So I have just ordered a new bike that they are converting to tubeless. Never had them before so what do I need to know about maintenance and looking after tubeless tyres.
I know I need to top up the latex, but how often, what makes are good/bad.
Do you still carry a tube for emergencies?
I'm a new convert too. Despite all the gossip, I had no issues swapping over. I carry a spare tube just in case. Otherwise, it's easy peasy
Weldtite Tubeless Repair kit is your new friend. Fixes issues in no time, but I still carry a tube for some reason too
if you can hear sealant sloshign when you shake the wheel don;t top it up.
If you can hear a rattle in the tyre when you shake the wheel pop a bead take the sealant sculpture out and top the sealant up.
Buy an anchovy based repair kit.
Carry a tube 'just in case'.
Carry a spare tube just in case, but only had to use it once. I top up the sealant when it stops sealing things. I also have the weldtite tire in place repair kit and a couple of patches that I've not tried out yet.
Edit - i'd want 2 spare tubes and/or the internal patches to be on the safe side with tubeless on a longer trip.
Right so I still need to carry a tube and potentially a tyre repair kit. Hmm, whats the point of tubeless again?
When you get your first thorn puncture and it magically seals and you start cycing again a few seconds later... then you'll be very glad you don't have to get off and change the tube.
The repair kit is more important than the tube, fixes punctures very quickly and easily without having to take the tyre off the rim. You're still far less likely to get pinch punctures, but if you smash any tyre hard enough it will happen
I had the magic thorn puncture seal yesterday. Large thorn (attached to twig) in front tyre. Pulled it out. Bit of fluid bubbled through the (quite large) hole. Just kept riding and it sealed. No need even to add some more air.
Right so I still need to carry a tube and potentially a tyre repair kit. Hmm, whats the point of tubeless again?
The point is 1 puncture in the last 18 months of riding. I got blase so didn't even carry any repair stuff and that one puncture I did get (after walking home) I managed to just inflate and if was fine. The sealant couldn't have worked fast enough on that one before it had go too low.
I've not carried a tube for about 6 years. Pointless exercise, since by the time you come to need it, your tyre will be riddled with thorns. Just get the weldtite anchovies kit.
Right so I still need to carry a tube and potentially a tyre repair kit. Hmm, whats the point of tubeless again
Don't be stupid. The point is to reduce punctures significantly, improve grip, rolling speed and ride quality and if you're lucky save a bit of weight. They're not impervious to punctures.
I don't even bother with a tube now unless it's a big ride into the back and beyond. Weldtite kit in saddle bag along with a tyre boot in case of a sidewall tear.
Pinch flat protection at low pressures is the biggest benefit to me, managed to hit a sharp edged rock hard enough to crack a carbon rim but the tyre stayed inflated!
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8354/29334367072_1900082a92_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8354/29334367072_1900082a92_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/LGbikw ]Broken carbon[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/le_grande_momo/ ]Matt Cotterill[/url], on Flickr
It's mainly about protection from thorns for me. I just had 2 weeks with tubes (after putting new wheels on) and had 3 punctures in that time. Back to tubeless now and riding with no worries again.
What does everyone do when they're not riding there tubeless bike ? If I'm away with work I get someone to walk my bike around every couple of days so that the sealant isn't sat pooled in one place all the time.
Remember to run much lower pressures. The puncture protection is not the main point of running tubeless.
What does everyone do when they're not riding there tubeless bike ? If I'm away with work I get someone to walk my bike around every couple of days so that the sealant isn't sat pooled in one place all the time
You get someone to take your bike for a walk ?
Note that down for a business idea - bike waling for tubleess tyred bikes
easy money.
I get my butler to turn the bikes over and give the wheels a spin. Not had a problem so far.
🙄
I'm not certain on the mystical ride quality improvement. Early tubeless tyres weighed much the same as a normal tyre. You switched to tubeless and saved the weight of a tube and got fewer punctures. Then we realised that supple, light tyres were flopping about under cornering when run at low pressure so manufacturers made sidewalls beefier and, presumably, less flexible. Now suddenly 700gm+ became acceptable for a tyre's weight. So we've got stiffer tyres and increased rotational weight. Particularly on bigger wheels. I think we've been sold a lie.
I run a tubeless 29er btw
What's the point??
I've had 2 punctures since going tubeless on my commute. (Probably not relevant as thread is about MTBs, but nice all the same). This used to be a bloody annoying, time delaying, sat in a layby being laughed at by motorists (probably) pain in the arse!
The first one, I knew cos it was in the front and white gunk sprayed up my leg.
The second, I only found out when I got home and there was some white gunk over the back of the bike. I'd much rather make it home without delay and have to wipe some jiz off the bike than sit around changing tubes, that's for shore!
Early tubeless tyres weighed much the same as a normal tyre.
I'm not sure they ever did, to be honest. Plenty of us have run normal tyres ghetto tubeless with sealant, but bearing in mind the early tyres were meant to run tubeless without any sealant, the sidewalls were if anything a bit thicker and heavier than the ones these days which require sealant. But you saved weight on sealant. But you didn't then have sealant if you got a small puncture.
strangely aroused after reading DezB's column..
Note that down for a business idea - bike waling for tubleess tyred bikeseasy money.
I could live with doing that as a job supplement for say £8 an hour (or more if demand exceeds source)! 😆
woody74 - Member
Right so I still need to carry a tube and potentially a tyre repair kit. Hmm, whats the point of tubeless again?
So that you carry a spare tube to donate to someone on the ride that isn't tubeless 😀
That's all mine ever get used for. The only proper punctures I've had tubeless were sidewall rips in very battered tyres and a whopping big flint hole in the top once. The sidewall rips semi seal and are fine enough until you get home, then boot patch the inside. The big hole I had to put a tube in. Only time really.
Vastly less punctures overall though, at least that I notice. Take the tyre off and it can be full of thorn holes, if not thorns still in. All sealed.
Group rides, it's almost always the tube guys with punctures.
Add to that, the benefit of lower pressures.
What is the best way to remove sealant from a wheel rim when the first go at applying tape didn't work so well? I figure that the sealant needs to go before I try to fit tape again...
I used a syringe and some tissue for giving it a wipe
Sorry - this is the dried sealant inside the rim. I've removed the tape as I thought it wasn't doing the job, and want to have another go.
Cap off an aerosol can is the perfect sealant scoop for liquid sealant. Once it's dried it's a pain in teh bum tbh- scotchbrite pad can rough it up but I've never found a better way than just rubbing it off with a thumb.
(don't get it overheated! Seriously, instant massive blister)