When it comes to tires, we need to distinguish between two families of tires: a cyclist's preference between tubulars and clinchers also influences their choice of wheelset. Have you always ridden clinchers? Are you curious about trying tubulars but worried about changing tires? There are several options available. Discover them with us!
Tubular or clincher tire for my bike?
Tell me what tires you use and I'll tell you who you are. If tires are your bike's first (and also only) point of contact with the road, it goes without saying that choosing the right product is essential for a great riding experience. But what types of tires are there? Let's take a look together.
Tubular
Tubulars are the preferred choice of professionals, racers, and advanced amateurs for superior performance. These tires, as the name suggests, are made with a closed tubular section. They are glued to the rim (usually carbon, though in very few cases aluminum is also used) with a special adhesive or double-sided tape . An inner tube is sewn inside, protected by a tape that can withstand high inflation pressures (even up to 10/12 bar). They are then equipped with a rubber tread that ensures grip, low rolling resistance, and, if reinforced with a double layer of material, good puncture protection. As mentioned, their level of performance makes tubulars the most suitable product for professional wheels and for those with a passion for competition.
At the amateur level, however, these tires are often avoided because they are inconvenient to transport and replace in the event of a puncture. This choice is also due to the higher purchase price compared to a clincher, due to the lesser ease of use. Two types of tubular tires currently available in our shop are the Miura TS37 EVO and TS47 EVO , both medium-profile, also available in a disc version.
MIURA TS37 EVO
MIURA TS47 EVO
Clincher and tubeless
Clincher tires are the most classic type of tire. Originally mounted on touring bikes for their practicality, today they are typically used for touring and amateur cycling. At the professional level, however, they are still chosen for long training sessions, which require the most reliable bike possible (although recently, on particularly rough terrain, some professionals are even using clincher tires in competitions).
A clincher tire is composed of a ply carcass, a rubber tread, and a butyl or latex inner tube (a lighter, higher-performance material, but also more delicate). They differ in that a tubular tire is a "closed tube," while a clincher tire is an "open" tire into which a tube is inserted during assembly. It is secured to the rim with lateral reinforcements that strengthen the outer structure in contact with the wheel (usually aluminum, but as we'll see, carbon fiber clinchers also exist) and can be easily removed by the cyclist with bare hands (preferably with the help of a pair of tire levers). For the same quality, a clincher tire is cheaper than a tubeless or tubular tire and is very easy to replace, making it very popular among those who ride high mileage.
Several racing bike wheel manufacturers also propose the use of tubeless tires, not only for mountain biking but also for road cycling . Tubeless tires have two important strengths:
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you can choose whether to fit the inner tube (as if it were a clincher tire) or use the Tubeless ready kit by injecting a special latex sealant into the tire;
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you will be able to run even with a lower inflation pressure without risking a puncture.
Tubular vs. Clincher/Tubeless: What Kind of Wheels Can You Find?
If you want to enjoy the maximum performance offered by tubular tires, the only choice is to combine them with a pair of full carbon wheels.
Ursus, for example, offers the models that professional team riders are equipped with, such as the Miura TS47 or Miura TS37 .
When it comes to clincher tires, the options are even wider. They range from the classic and more economical aluminum rim solution ( Athon , Blaze , Izar ), to the carbon wheels of the Miura C series (in theC37 andC50 versions ). An example of very safe wheels are the C or TC: the use of special carbon fibers and a specific protective resin makes these products extremely safe, high-performance, and long-lasting. The same solution is adopted in all Ursus clincher products, such as the MiAmi : a carbon rim at an attractive price, designed to meet the needs of an amateur who loves to be competitive on all fronts.
Finally, a hybrid solution is represented by the innovative carbon rims for Tubeless. With these special models, it is possible to mount either tubeless UTS tires or classic clinchers on the same rim. The versatility of such a product gives the cyclist the freedom to choose the type of tire to use depending on the challenge they face. Within the Ursus range, for example, this type of product is identified by the acronym Miura TC (in the TC37 and TC67 models and in their disc brake versions, TC37 DISC and TC67 DISC ).
In conclusion
Road bike wheels: tubulars vs. clinchers, which is best? There's no right or wrong choice.
By reading this article, you'll understand how, depending on the needs of each individual cyclist, you can focus your attention on products that differ greatly in terms of performance and price.
