Supply & demand....
More expensive and not necessarily better in all situations than cheaper sealant/rimstrip systems such as Stan's, not to mention many people who have adopted the system have trouble mounting some tires and field repairs are harder to perform.Background:
Mavic holds a patent on a specific rim-bed shape and the corresponding tire-bead shape, which it licenses to other companies. To ensure compatibility across brands, however, a product must be certified before it can bear the UST label. According to Maxime Brunand, Mavic's product manager, an independent lab in Belgium is responsible for granting "technical approval" of products (tires and/or rims). Upon passing the lab's tests, Mavic grants a five-year license for that product to bear the UST logo.
UST refers to a type of rim hook as well as the tyre bead - they are designed to mate in a airtight fashion. Any tyre will fit on a UST rim and a UST tyre will fit on a normal rim, but only the combination of the two will hold air.What about those "clincher " type beads out there ? are those the same as tubeless?
UST repair is called putting a spare tube in, which is just as easy to inflate as with non-ustWell yes , i think a field repair will be a total PIA with a "tubeless" tire cause its better easy inflation with compressed air (shop air compresor) im sure those c02 field air units arent going to cut it .
A while ago they were (2000-2003).....no other alternatives were out there that were reliable. Stan's rims came on the scene, then the DT swiss tubless kit, then Ghetto tubeless etc. Suddenly you could take a lighter wheel and make it work tubeless as well as UST.And i thought UST rims / tires are the latest greatest thing out there .. Tubeless tires have been around for along time .. throw some stans sealant in and your good to go , and still lighter than running a tire with a tube ..