MEMBER REVIEWS
TANNUS TUBELESS PRO REVIEW
A CUSHCORE PRO TIRE INSERT COMPARISON
Review by Jeff Jackson
May 7, 2025
When it comes to MTB tire inserts, there are a few main players in the game. While Cushcore may be the Kleenex-style namesake for tire inserts in the mountain bike world, Tannus has earned a loyal following thanks to their range of products and performance. Tannus sent us multiple sets of their Fusion, Pro and Lite inserts for a review. While we have installed some inserts in our test rigs, we were really excited to incorporate feedback from our new Member’s Platform and pass some inserts off to one of our Wolf Pack Members who has exclusively been running Cushcore inserts down in Arizona for several years.
Our goal with our Member’s Reviews is to help create a more diverse and experiential review voice from consumers who have unique experiences compared to ours. Plus, we figured that it’s a really cool way to say thanks to the awesome people who are supporting what we do! If you’d like a chance to review products for our site, get exclusive access to bike industry giveaways and see early sneak peaks of unreleased products plus a whole lot more, we’d be honored to have you join here.
Tannus takes MTB tire insert tuning to the next level with their Fusion series inserts, however this review will be focusing on the Tannus Pro inserts. What differentiaties Tannus Fusion tire insert is its modularity in-that it utilizes two different inserts. These two inserts can be run individually or together to create three distinct options; Pro, Lite, and Fusion (Pro + Lite). There is a narrower, lighter insert (Lite) that is designed for gravel or XC, a wider insert (Pro) that is designed for trail or enduro, or you can install them together (Fusion) for aggressive enduro, downhill, or E-bike.
Tannus Images of the 3 Different Models:
ABOUT THE TANNUS INSERTS
What are Tannus Inserts Made of? Tannus inserts are made from a patented, lightweight, closed-cell foam material. It is made by combining copolymers with olefin polymers, making it similar to foams used in some sports shoes. Aither is puncture-proof, has a low weight and offers shock absorbing properties.
How much do Tannus inserts weigh and how thick are Tannus Inserts? The thickness varies based on the model: Tannus Pro inserts are 20mm thick and weigh 140 grams, Tannus Lite inserts are 10mm thick and weigh 60 grams, and Tannus Fusion inserts are 30mm thick and weigh 200 grams.
COMPARISON AND BACKGROUND
For comparison, the Cushcore Pro weighs 260 grams per insert. I have been running Cushcore Pro inserts front and rear for a few years now. I’m a heavier rider (220 lbs) and I ride a 170/170 enduro bike with alloy Industry Nine Enduro S wheels. Skill-wise, I usually run in the top 30% for downhill segments based on Strava… so I’m not blazing fast, but not super slow either.
To tell the story completely, I will be discussing the concepts of the Tannus modular tubeless inserts and the Cushcore Pro inserts and comparing the two. I believe this is important!
Each design has a slightly different use case. For example, Cushcore was designed with performance as the primary goal. The concept is for Cushcore to act as a “volume spacer” for your tire and provide sidewall support, allowing riders to run lower PSI for better traction without sacrificing lateral tire stability. Rim protection is a secondary benefit for Cushcore… and a good one at that! Cushcore has individual products; Gravel, XC, Trail, Pro, and E-MTB to cover various riding disciplines. Tannus, on the other hand, states the primary function of their inserts is rim and tire protection. Their tubeless modular system consists of two elements that can be run individually or combined to provide the protection and tuning the rider desires.
Cost and Weight Summary
• Tannus Tubeless Pro $60 each (valve stems not included) 140 grams per insert
• Tannus Fusion $75 each (valve stems not included) 200 grams per insert
—-
• Cushcore Pro Full Set $150 (includes tubeless valve stems) 260 grams per insert
• Cushcore Trail Full Set $150 (includes tubeless valve stems) 212 grams per insert
Caveat I received the Tannus Tubeless “Pro” inserts from Tannus via The Loam Wolf to review. I did not receive the Lite inserts, so my review will not cover the entire Fusion line, just the Pro. If you’d like to see me continue this review and add the Lite inside for a comparative Fusion review, leave a comment below.
THE DIRT
Installation Before I get ahead of myself, I want to talk about the installation process. As stated previously, I’m used to installing and riding with Cushcore Pro inserts. The installation of the Tannus Tubeless Pro inserts was similar… maybe 10% easier because the inserts are a hollow, c-shaped design instead of a solid piece, so they are a little more flexible than the Cushcores.
First Few Rides | As I was riding down National Trail, I immediately noticed a difference between the newly installed Tannus Tubeless Pro inserts and my previous Cushcore Pro inserts. Specifically, I heard and felt a rim ping on my front wheel within the first 100 yards of descending. I knew right away that I needed more PSI. With Cushcore, I typically run 22F and 26R, but with the Tannus Pro I probably needed at least 2 more PSI in each tire. I was able to adjust my riding a bit and make it down without any more rim pings and still had a decent time on the run. Theoretically, I had two options at this point; add PSI or add the “Lite” inserts to create the “Fusion” inserts. My preference would have been to add the “Lite” inserts instead of adding PSI, but I didn’t have that option. On subsequent runs with 24F and 28R PSI, the inserts felt much better. I was able to charge hard without worrying. From my experience and at my weight, I feel that the Tannus Tubeless Pro is likely most similar to the Cushcore Trail product.
After Several Rides | Fast forward a few months and I now have lots more rides on the Tannus Tubeless Pro inserts. I haven’t had any more pings on the rim since my first ride. These inserts are working as intended, but I do feel like I have a little less traction than I did with my Cushcore Pro inserts, likely because I had to increase the PSI. I didn’t get the chance to try the Tannus Fusion setup. It probably would have been better suited for the harsh enduro riding I do here in the Phoenix area. I also replaced my tires during the testing period which gave me a chance to look for damage or wear on the Tannus Pro inserts. They were holding up well. I did notice that they stretched out slightly and were a little loose on the rim compared to the Cushcore Pro inserts which stay pretty snug, even after several tire replacements. Although I don’t think performance is affected, it is something I noticed.
The Wolf’s Last Word
The Tannus Tubeless Pro inserts are great for all-mountain riding. They’re slightly less expensive and also lighter than the Cushcore Pro inserts. My recommendation is to get either the Tannus Fusion or the Cushcore Pro inserts if you do a lot of enduro riding, especially if you ride chunky terrain with a lot of sharp or square edges. 
Price: $60 ea. (Pro)
Weight: 140 grams per insert
Website: Tannusamerica.com
SHARE THIS REVIEW
SUPPORT AND JOIN THE LOAM WOLF PACK
Did you find this review helpful? Would you like the chance to review (and keep) products? Are you interested in saving big bucks by getting exclusive Members Only discounts from industry brands all while helping support a small, rider-owned media crew? We have big plans for our members beyond big discounts and product giveaways! To learn more and help support small, independent media, visit our Member’s Page.