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TYRE COMPATIBILITY

CADEX hookless rims are engineered for tubeless tyres, and it’s essential to use only tubeless tyres that are specifically approved as hookless compatible by the tyre manufacturer. You can find this information on the tyre packaging as well as the tyre manufacturer’s website. All CADEX and Giant tubeless tyres are hookless compatible.

Unlike traditional hooked rims, hookless designs depend on an exact dimensional fit—known as tolerance—between the rim bead and the tyre bead. The rim bead is the corner of the inner rim wall, while the tyre bead is the reinforced edge of the tyre that locks against it. When these diameters match precisely, the system creates an airtight seal that holds the tyre securely on the rim, even in the event of a puncture.

If the tyre bead diameter is too large, it will not seat properly against the rim bead and the tyre will be unsafe to use. Likewise, if the bead material is not strong or stiff enough to resist stretching under pressure, it can lose its original diameter and compromise retention.

See below for a list of hookless-compatible tyres that we have tested and approved for use with our wheels. Tyres that are marked by the manufacturer as hookless-compatible but have not yet been tested by CADEX may still be safe to use; however, in those cases it is essential to follow the tyre maker’s installation and inflation instructions exactly.

Brand / ModelTyre Size
700x23C700x25C700x28C700x30C700x32C700x33C700x34C700x35C700x40C
CADEX AERO COTTON TUBELESS✓✓
CADEX AERO TUBELESS✓✓
CADEX AR TUBELESS✓
CADEX CLASSICS TUBELESS✓✓✓
CADEX GX TUBELESS✓
CADEX RACE TUBELESS✓✓✓
CADEX RACE GC TUBELESS✓✓
CONTINENTAL GP5000 S TR*✓✓✓
GIANT GAVIA COURSE 0 TUBELESS✓✓
GIANT GAVIA COURSE 1 TUBELESS✓✓
GIANT FONDO 0 TUBELESS✓✓
GIANT FONDO 1 TUBELESS✓✓
GIANT RACE 0 TUBELESS✓✓
GIANT RACE 1 TUBELESS✓✓
GIANT AC 0 TUBELESS✓✓
GIANT AC 1 TUBELESS✓✓
GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 R✓
HUTCHINSON CHALLENGER TL✓✓
IRC FORMULA PRO HL TL RBCCCHALLENGER TL✓✓✓
IRC FORMULA PRO HL TL X-GUARD✓✓✓
IRC FORMULA PRO HL TLR S-LIGHT✓✓✓
MAXXIS ALL TERRANE TR✓
MAXXIS HIGH ROAD TR✓✓
MAXXIS HIGH ROAD SL TR✓
MAXXIS VELOCITA AR TR✓
MICHELIN POWER CUP TL READY✓✓
MICHELIN POWER ROAD TUBELESS✓✓✓
PANARACER AGILEST TLR✓✓
PIRELLI CINTURATO VELO**✓✓✓
SCHWALBE ONE TLE✓✓
SCHWALBE PRO ONE TLE✓✓✓
VELOFLEX CORSA EVO TLR✓
VELOFLEX✓
VITTORIA✓✓✓✓
VITTORIA CORSA PRO✓✓✓

* Please note that the Continental GP5000 S TR tyre is apt for use on CADEX hookless WheelSystems and is a different tyre from the previous generation Continental GP5000 TL tyre. Please also note that, as per Continental's specifications on rim inner width, the Continental GP5000 S TR in size 700x25C is apt for use only on the CADEX 42 and CADEX 42 Disc WheelSystems.

** Please note that only the Pirelli Cinturato Velo tyre with a maximum pressure of 72 psi (5 bar) indicated on the tyre sidewall is apt for use with CADEX hookless WheelSystems.

The following tyres either have failed the CADEX test protocol or are indicated by the brand or manufacturer as being incompatible with hookless rims. They currently do not function properly with CADEX hookless WheelSystems:

Brand / ModelTyre Sizes
700x24C700x25C700x26C700x28C700x30C700x31C700x32C
CONTINENTAL GP5000 TL✗✗✗✗
PIRELLI CINTURATO✗✗
PIRELLI P ZERO RACE TLR SL✗✗✗
PIRELLI P ZERO RACE TLR✗✗✗✗
SPECIALIZED ROUBAIX PRO 2BLISS✗
VELOFLEX CORSA EVO TLR✗
VITTORIA CORSA TLR✗✗
VITTORIA RUBINO PRO TLR✗✗✗
VITTORIA RUBINO PRO TLR✗✗✗

TYRE SIZE

Using the correct size tyre for your rim’s inner width, or the inner area between the two rim walls, is also crucial for safety. A tyre designed to fit on a narrower rim inner width will not fit correctly on a rim with a wider inner rim width and vice versa. Always be sure to check the tyre manufacturer’s recommendation on appropriate rim width before installing. Please see below for our recommendations:

Wheel Inner WidthRecommended Tyre Size
19.4 mm700 x 23c – 700 x 25c
22.4 mm700 x 25c – 700 x 32c
25 mm700 x 28c – 700 x 45c

TYRE PRESSURE

Tyre pressure plays a critical role in ride quality, efficiency, and safety. With hookless rims and tubeless tyres, riders can take full advantage of lower pressures that improve control and comfort without sacrificing speed. Here’s how to dial it in:

ADJUST FOR THE SURFACE

Traditional wisdom once held that 100 psi (6.9 bar) was the benchmark for road performance. On a smooth track, with skinny hooked rims, that probably felt fast. But we know now that for real-world riding on variable surfaces, hookless rims with wider tyres and lower pressures deliver more. Remembering that the maximum tyre pressure on a hookless system is 72.5 psi (5 bar), we recommend reducing your inflation by 10 psi (0.7 bar) compared to what you might have run previously. For example, if you typically inflated to 70 psi (4.8 bar), dropping to around 60 psi (5.9 bar) allows the tyre to better absorb imperfections, reduce vibration, and maintain momentum. In wet conditions, lowering pressure also increases grip and stability by enlarging the contact patch.

ADJUST FOR TYRE VOLUME

Pressure should always scale with tyre size. A setting that works on a 25c tyre—say 70 psi (4.8 bar)—will be too high if you move to a 28c. The added air volume of a wider tyre requires less pressure to achieve the same supple ride feel and control.

ADJUST FOR RIDER WEIGHT

Tyres support the total load of rider, bike, and gear. Heavier riders require more pressure to maintain support; lighter riders require less. A single “magic number” doesn’t apply—pressure needs to be adjusted to match rider weight.

RESPECT THE 72.5 PSI (5 BAR) LIMIT

Every hookless compatible tyre clearly indicates a maximum (MAX) pressure of 72.5 psi (5 bar). This is a safety limit that should never be exceeded. Maximum pressure is also not the recommended pressure—it’s simply the upper boundary. Riding at max pressure leads to harsh, inefficient, and potentially unsafe handling.

CHECK BEFORE EVERY RIDE

Tyre pressure naturally changes with use, temperature, and time. A quick one-minute check before each ride ensures your tyres are set correctly for comfort, control, and safety. Properly inflated tyres conform to the road, absorb impacts, and keep you riding smoother and faster.

Use the calculator below for our recommended tyre pressure for CADEX hookless WheelSystems and compatible tyres.

Please be aware that the pressure recommendation given here is a starting point and that you may need to add or release a little air to find the perfect number for your bike setup and riding conditions.

TYRE PRESSURE CALCULATOR FOR HOOKLESS RIMS WITH TUBELESS ROAD TYRES

 

Recommended Tire Pressure

psi / bar

TIPS:

  • Refer to the inflation recommendation calculator to find a starting pressure based on your weight, the size of the tyre and inner width of the rim.
  • Go for a ride. If you find the ride quality too harsh or that you are losing traction, lower the tyre pressure a few psi.
  • On the other hand, if you find the bike is too sluggish or the tyres feel too soft or unresponsive under your weight, add some psi. Pay close attention to how soft your rear wheel and tyre feel, especially as you cover rough ground; if you can feel the rim through the tyre after hitting a bump, add some psi immediately.
  • Repeat until you find a pressure that offers the perfect balance of rolling performance, comfort, support and grip. Don’t hesitate to experiment within the limits presented here and don’t forget that hookless and tubeless technology allows you to run significantly, even surprisingly, lower tyre pressures than you may have been traditionally accustomed to.

SAFETY NOTE:

If you puncture on a ride, you can install an inner tube inside a hookless-approved tubeless tyre as a temporary solution to keep riding or get home. However, this should only be a short-term fix—not a permanent setup.

If you choose to run a tyre with a maximum pressure above 72.5 psi (5 bar), a tyre that isn’t on the CADEX approved list or isn’t clearly indicated for use with a hookless rim, or a tyre that isn’t the correct size indicated for your rim’s inner width, please understand—you do so at your own risk. In these cases, the tyre will not perform as intended with the CADEX hookless WheelSystem, and this could lead to serious safety issues.