I have a confession. I was one of the last people in my riding crew to try CushCore. Years working in a bike shop will do that to you. When you’ve wrestled enough tires onto rims to last a lifetime, anything that makes that job harder sounds like a personal affront. So when foam inserts started showing up everywhere, I had my reasons to pass.
I’ve since changed my ways. Though I don’t run them on all of my bikes, these days they’re a requirement on my eMTB and my gravity bikes. I’ve seen the light, and if you’re on the fence about trying them out, this article is for you.
What are Cushcore Tire Inserts
First off, if you’re not familiar with the product, CushCore inserts are dense foam rings that sit inside your tubeless mountain bike tire, between the tire casing and the rim. They’re sized to fit snugly against the inner circumference of the tire. The layer of dense foam is almost like knee pads for your rim; they essentially act as a physical buffer between the tire and rim. The foam adds additional structure to the tire, allowing you to run lower tire pressure. When you hit a rock, root, or hard square edge at speed, the foam acts as a bottom out bumper for the tire casing, and absorbs the impact that would otherwise transfer directly into your rim wall. This reduces the leading cause of dents, cracks, and pinch flats on aggressive terrain.
Beyond protection, since the foam supports the tire casing from the inside, you can run lower air pressure without the tire folding, squirming, or rolling off the bead under load. That lower pressure means a larger, more compliant contact patch with the trail surface, which translates to better traction and more predictable handling — especially on technical, loose, or wet, slippery terrain. CushCore also has a secondary effect of damping high-frequency vibration through the wheel, taking some of the buzz and chatter out of rough trail surfaces. The result is a system that protects your equipment while simultaneously improving how the bike feels and performs.
Features of Cushore Insert technology
- Reduce the impact force on rims, protecting them from damage
- Reduces damage to tire and rims, reducing flats
- Helps absorb big hits; adds damping and decreases rider fatigue
- Adds stability and structure — even with lower air pressure — for increased stability cornering
- Multiple product options for DH, Enduro, Trail, XC, and gravel
- 27.5/29/700c options available
- MSRP: $160/set, or $85 single (includes 1 valve for each insert)
- Listed weights: 140g-299g, depending on model & level of protection
The case against adding a tire insert (or so I thought)
Besides the hassle of the installation, the weight penalty was the first strike. Foam inserts add meaningful grams to a rotating system, and for a while, that trade-off didn’t seem justified. Strike two was the pressure thing — I’ve never been a fan of that soft, vague feeling underfoot that comes with running low PSI. I like to feel connected to the trail, not floating on it. Third, there was the mechanical anxiety: if you actually flat on the trail, getting a tire off a rim with an insert inside is a miserable exercise. I’d heard the horror stories. (On the upside, thanks to the added structure and design of Cushcores, when it does happen and tire plugs fail to save you, most just ride out) And on top of all that, the installation process had a reputation.
So I waited. And watched.
… and then I changed my mind
The turning point came when I was following a friend absolutely fly down a wet, rooty rut line — the kind of line that demands full commitment and punishes hesitation. They had traction, composure, and looked like they owned every inch of it. I was behind them, just trying not to stack it. Same trail, same conditions, different outcome. After that, I started paying closer attention to what everyone who’d actually ridden on CushCore was saying. The story was consistent: more control, more confidence, fewer flats, saved rims.
I finally pulled the trigger and said, yes.
Installation: the learning curve can be rough
The reputation is earned — the first install is a battle. CushCore fits tight by design, and if you go in without knowing the tricks, you’ll end up frustrated and potentially with tire levers snapped in half. But there’s a wealth of community knowledge out there on technique, and once it clicks, it becomes manageable. Not fun, exactly, but manageable.
I won’t get into the how-to; if you’re the kind of rider who does your own maintenance, Cushcore provides very clear instructions with tips and tricks on how to get it done. However, there are two recommendations they make that I strongly endorse, as it really makes the installation bearable. One: buy their Cushore-specific lever. It’s more than a pry bar; you’re also using it to push the tire bead, and you’ll thank yourself for making the investment.
The other is following their recommendation to use a round garbage can as part of the install process. I actually went to Home Depot and bought one specifically to install these things. (Though we actually use it, as it’s handy to have a spare can.
One disclaimer: DH tires with a tight bead can be.. Soul-crushing. In a few cases, we had to give up. Occasionally, you’re in a situation where you have two products within manufacturing tolerances that are technically within spec; however, if they’re on the opposing ends of the spectrum, that tight fit can be impossible. Maybe there are mechanics that can win that battle, but at some point you’ll need to pull the tire off again…
Sadly, running an E.thirteen casing with an FSA rear wheel was a no-go. I ended up leaving the insert out, thinking the DH casing was enough. I learned my lesson here, only after a few rides. I flatted in practice at a Northwest Cup race, tearing a hole in my tire that my plugs couldn’t fix. I ended up doing my timed run with a tube. I have yet to throw away the tire, but it’s essentially done for me with only a handful of rides logged on it. I got the tire directly from the brand, but it’s a strong argument for purchasing from a shop that might offer a warranty swap in a tight tire situation.
On the trail
This is where CushCore earns everything back. The ride feel is the first thing you notice — I generally run lots of tire pressure to avoid getting pinch flats, even with DH casings. With the insert, I’m comfortable running less, and now I get to enjoy that planted, confident quality to the contact patch in loose, wet, and rooty turns. You stop bracing for the slip and start trusting the line. I still run more pressure than a lot of folks as I like to really push the rear wheel into the sides of the trail, but it feels great to me.
Rim protection is the other headline. With tubeless sealant handling most punctures on its own, a trail flat is already a rare event — but before inserts, a hard square-edge hit or a poorly-chosen line could still dent or crack a rim. CushCore acts as a bumper between the tire casing and the rim wall, and over time, that adds up to real money saved.
I’ve also since tried the lighter-weight trail version of the inserts on my trail bike. I find they still offer most of the benefits at a slightly reduced weight. They’re also a bit easier to install.
After testing Cush Core inserts in both the front and rear wheels, I have found I prefer them primarily in the rear tire, and it’s become a game-changer for me. The additional weight on the front of the bike has a dramatic effect on the handling. I don’t race competitively and prefer a more playful feel to the bike. Even lifting the front end up becomes more of a chore with that extra rotating weight.
That said, it does make for amazing straight-line confidence over the gnarliest terrain. There are sections of trail I’ve probably never ridden as fast as I did with full Cush Cores installed front and rear.
Who it’s for
For freeriding, downhill, and eMTB riding, I’d put Cush Core in the strongly recommended column — closer to a requirement, honestly, if you want to stop damaging rims and dealing with flats. Heavier bikes and harder lines mean more forces traveling through the wheel, and the protection-to-consequence ratio tips quickly in favor of running inserts. XC and trail riders on gentler terrain might weigh the rotational weight penalty differently, but even there, the confidence dividend is worth considering.
For more info, visit https://cushcore.com/.
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