UPDATE: Reviews section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look
I know tubeless is fairly old-hat by now, but it's still relatively new to me. I've had a spoke replaced at the shop and am trying to get the tyre back on.
The tyre goes onto the rim really easily (possibly the easiest I've ever got any tyre onto a rim to be fair). However, the natural cross-sectional shape of the tyre is pulling the bead into the middle of the rim around about two-thirds of the tyre, rather than holding it at the edge, so even when I go gung-ho on the track pump the air just escapes rather than popping/seating the bead.
I've tried manhandling it a bit to persuade the edges outwards, but no joy. Any tips?
Buy an Airshot. If you don't want to buy an Airshot then you can try putting a tube in to get one side seated. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t. An Airshot makes it very easy every time though.
Try hooking a tyre lever under the bead then run it around the whole circumference keeping the lever 90° to the rim, do it on the other side too. This should pull the bead closer to the edge.
If it's a really problematic tyre you can seat it with an inner tube, break the bead on one side & remove the tube and then go from there.
I have to say that I find a tubeless booster a lifesaver.
I have managed a couple of times with just a track pump by using a tube in the tyre for a few days, pumped up pretty hard to 'mould' the tyre a bit and get it to sit into the bead.
Then whip the tube out & try to seat.
But - plenty of other occasions where this just does not work if the tyre doesn't want to sit against the bead. I have tried a strap lightly tightened around the outer circumference of the tyre to deform it into shape against the bead, but that's never worked.
The thing that worked for me & I would not be without now is an inflator pump of some description. I've got a Lifeline one that was a bargain at the time from Wiggle. It pushes the air in fast enough to force the tyre against the bead & get it seated, then followed with some vigorous pumping to ensure it stays seated. I don't really have any other tips apart from get (or borrow) one of those.
Mix up some water and washing up liquid in a jug using an old paint brush so it's properly frothy then paint it onto the rim/to help the bead seal and slide, use something with an air reservoir to inflate - I have a Bontrager Flash Charger that works very well to spaff a shedload of air into the tyre in one high pressure blast. If you have real issues, seat with a tube, unseat one bead, remove tube, then you only have to seal a single bead.
The joy of tubeless is that tyres which seems almost impossible to seat can then inexplicably become virtually immovable when you need to take them off, particularly if the tyre and/or rim has WTB written on it.
But mostly an Airshot or a track pump using the same principle.
Soapy water sprayed around the tyre bead/rim just before inflating. Use and inflation booster (air thingy or something like a Topeak charger pump) or a CO2 canister. Take the valve core put of your valve before inflating or use high flow valves.
1) Try removing the valve core to improve air flow
2) Think about buying an Airshot or similar
3) Silicone spray or diluted washing up liquid painted around the edges
4) Another layer of rim tape
5) Install inserts - they hold the tyre walls nearer to the edge and reduce the volume required to inflate
6) Use an inner tube - best for new tyres
7) Leave the tyre in a warm place before installing
8) Give up and buy a new tyre
As a general rule, the easier they go on, the harder they are to get to seat, and vice versa.
Take the valve core put of your valve before inflating or use high flow valves.
Yep, I forgot that bit. The little Park Tool valve core removal tool is invaluable. Also available in knock-off form, which I know as I found one lying on the ground in the local park.
You've got every solution now I reckon. Just choose one.
I went the Reserve Filmore valve route, so a track pump gets them up every time. More reliable than Viagra.
Take it to a petrol station and use their compressor.
Take it to a petrol station and use their compressor.
Not as useful these days as the garage forecourt compressors deliver the air gradually and IME to seat a stubborn tubeless tyre you need a sudden burst of air.
If you have a CO2 inflator, then they work well in an emergency, just make sure you've taken any sealant out as the CO2 freezes it. You can add the sealant in via the valve once the tyre is properly seated.
put a luggage strap/rope etc round the middle of the tyre and tighten, pulling middle of tyre towards rim well, as you tighten encourage edges of tyre out up rim to edge (see fairly liquid tip) , leave strap in place whilst pumping
If it went back on too easily, you probably want another wrap of tape.
Also, did you clean/peel off all the old dried sealant from the bead? If not do that too. This makes a massive difference.
If anyone else is a cheapskate like me, then Halfords do a very good tubeless booster track pump.
Works well. Cheaper.
put a luggage strap/rope etc round the middle of the tyre and tighten, pulling middle of tyre towards rim well, as you tighten encourage edges of tyre out up rim to edge (see fairly liquid tip) , leave strap in place whilst pumping
This
My suggestions ( in order)
Air shot
Air shot with valve core removed
Seat the tyre with an inner tube and leave it pumped up really hard for a day or so. Only break one side of the bead. Then air shot with valve core removed
I've never done this, but you could also do the above and instead of breaking the entire bead to get the inner tube out you could pull out just a small section of the inner tube and cut it and leave most of the bead intact on the side where you remove the inner tube.
If none of the above works then give up
Well, turns out mate with Airshot = win.
Cheers all
Take wheel and tyre round to LBS and use their compressor (assuming you have good relations with your LBS!)
If this fails, leave wheel and tyre with the experts and pay them for their labour.
(This is what I usually do, but it seems everyone in my LBS knows me as I've spent so much money in there 🙄)
If anyone else is a cheapskate like me, then Halfords do a very good tubeless booster track pump.
Works well. Cheaper.
Ta. Just ordered one with a discount code from a mate who works for them, so even cheaperer
100% remove the valve core. I find this is ussually all you have to do
