Ok, been running tubes forever, what's everyones opinion on running tubeless. I'm thinking of experimenting.

I run tubeless until the side walls start to leak, then put in the tubes. I don't know why I do it that way as they always eventually leak and it cost me to have them broke down to put the tubes in. I haven't seen any difference in et from with or with out.

i know that alot of people have an opinion on this.
this perspective comes from experience with small tires ..or a class that required a small tire
26x10x15..
i surmise these issues still apply to bigger tires..but bigger tires have more traction available.(to a certain degree based on the size of the contact patch and lbs per square inch applied to this contact patch..as the contact patch size goes up ..the load in lbs per sq inch goes down)
tubes can be more complicated ..when it comes to installing and removeing tires..
but i have found..tubes help regulate or stablise tire pressures...they are more resistant to drastic temp or quick temp changes..this can help keep tire pressures consistantcy.
tubes can help support sidewalls..which can extend the life of the tire. or help a tire with a lot of passes... usually slicks go away even though there is plenty of wear indicator left..
the abuse on the side walls and heat cycles drastically effect slick life.
a tube can act like a shock absorber and tame down a hard hit..again allowing the tire to stay gripped.
a tube can add mass = inertia to a tire so it will grow at speed ..effectively gaining you some gear on the top end..
on a tall sidewall aspect ratio a tube can help keep the car straight on the big end..(less wandering)
a tube will also help keep the tires contact patch from foldiing over..it holds the sidewalls out and the tread patch flat..
all of this helps traction and even more so consistant traction..
there are some maintainence issues like the afformentiond..mounting process..
stem to rim fitment..
shifting or bunching of the innertube which requires ...sevice and or tire rotation..
then there is added cost's
and added weight..
if you have a decent size tire..for the cars performance most of these issues will seam irrelivant.
but if your running a smaller (class restrictions)slick...and not running tubes...
you might find some improvements improvements with tubes..
your pic looks like you got a healthy tire under there.
you may find with out a tube you see NO loss of traction....and the savings of weight improves your et...?
only one way to find out.

fwiw
cheapst..

Cheapstreet, that makes sense but one point that seems unclear is that the tube would be a shock absorber to soften the hit, I would assume a more flexable sidewall would soften the hit to the track more than a stiffer one. I would think that tubes would effectively stiffen the sidewall. I have always ran tubes and have never tried without.

How many here are not running tubes ??

I run a 14x32x15 no tubes here

29X11 no tubes but run pure nitrogen to keep the pressure more even with temp.

I always have run tubes and have gone thru several sets of tires using the same tubes. Can't stand finding flat slicks after the car has sat for a while. Dish soap treatment has never worked for me. Just use baby powder when you install tubes and screw them to the rims.

Well, ok Cheapstreet, thanks for the thoughts. I guess we'll see in a week or two, I'm going to try it since I never have and just see the results. A drop in ET will be a plus but not at the risk of inconsistancy, if that is the case, the tubes will go back in quickly.

I ran Hoosier QTP tires of 29 x 11.5 and now the radial slicks at 30 x 9 and I do not run tubes in either. They hold good pressure as it does not even drop thru the winter. The M/T 28 x 9 slicks I had would leak all the air in a few hrs so I ran tubes in them. Ron

I don't know too many racers that still use tubes. I haven't used a tube in a slick for 20 years. We are harder on tires in our Outlaw 10.5 car than anyone I know and we feel tubes are completely unnecessary.