LAI wrote:
LMAO, I was just about to post you were going to come on and say you do.
I've done both...and a TON of time with the rear set up tubeless and the front with a latex tube. I've never had a flat on the front <knocks wood> running a latex tube, even though it's got the lowest pressure of the 2.
One of the main reasons I'm running latex tubes right now (inside of Challenge 36C Gravel Grinder Pros) is because it's basically impossible to find a tubeless tire that is BOTH nice rolling (off AND on pavement) and has a bit of tread texture. The smooth Compass tires are decent rolling, but they don't have the tread for looser or muddier stuff. Their Stielacoom model isn't any faster than other tubeless tires with the same amount of tread. Tires like the G-one and Gravel King have more tread, but their relative low tpi casings really let them down in regards to good rolling.
As with road tires, it's really tough to beat a high-tpi cotton casing with a glued-on tread for performance. There's a reason that Challenge tubulars are popular amongst the CX crowd (and they have latex tubes inside them as well). The Challenge Gravel Grinders are somewhat of a "Goldilocks" tire for one with tread blocks...not as slow as the other "gravel" offerings, but not as good rolling as the smooth models. Of course, their 36C Strada Bianca Pro is even faster than the Compass tires, so that would probably be my choice for courses with significantly more pavement than dirt, such as BWR.
To be honest...I actually like tubeless if the punctures are small. I can easily plug them, and it's faster than swapping in a tube, even as compared to a non-tubeless beaded tire. But, if the cut requires a boot and a tube...then, I'd much rather not be dealing with the tight tubeless beads.
So...considering that latex works so well in the first place...
http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/