How to Determine if a Tire is Tubeless?
2 Answers
Check the tire valve. The valve of a tubeless tire is sealed with rubber against the rim, while ordinary tires do not require sealing and mostly use standard metal valves. Look for the TUBELESS marking on the tire, which indicates a tubeless tire. Additionally, if the wheel rim is of the spoke type, it is definitely not a tubeless tire. Below are precautions for using tubeless tires: 1. Maintain the specified air pressure. Tubeless tires are made of high-quality rubber, offering good elasticity and flexibility, with a wide range of air pressure adaptability. Even at high pressure, they do not feel as hard as regular tires, so a pressure gauge must be used to check the pressure. Unless punctured, tubeless tires generally do not lose air on their own. Therefore, always use a pressure gauge to check and maintain the specified pressure when inflating, and never rely on feel to decide whether to add air as with regular tires. 2. Not suitable for overloading. Tubeless tires are wear-resistant but not pressure-resistant, making them unsuitable for excessive overloading.
I've been driving for over 20 years, and identifying tubeless tires is actually quite simple. First, check the markings on the sidewall of the tire. If it says 'Tubeless' or 'TL', then it's definitely a tubeless tire. Second, pay attention to the valve stem; tubeless tires have valve stems with rubber sealing rings at the base, without the need for large nuts to screw on—it's more like a plastic head that plugs directly in for sealing. Third, if you try inflating it, a tubeless tire will immediately seal against the wheel rim upon inflation, without requiring an inner tube for assistance; if there's an inner tube, the air would leak quickly or fail to seal properly. Tubeless tires are much better than traditional ones—they deflate slower, reduce the risk of blowouts on the road, and are easier to repair with just a rubber plug. My current SUV uses tubeless tires, and I make it a habit to check the markings during car washes—safety is crucial. I recommend fellow drivers to adopt this habit as well.
