Firstly, both tubular tires and clincher tires have inner tubes, while tubeless tires do not.

The outer tire of both clincher and tubeless tires stays on the rim due to the design of the rim, whereas tubular tires are held in place by glue.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Tubular Tires

The outer tire is fully sewn around the inner tube. The inner tube ensures air retention, while the outer tire provides rigidity and grip. The outer tire is glued onto a specially designed tubular rim.

Advantages

Both the rim and tire are designed to be very lightweight, which helps reduce the overall weight of the bike. Even if the tire loses pressure or gets a puncture, it stays securely attached to the rim, allowing the rider to maintain better control of the bike in case of an emergency. This is one of the reasons why many professional riders still prefer tubular tires.

Disadvantages

Tubular tires are a bit "high maintenance": the outer tire needs to be sewn together, and then glued onto the rim, making installation quite a hassle. If you get a flat while out riding, it’s nearly impossible to repair; you're essentially stuck with no choice but to replace it.

Plus, they’re expensive—if you get a flat, both the inner tube and the outer tire are ruined, and you can’t repair them. You’ll have to replace both, which is not only costly but also time-consuming.

Clincher Tires

Clincher tires have an open bead, and when the inner tube is inflated, it expands and fits into a pre-made groove in the rim, securely holding the tire in place (hence the term "clincher," as "clinch" means to grip the edge). For example, the ICAN 700C G25 rim is compatible with clincher tires. Not only that, it's also Tubeless Ready, which means it can also support tubeless tire systems.

Advantages

Clincher tires offer low rolling resistance, and this is no exaggeration—just this year, Julian Alaphilippe won Stage 2 of the Tour de France using clincher tires, which proves their solid performance!
Plus, if you get a flat, swapping out the inner tube is quick and easy—no hassle at all. The clincher tire also has a huge following, with both amateur riders and professional cyclists relying on it. It's definitely a popular choice for many!

Disadvantages

However, the weight of both the rims and the tires is a bit on the heavier side, so they may not feel as agile or light when riding.

Even worse, if you do get a flat, the outer tire can easily come off, causing the rim to make direct contact with the ground. Not only will you be stuck with an unrideable bike, but the rim might also get damaged, which can be a real pain.

Tubeless Tires

Tubeless tires are similar to clincher tires but don’t have an inner tube. They rely on the rim and the tire itself to create an airtight seal. Small punctures are usually repaired automatically by injecting sealant into the tire. Nowadays, many rims and tires are compatible with both tubeless and clincher setups, offering flexibility.

Advantages

One of the main selling points of tubeless tires is their lighter weight compared to clincher tires with inner tubes. However, this depends on the specific situation, as a Latex inner tube might weigh similarly to the sealant and rim tape, so the difference isn't as huge as you'd expect.
A clear advantage of tubeless tires is the absence of an inner tube, which eliminates the risk of inner tube flats. You can also run lower tire pressures, which increases comfort and grip. On top of that, the sealant can automatically seal up small punctures, meaning you don’t have to worry about slow leaks—super convenient!

Disadvantages

While sealant is a lifesaver in some situations, it does have its downsides. The white, sticky substance can spill out and make a mess if you're not careful, which can be a bit of a headache.
Additionally, there’s no universal standard for tubeless tire and rim compatibility yet. Sometimes, installation can be tricky and require some patience and experience.
And if you get a large puncture that the sealant can’t fix, your best bet is to resort to the old-school method—shoving in an inner tube to get you back on the road.

The Relationship Between Punctures, Tire Pressure, and Tire Width

For bicycles with inner tubes, there are generally two types of punctures:

Puncture Flats

This happens when a sharp object pierces both the tire and the inner tube. In real life, this is relatively rare because the high tire pressure helps the tire deflect most sharp objects.

Pinch Flats

This occurs when the tire compresses too much over a large bump or obstacle, causing the inner tube to pinch between the tire and the rim, leading to a rupture. This is why it's called a "Pinch Flat"—the inner tube gets "pinched."

As you can see, tubeless tires avoid pinch flats since they don’t have an inner tube at all. To reduce the risk of inner tube punctures when using clincher tires, the best approach is to increase tire pressure. A higher pressure makes the tire stiffer, making it harder to compress, thus lowering the chances of pinch flats. However, this does come at the cost of reduced comfort.

Tire width also plays a significant role. The wider the tire, the more air it can hold, which means it needs a lower pressure to maintain its shape and support. That's why people often say "wider tires require lower pressure."

That said, the exact tire pressure you need depends on various factors, including road conditions, tire width, rim width, and rider weight. To find the optimal tire pressure for your setup, you can use a specialized calculator, like the one found in the MyMavic app, which can even be used with non-Mavic rims!

Conclusion

Each of these three types of tires has its own set of strengths, making them suitable for different riding needs. Tubular tires offer excellent performance, making them ideal for professional riders. They provide better control in case of a flat, but they’re complicated to install, expensive, and difficult to repair once punctured. Clincher tires are widely used, easy to replace the inner tube, and hassle-free during rides. However, they tend to be heavier and can cause the outer tire to detach in the event of a flat, potentially damaging the rim. Tubeless tires, with no inner tube, reduce the risk of inner tube flats, offer better comfort thanks to lower pressure, and can self-repair small punctures with sealant. But installation can be tricky, and the sealant can make a mess if not handled properly.

Ultimately, the type of tire you choose depends on your specific riding needs, preferences, and riding conditions.

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