I don't class my self as a "mountain biker" but I do like my bikes to have the ability to go
anywhere as the situation dictates. Over the last couple of years I've been experimenting with 26" tyres that roll well on asphalt and that also have enough grip to cope with excursions off road . In this respect, one of the best preforming tyre I've come across to date is the 26x2.1 Mezcal. Although this tyre is easy to set up as tubeless I've had a few instances when I've had to fit a tube when large pictures fail to seal and I swear the tyre seems to rides better with a tube than without
The only explanation I can think of is that the extremely thin wall of tyres of this type are prone to squirm on the road at low pressures (20/25psi) when run tubeless, but by using a tube it effectively reinforces the sidewalls, giving a better ride with the tyre at lower pressures and less squirm?
This theory seems to go against the current thinking that a thin and pliable sidewall is desirable, or is it just my imagination?