TUFO Heron Tubular Wheels & XC5 29″er Tubular Tires – On Test: by c_g
Only recently we introduced you to the exceptionally lightweight AMERICAN CLASSIC Race 29″er wheels (here) and now we have taken delivery of the next wheelset for long term testing. Only these are tubulars. Since the specifications are very similar, this somewhat revives the old discussion/comparison between tubeless and tubulars on a 29″er MTB level.
Tufo Heron 29 tubs and XC5 Tubular tires
Many of our readers may disregard MTB tubulars as something only pro racers need, something that has no real relevance to them, but in my opinion this verdict is too short sighted. I agree – to this point tubular MTB tires have been attractive to racers only. The options in available tires was decent, but limited to dry conditions and racing-only tires such as the SCHWALBE Racing Ralph 2.0 tub, GEAX Saguaro 2.0 tub, some DUGASTs and the TUFO XC2 Plus. I also agree that this will remain to be the premium stronghold of tubulars, but our Eurobike´12 news showed that the TUFOs XC4 29″er and XC5 29″er (here) are aiming to put a wider perspective to 29″er MTB tubulars. As some may recall, I have had extensive riding time on board of a few tubulars, such as the GEAX Saguaro 2.0 tub (here) or the TUFO XC2 Plus (here) and I always came away deeply impressed, by the ride qualities, but wishing for a more aggressive tread design and larger volume – and while not in one tire, CZECH tubular manufacturer TUFO have made that wish come true.
It would be easy to knock out tubulars, due to their unfamiliar mounting procedure. Which when done the traditional way by gluing really can be very elaborate and messy, but when done with the TUFO double sided gluing tape really is pretty straight forward – see here Some dismiss tubulars since they require a specific tubular rim. But we at TNI dare to look at things from our own perspective and will give these wheels/tires a good go, evaluating them (also) by ride performance. Criticism like the inability to quickly change a tire before a ride and the impossibility to repair them on the trail are points well justified and inherent to the tubular system. However; our real world experiences so far have shown that snake bites very unlikely to happen, punctures (if happening) often can be assisted by injecting some sealant, and severe casing damages more often than not have you take a long walk home with any type of tire. When it comes to ride quality though, my position stands firm: Well made tubulars are awesome and surpassing any clincher type tire out there in smoothness and rolling resistance. What is more, tubular rims are rather simple structures and can be produced at very low weights from either carbon or alloy (several manufacturers offer products for 29″er MTB application like AX-LIGHTNESS -tested here-, ENVE, BOR, AMBROSIO, … and TUFO). So really, building a set of MTB tubs isn´t really out of reach or elevated for a enthusiast biker ;).
*************************************
TUFO Heron 29″er wheels and XC5 29″er tires. So much for discussing the tubular versus clincher concept – now to our very real testing samples:
The structural basis of the test are TUFO´s own Heron 29″er wheels (already mentioned in the Eurobike´12 post here). The wheels are more or less traditional built sets with well proven high end components: – The robust and super light DT-SWISS 240s hubs (star ratchet freewheel, Centrelock)
The equally high end SAPIM CX-Ray bladed spokes (28 pcs, 2x crossed) and the TUFO Heron 29″er carbon rims, which are applying different carbon weaves into one structure. Around the spoke holes there is a 3k-weaving, while everything else visually seems to be made up of UD-carbon. The proprietary alloy nipples are completely inside the rims, something other manufacturers are doing as well (e.g. ENVE). Unfortunately this means you have to take off the tires if the need comes for retensioning the spokes – let´s hope it won´t happen too often ;).
TUFO offers their wheels only with a set of their tubulars already installed (usually the XC2 Plus – on demand any other tubular, in our case it came with the XC5). Considering the combo the asking price of € 1590.- does not seem too elevated. There also is a Lefty specific version available. TUFO states a maximum rider´s weight of 92 kg or 203 lbs fort he Heron 29″er.
If you´d like to go more budget and 200g added weight don´t bother you, you could go for TUFO´s ALCA 29″er wheels, which rely on an alloy rim, DT-SWISS 350 hubs and 32 spokes (here 3x crossed), which sell for € 770.- or. 790.- fort he X12-version (also with tires installed). Since the wheels came with tires installed we couldn’t weigh the Heron 29″er wheels separately, but in theory after subtracting the tires (see weight further down) and the gluing tape (appx. 30g per wheel) we calculate a really good 1455g (this would be 775g for the rear and 680g for the front).
As mentioned, the tubular tires mounted on the wheels are the XC5 29 that TUFO states as training and all condition tires. The casing is a bit more robust than their other MTB tubs (a lower 120 TPI count as opposed to 210 TPI) and the truly aggressive tread design should make them a perfect match for our mixed and demanding trail conditions this time of year. The TUFO XC5 29er tires sell for € 89.90 a piece. At an actual 609g (we received one separate tub sample) the XC5 29“ is right in the middle between a light weight race tire and a everyday all-arounder.Our test sample tires come in at 48 mm casing width and 50.5 mm tread width when inflated to 2.0 bar – all being very true and precisely manufactured (something many tubular manufacturers are struggling with).
By tread design, dimensions and weight the TUFO XC5 run close to the WTB Moto 1,9 TCS 29er (introduced here) – only that the XC is more rounded by cross section. Since we simultaneously are running the Moto on the AMERICAN CLASSIC Race 29 wheels – a direct comparison is only practical … accompanied by the final testing of the WTB Moto.
With these two combinations we have something very similar by specs but fundamentally different technological approach – which makes the comparison all the more interesting.
RIDE ON,
c_g
I am curious to the long term conclusion on tubulars. In theory a good idea, but too many small issues for a trail rider at the moment, such as not enough volume, troublesome trailside repairs of flats and tyre off the rim, added to not enough selection of tires.
To me (who has not tried a tubular), the advantages of tubulars such as lower weight, good puncture resistance and lower rolling resistance seem to be offset by the largely same but more easily obtainable advantages of regular tubeless.
TUFO´s ALCA 29?er wheels weight about 1655 grams, did I do the math right? Tubular can be a game changer IF the tires are wide enough. Seems current MTB thinking is 2.2-2.4 is the sweet spot width of current X cross or Mountain riding. How wide can a tubular go? Look forward to the review.
Can you give the weights of the Tufos with tires installed and AM Classic with tires installed? This is going to be a fascinating comparison.
Given that c_g’s own country’s Tour Magazine has consistently tested road clincher tyres to have lower rolling resistance than tubulars and Tufo tyres have a history of doing poorly in the same tests I have a hard time believing the lower rolling resistance claims for these.
Recently on a long ride I had a stick go through the sidewall of my tubeless tyre. I was able to boot the tyre using the small roll of duct tape I carry in my pack, put in a tube and make it back to the car. If I was running a tubular it would have been game over(sealant or not and I would have faced a long walk.
I spent 15 years while racing on the road gluing and running tubulars of various kinds, but typically there was a car with spare wheels behind the peleton!
Still if someone wants to put on a set to go out and have fun on their bike its all good!
@ Simenf & Kevin: Thanks for your insight and thoughts. I never meant to hide any of these facts you stated (I think I did, too, in my intro ;-)) – especially the trailside repair and simplicity of tire changes will always be a thing – these are systematic issues tubulars will always have.
Only thing is we heard and potentially said the same things (selection of tires, volume … among others) about 29er tires/wheels when they came out – and look where we are now ;-).
@ Yogi: What do you mean by stating the TUFO Alca´s weight? The Heron are the higher end carbon tubulars and are lighter.
Good idea with more volume on tubulars, I am all for it, too. Currently the widest tubular MTB tire I know of is the TUFO XC4 with a true 2.2. Anything wider may need another, wider rim design to provide enough support.
@ Motivated: Sure I will, even with avery similar wheel and tire weight, the tubeless will always come out 120 to 250 g more, depending of how much sealant or what tube is being used.
@ Kevin: Rolling resistance to me is one part of a complicated equation. As you surely will acknowledge, there is a whole lot more to good tire performance in mountainbiking than a static test on a perfectly round drum roll (as done my TOUR magazine). On rough surfaces there are other factors like resilience, small bump and vibration absorption, rebound, deflection under lateral loads and so many others – many of which are not considered in most testing environments but all playing into what comes out as a real world riding impression it leaves to you or me.
I am not disregarding such testing and numeric results, but they are only part of a much bigger story. At least in my experience :-).
–> All that said – I am in no way sold to tubulars. I am torn between some intrigueing traits they bring to the table, the drawbacks they bring and what is currently considered state of the art tubeless ready technology (which by the way isn´t anywhere near refined at this point). But I feel this tubular tire/wheel should have a real chance to prove their worth under real world riding to come to a fair judgement and what I see beginning from the very first 29er tubulars back almost 3 years ago – they are getting better and more universal.
I’m very excited to read your thoughts and opinions on these wheels and tires! Apparently, unlike most of your readers, I race my mountain bike on a regular basis (recreational, not pro). And even my local training rides are done on a 17 mile “clover leaf” trail system that never takes me further than 4 miles from the car. So being stranded from a flat tire isn’t my biggest concern (even though it has happened on occasion). I currently ride a Spearfish and like the stiff ride of the short travel bike. I’d like to know if I could go back to a hard tail with the added cushion of the tubular tires without suffering from the fatigue normally associated with race bikes. One added bonus is that my current race wheels are the AM Classic Race wheels, so that comparison will be perfect for me 😀 Thanks for the great reviews!
Bring on the tubular, I’ve been riding my Tufo XC2’sfor sometime now and I’m no racer and I just love them. Definitely the way to go and I haven’t even gone to carbon rims yet, which is next.
The feel and ability of these tubs is like no other tyre I’ve tried. Yes I am a roadie with lots of experience with tubs on the road and I do or see and more disadvantages to tubs over tyres, in fact I so much prefer tubs I use them all year round on all surfaces. So I will be trying the XC 4 or 5 for next winter, as well as some of the more exotic tubs this summer.
Did you guys ever measure how wide the Heron rims are?
The only MTB tubular rim measurements I can find are the ENVE tubulars at 24mm, and the FRM 309T at 24.6mm.
I used Tufo Alca29er since march 2013 on a Scott Scale carbon. I triyed Xc2+ and XC4.
My other wheel set are FRM hubs and Crest rim with CX RAy spokes. I use Swalbe Racing Ralf snakes skins 2.25.
So I can compares these 2 wheel set and from now I still don’ t know witch is better. FRM have better geometry, Stiffer, lighter and better bearing. So the comparaison is not 100% fair.
About flat, I get more flat with the Racing ralf than the tufo XC4. But if you ride unde 1.5 you can heart the side because of the round balloon.
I “feel” the grip much more better with the Tubs, Incredible traction grip specialy in wet rock/roots etc. Also, when your front wheel slip it come back to grip quickly.
But, I looks like my other wheelset with same presure ( 1.7bar approx) is more comfortable and seem to have a better rolling resistant on free wheel than the Tufo. I fell more resistance on the road with the Tufo but, it is just a feel. Is it due to the tubs or the Hub?
So I am questionning my self if I should buy a better, lighter tubular weelset or stay with my tubeless ready great wheelset??
one question, why tufo Heron29 use 28 spokes? With alloy rim i hate 28 spokes, specially onn 29er?
Hope to have any more tips.