tubeless plugs available in the aftermarket, but most kits include small tacky strips of soft vulcanized rubber or fabrics and a tool to insert the material into a potential puncture. Some repair kits will even include a reaming tool and knife to trim excess plug material. Find one that suits your style and practice using it on an old tire at home. Watch an example below:

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Extra sealant


Stocking up on extra sealant at home will allow you to add sealant to your tires as needed. If you notice sealant bubbling or spraying from a puncture during a ride, you’ll want to top it off when you get home. Check for recommended amounts of sealant listed on the manufacturer’s bottle based on your tire size. If your bike sits for a few months, know that sealant can pool in the tire and dry out, requiring replenishment.

Tech tip: Small bottles of sealant are great for traveling with your bike or going on bikepacking trips. A 2-ounce bottle is easy to pack and can save you in a pinch when you’re away from home.

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Valve core remover


To add sealant through your valve, you’ll need to remove the valve core with a removal tool. With the appropriate tool, you’ll be able to unthread the valve core from the valve stem by turning counterclockwise.

Sealant syringe


Some bottles of sealant will come with an attachment that acts as a syringe to easily transfer sealant into the valve directly from the bottle.

Zipp AXS Wheel Sensor tip: You’ll need to use the syringe that came with your wheels, as it’s specifically designed with a needle adapter to ensure sealant bypasses the electronic internals of the sensor. Without this adapter, you risk flooding the sensor with sealant, which will degrade the device’s performance. 

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Spare tube


When all else fails, you can always install a tube as a roadside repair. Though you’ll have to run a higher pressure to get home, a tube will get you back on the road to finish your ride.

Zipp AXS Wheel Sensor tip: Install a Zipp Smart Tube to continue getting accurate tire pressure readings once your flat is fixed. No Smart Tube? A regular threaded tube will work just fine. You simply won’t have pressure readings available since standard valve stems lack the architecture needed to measure air pressure.

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How to calculate tire pressure

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