Inflatable Inserts and Radial Tires
About this episode
The episode discusses inflatable tire inserts and the emerging trend of radial tires in cycling.
It's funny how tubeless freed is from tubes and years later some of us turned to putting something else in the space between rim and tire. Namely inserts. Most of them are foam and a real struggle to install. Then there's OPTIS: The Odyssey Tire Pneumatic Insert System. Cool acronym that basically means "inflatable insert." The people at Odyssey will be quick to say OPTIS is not a tube. While it does press up against the sidewall when inflated, it's job is just like a foam insert: to prevent pinch flights. OPTIS weighs significantly less than a foam insert, and its behavior is adjustable. We spoke with Jacob Hinton from Odyssey on this unique product that recently gained notoriety during a spring classic. Up next is a look at radial tires for bikes. 32-inch wheels have garnered most of the buzz in 2026, but radial tires are also making waves. Two big tire makers have jumped into the space and made claims of enhanced grip for gravity-style riding. A third company, Delium, has also been developing radial tires. We hear from this lesser-known maker about how tech works and its potential in the bike space.
People in this episode
Host: SILCA
Guest: Jacob Hinton
Topics covered
- tubeless tires
- inflatable inserts
- radial tires
- bicycle technology
- pinch flats
Keywords
- tubeless
- inflatable insert
- OPTIS
- radial tires
- bicycle technology
- pinch flats
- Odyssey
- Delium
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Odyssey, Delium
Products: OPTIS, Odyssey Tire Pneumatic Insert System
More episodes of Marginal Gains Cycling Podcast, Presented by Silca
- AJA #51 Road Spray Aerodynamics and Argon Gas in Tires
- Rolling Resistance Testing with John Karrasch
- AJA #50 Inserts-Optimal gears-Narrow Bars
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