I have a 2023 Yamaha YZF-R15 and they're offering me to switch to tubeless tires. The mechanic says it's safer and they won't deflate suddenly, but I'm worried about the cost and whether it really makes a difference on a city bike. Has anyone made the switch and can tell me about their experience?
How long have you been using that bike and how often do you see flats in your area?
Look, the switch does make sense if you ride a lot in the city with heavy traffic. What you gain is that tubeless tires don't just deflate out of nowhere like tube tires do - if you hit a nail or something like that, the air escapes slowly and you have time to notice before anything serious happens. On a street bike where you're riding at moderate speeds, that's actually pretty important. The risk of a sudden flat that leaves you without brakes or control is way less likely with tubeless.
The cost thing depends on how expensive the change is at your shop. You have to swap the tires (obviously), but you also need compatible rims if yours aren't, and that can get pricey. If you were going to need new tires anyway because they were worn out, then the extra to go tubeless isn't *that* much. But if your tires are still good, wait until you need to change them to do it.
In the city honestly the difference in performance or comfort is pretty minimal compared to what you'd feel on the highway. But the safety of not having a catastrophic flat is worth it when you think about how much you ride. If the cost isn't breaking the bank, I'd say go for it, especially since your bike is relatively new and you'll probably have it for a while.
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