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I read multiple reviews about tubeless tires and using self sealer. I went through every web site, product review and bike site trying to decide if I would take the plunge. It was time for new wheels and I was thinking about the Fulcrum racing zero wheels which are designed for clinchers with tubes or tubeless.
Well, I took the plunge and bought the Fulcrum wheels. i went to Stans tubeless site and read about self sealers and what to use.
I installed the Hutchinson tires, added Stans Sealant according to the instructions, inflated the tires, and they immediately seated and sealed.
I typically ride 1500 miles during the riding season and usually get 2-3 flats per season.
This year, riding my typical routes, I got ZERO flats that prevented me from finishing a ride. I got no pinch flats, no snake bite flats and the only indication that I did get a hole was the loss of some air during a ride that did not stop me from getting home.
The tires hold 90 PSI without any loss for a week. I still check each ride but rarely find any air loss.
I carry a spare inner tube, just in case of a catastrophic tire cut. And I also have CO2 and a mini pump. But, the tubeless with Stans self seal has worked flawlessly for this past year.
I read the review that one person had a side wall cut and a mess. Any tire cut that destroy a side wall is obviously irreparable and is exceeds the self seal capabilities.
But, for any other type of pinch flat, puncture flat, snake bite or just bad luck flat, this seems to be perfect.
So, based on my personal experience, having had more flats than I can ever want to recall, these tires appear to be the cure.
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I've been riding these and their Fusion 2 predecessors for over five years on my Shimano Dura-Ace tubeless rims. I'm very impressed with these tires, but they take some getting used to and there are some tricks you need to know. Most of the complaints in these reviews come from not knowing some of these tricks.Riding about 4,000 miles a year I have had only three flats. The first, I hit a roofing nail and it penetrated the sidewall. The second I got a sidewall cut almost a half-inch long from an unknown object. The third was caused by a razor blade that peeled over an inch of tread off the rear tire. I do not expect any tire to stand up to this kind of damage. Around here we have a desert plant called puncture vine that throws off thousands of seed pods we call goat heads because of their shape. These are the bane of cyclists here and on every club ride we have to stop a couple of times for people to fix the punctures caused by these monsters. The Hutchinsons with sealant, though, are immune to them.
Ride is great. Stable at speed and fast curves in downhill descents. A set of Fusions lasts me an entire season.
Now, let's talk about those problems. The first is these things are expensive. The price through Amazon is the best I've found this year, but at about $63 per tire, that's a lot more than most regular clinchers.
The sidewalls are incredibly stiff, which allows them to run at such low pressures (I'm 155 lbs and run 90-92 pounds in each tire). This also makes initial installation really hard. Here's what I've learned about this. First, warm the tire. In summer I put them out in the sun until they're soft. In winter I heat them in the oven to about 110 degrees. I'm sure they reach temperatures highter than this on the road, so I doubt they can be harmed by this process. Then I use some soft work gloves with rubbery palms that protect my hands and give me better grip.
Next, make sure to wet the bead on the tires and the groove inside the wheel with a solution of water and dish soap. This will seat the bead a lot easier. It still will take a lot of hand and wrist effort to get the last few inches of the second side of the tire inside the rim.
I have started using an air compressor with an adapter for presta valves and this usually works first time to inflate the tire on its initial mounting. I have used a floor pump, but you have to pump really fast and it's absolutely necessary to have the beads moist. Strangely, some of these tires are much easier to mount than others and I have no idea why.
After running the tires they are much easier to mount, as they've been stretched and "broken in." Good if you want to rotate the tires or need to fix a flat on the road. Speaking of which, I usually carry a tube with me and to fix a flat you just put the tube in and remount the tire like any other. Moisten the beads with your water bottle, or Hutchinson makes a tire lever that's hollow and you can put some of your water/soap solution in it. You'll have to refresh this from time to time.
Every few months you need to refresh the sealant. Best way I know is to put removeable valve cores in the stems of your wheels. Then you just take the valve core out, stand the wheel and push the wheel down to force the remaining sealant out the stem and catch it in some kind of cup. Then you add fresh sealant to bring this up to the the amount you decide to put in your tire and inject it back into the tire through the valve stem before replacing the core. I use Stan's sealant and buy it in larger amounts, but I also have one of their 2 ounce bottles with a long nipple on it that will fit down inside the valve stem and you just gently squeeze it it. (Hutchinson says using any sealant other than theirs voids the warranty, but their stuff costs lots more and I really don't believe their claim that Stan's will damage the rubber. I know several people who have used Stan's for years and nobody has had a problem).
So, I've had to adjust my approach to bike tires to accomodate the characteristics of these tires. They are still harder to manage than regular tires, but with their durability, flat resistance and nice ride I think they're worth it. But, man, I wish they didn't cost so much, and that's the reason I did not give them 5 stars.
Best Deals for Hutchinson Fusion 3 Road Tire - Tubeless
If you use sealant (I use Caffe Latex) you won't have to worry about flats with all but the worst punctures. Today on a short ride I apparently hit something sharp and noticed the sealant bubbling out while I was stopped. This only lasts 10-15 seconds and then it's sealed. I rode another 12 miles and had only lost 10-20 psi (estimate).These tires are comfortable to ride on, and you can ride at lower psi. I've been riding 95 front and 110 rear but I know I could go lower. I did not notice a night-and-day difference from regular clinchers, so don't buy these for comfort alone. Also, don't buy them for weight savings. They are 312g and once you add the sealant they are likely heavier than a lightweight clincher tube/tire combo. You can run without sealant (which Shimano recommends) but they lose 30-50+ psi in about 24 hours (depending on how well the bead seats and if there are any tiny punctures or valve leakage). With sealant they hold air better than tubes, losing under 5 psi per day by my estimates. I would not recommend running without sealant since it will be a massive headache to try to remove the tire and patch from the inside while out on the road!
I have mine mounted on Shimano Dura Ace 7850 SL rims, which are specifically designed to work with tubeless tires. Do not try these with regular clincher rims since the bead is more square and needs an appropriate rim shape to seat properly. However, due to the stiff carbon (rather than kevlar) bead on the Fusion 3s, they were a huge pain to install. I had to buy a special large tire lever and actually spent several hours getting them on. Once on the rim, the bead sealed perfectly with a manual floor pump.
They are fairly puncture resistant (mine have lots of little cuts, mainly in the rear tire, but all sealed quickly with the sealant) and have good grip. However, I'm not sure the benefits outweigh the drawbacks: they wear out fast, and I have less peace of mind on the road since I worry about a larger puncture. That said, I have not had to stop for a flat since I bought these (have ridden a full season on them, probably around 2000 miles). If there were more companies making tubeless tires, there might be better options but I can't wholeheartedly recommend the Fusion 3s. I give them 3 stars because I am impressed how well they work despite the minimal manufacturer support.
Honest reviews on Hutchinson Fusion 3 Road Tire - Tubeless
I have used these tires for 6 months now, and love the way they handle. The ride quality is much nicer than with a standard clincher with a tube. I run mine with 1 oz of Hutchinson's Air Max sealant, and have not had a flat that has left me stranded. When it does get a puncture, you will see a little bit of the sealant come out, then the leak stops. The best thing I like about the tire is that when you do get a big leak, you get gradual loss of air before the sealant stops the leak, unlike a regular tube tire that can have a catastrophic blowout. If a friend of mine had had one of these tires with sealant when he had a blowout coming down a mountain he may have been able to avoid a week long stay in a hospital.To sum it up, you get a smoother ride, better handling, less flats and more confidence in your downhill descents.
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