Tubolight EVO Road tire inserts

I actually only buy a new bike once in a blue moon. On the one hand, because I choose my bikes carefully and then really enjoy riding them. On the other hand, as a reviewer I regularly get to try out other people's bikes – and that without divorce or custody battles. This year, though, it was time again: I needed one of my own. With a bit of input from NoPain the decision was relatively easy, and a few weeks later a Rose XLite 06 Force AXS in size 55 was in my apartment.

The new road bike was love at first sight. Supersonic grey, stylish and sleek, modern geometry, top equipment – and above all: ridiculously fast. So basically everything was perfect, if it weren't for those annoying punctures. A pothole in Istria. A thorn on the Danube Island. A flat tire for no apparent reason. Constant trouble with air loss, nails, shards of glass, or whatever else happens to be lying around on local and international roads.

Of course it's not the end of the world. Stop, change the tube, keep riding. But honestly: does that really still have to happen in 2025? NoPain concluded: no. And ordered myself a set of Tubolight EVO Road inserts, including the matching Tubolight Tubeless Valves made of aluminum.

These blue foam rings are designed exclusively for tubeless systems and promise — in combination with sealant — a hefty bundle of benefits: lower air pressures, more comfort through progressive damping, extra cornering stability, protection against pinch flats and air loss, and on top of that run-flat capabilities in the event of a puncture.

Sounds almost too good to be true? We thought so too. So we gave it a try. How the Tubolight tubeless setup performed in everyday use you can read in the following review.

You might know tire inserts from mountain or gravel bikes. But on the road, foam inserts are still a relatively new topic. The Tubolight EVO Road were specially developed for modern road-bike setups – that is, for 28 to 34 mm wide tires in combination with modern, wide rim profiles. The goal: maximum performance at low air pressure without compromising safety or riding enjoyment. Made in Italy.

The inserts, each weighing only 19 grams, are made of high-density EVA foam and are mounted between the tire and the rim. Without an inner tube, that is: tubeless. Unlike the gravel version, the road inserts omit the internal air channel, since at the comparatively higher air pressures on the road it wouldn't provide any added benefit anyway.

Tubolight EVO road / gravel

* Manufacturer's specifications

So that, despite the foam, sealant can be added to the system and the tire can be inflated or topped up, the special Tubolight tubeless valves are recommended. They are available in fresh anodized colors and various lengths, are considered extremely robust, and have a total of four air outlets. This feature guarantees perfect compatibility with the Tubolight tire inserts and also prevents clogging by sealant.

The aim of the upgrade was to give me more comfort and safety while riding. And I'll say it up front: both were fully achieved.

My first impression? Silence. Even on cobblestones or over smaller potholes the bike remained surprisingly quiet. Not to sound pretentious: when nothing rattles, the bike becomes part of the surface. Then the grip is right, and it just rolls well.

Simply switching from inner tube to tubeless already made a big difference. But with the inlays I feel even more secure, especially at low tyre pressures. The risk of a rim strike seems virtually eliminated with the Tubolight EVO Road.

When it comes to tyre pressure it's long been: less is more. At first I rode with 4.5 to 4.8 bar, but I've now settled at around 3.5 bar and am very satisfied so far. The XLite still rolls incredibly well, yet practically sticks to the road. Even when standing on the pedals on wet cobbles the rear wheel stays stable and doesn't slide away, which is certainly also down to the good Conti tyres.

I've now ridden roughly 1,500 kilometres with the new setup and so far I've been puncture-free. Sure, that alone doesn't tell the whole story, but it's definitely a good start. With the Tubolight EVO Road and the tubeless setup I no longer shy away from short off‑road sections. Especially in the Weinviertel or south of Vienna, gravel stretches are regularly on the agenda. Thanks to the lower air pressure I also noticeably have more grip. That's especially noticeable on loose surfaces and in corners.

Right at the very beginning, immediately after the failed first attempt in Wiener Neustadt, I had to roll home from the main station with no air in the front wheel - only with the inserts as an emergency solution.
I didn't feel comfortable doing that.
The run‑flat properties of the super‑light inserts are there, but fairly limited.
I wouldn't plan a proper onward ride at 0 bar with them.
They can probably prevent a crash in case of sudden air loss or protect the rim, but I'd still prefer to avoid riding without air to the next bike shop, especially if it's not exactly around the corner.

The Tubolight EVO setup including valves costs around €85. That may not sound cheap at first, but it quickly seems reasonable when you compare it to the price of a modern road bike or even just a high-quality tire. Besides, you generally shouldn't skimp on comfort and safety.

A prerequisite for getting the full benefit is careful installation. If you follow the instructions, it runs smoothly. In my case, the combination of the Rose RC Sixty rim and the Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR in 30 mm worked without problems. We've already discussed valve length.

The Tubolight EVO Road system allows lower tire pressures and provides significantly more comfort through progressive damping. In corners it delivers additional stability, effectively protects tire and rim from loss of air, burping and pinch flats. And in the event of a puncture, the run-flat function even lets you keep riding.

I can feel the difference clearly. Because of my roots in mountain biking, I now compare my road bike almost to a light cross-country full-suspension bike: fast, comfortable and reliable on a variety of surfaces. Since the conversion I no longer avoid smooth federal roads, but I deliberately seek out smaller, rougher side roads because I simply have more fun there (and usually less traffic).

However, there's a catch. As mentioned, run-flat or not, I don't want to have to ride for long without air pressure if a more serious puncture occurs. The best alternative for me remains a spare tube. But what happens to the inlays if I actually have to install a tube?