Are MTB Tire Inserts Relevant in 2024? 

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Biggest benefit for me is running much lower pressures, especially in the winter. In Squamish, a lot of trails are very steep. Grip is everything when it's wet here. I'm running 16-17 psi in the front, and 18-20 in the rear in the winter here. Zero chance my rims would survive with pressures that low without Cush Core.

Great vid, and I like the feedback you provide. I realize that inserts are not for everyone on every trail, but on my local trails, Cushcore has ENDED flats and other tire issues for me. I ride on very rocky, mostly raw terrain, and due to my weight and tendency to take most impacts with my rear wheel, I used to have a lot of problems with rim shots and tube snakebites. When I went to tubeless, I always experienced rimshots (running 30 PSI in the rear), so I decided to try out Cushcore. Problem solved. Yes, the inserts have added weight to my rear wheel, but it's worth not burping a tire or getting a snakebite (when running tubes). I only run the xc version on both of my bikes (and only in the rear), but they're more than enough to give me confidence riding trails that I'd regularly suffer flats on.

I'm not sure I *need* them. Fact being, since I went heavy a couple of years ago - that is I started using "enduro/dh" tires and got the inserts - I had ZERO issues. Not a single bacon strip inserted in a tire. No major bends in a rim that would force me to go home early. The bonus is also confidence when running lower pressure. Also, looking at the insert marks/bites, they did save me some rim bends. So, I might not *need* them, but I *want* them :)

Been using Tannus inserts for 3 years and my main reason is for rim protection and helping to deaden the chatter. Being able to drop the psi helps tremendously saving us mid-lifers from more abuse! 😜

I run cush core front and rear on all my bikes (gravel, trail, e-enduro, rigid XC, and even my DJ, which has Tannus tube-based inserts). Mostly this is because I weigh about 280 lbs (I'm working on it), and I do want to be able to run pressures that will allow me to have fun. Since I started running cush core (starting about 18 months ago), I've had maybe two flats across all my bikes, and both of those I attribute to the the crappy design of Bontrager tires. I dinged one rim on the e-bike, which I used as an excuse to upgrade to carbon wheels, but that was a crash. Also, I don't like super heavy tires in any event, and the heaviest casing I run these days is EXO+. And all this is with running 25-27 psi rear and 20-22 front. Not to say that I'm nearly as aggressive a rider as you, so maybe things will change as I get more experienced. So far, I've had no reason to think twice about it, and I doubt I'm going to stop using cush core even if once I make it to my goal weight of 200.

My buddy ran them and had the same experience as you. He liked them but preferred to drop the weight and pick better lines.

Great video Pete. I think you nailed it on the head. I believe if you're only riding a few days week they're a great product if you not worried about weight and want some extra protection.

I think i have found the sweet spot for me personally. The cush core like you said gives alot of cornering support its very noticeable as im a big guy at 240lbs. I think the only draw backs are the wieght and the install that being said i now use it but with lighter cassing tires so the weight is basically the same but i get more support plus the rim protection and less chance of a pinch flat are a plus. I swapped my dh bike from dh cassing to exo plus with cuch core and i was able to go from 35psi rear to 30 psi rear and no tire squirm in the corners so i rhink the go to is less cassing wieght with the insert

For me, I'm a noob and I case jumps a lot which will beat up my rims if I'm running low pressure so I'll put a Tannus in to get some peace of mind. Now it would be ironic if the added confidence will make me commit more and send it harder and thus have more speed for the jumps and not case them anymore lol

That was crazy to see how far your rear tire folds over hitting corners that hard.

Always providing useful information. thank you !

I run a 2013 carbon HT race bike as my Gravel rig. I have a cushcore rear tire. Besides all the other benefits, I noticed it reduced vibration into my hands.

I personally want the protection and the suspension aspects. I don’t know if I would ever be near your skill level were I would look at CushCore as a detriment.

How on earth did you get that DH cashing Minion DHR on the wheel with the cushcore? I tried for hours with no luck, and eventually gave up and just put the tire on without the insert. Im a sloppy reckless weekend worrier in Big Sky looking for the most bomb proof tire/ insert combo

I found cushcore made my bike feel dead and heavy, im not a super hard rider and ride mostly trails but still ride bike parks from time to time. I found running a super gravity casing in the rear and super trail in the front works better for me .

I ran a cush core for the last year, then I switched back from maxxis dd to Michelin dh22/34 (my favs) and I just couldn't get the rear tire on. So cushcore no more 😂

Great video Peter! Could you tell much of a difference with the reduced rolling resistance with not running Cushcore?

Volume spacer for your tire…. Good point.

I ride ebike and a DH bike I only ride cushcore in the rear I’m a 240lb rider and the cushcore allows me to run super low pressure and saves me from a lot of punctures.

Any experience with the Vitoria inserts? Looking at the enduro model for my trail hard tail. I run 2.6 with a 30ID

Running Cush Core in the back. Didn't like it in the front. Definitely has reduced rim damage and flats.

You try these for a hard tail?

Well if your bike is like 50 lbs, your ass is over 200, and you have very little mechanical sympathy, the answer is: Yup.

Don't tire inserts affect the balance of the wheel negatively?

Sidewall support....220lb rider

What's that canyon bike in the back??🤔

I can't imagine my rim living longer than 1 day without a cush core. I ride wild trails with rocks, random stones. I sometimes like to climb a staircase in the city

If you’re a sloppy rider, yes.

No