Insert Newb ~ Rimpact or Something Else

I’ve never used inserts, but I’ve been curious. This has now been upgraded to interested after dinging my new Roval Control Alloy (27mm internal) rear wheel.Tyre is fine, burped a little fluid but stayed inflated coming down heart break ridge.
Will be using Schwalbe Nobby Nic/Razor Rock in speed grip on a Stumpjumper. Trail riding

Rimpact Pro come out very well in most reviews and group test. They’re relatively light and decently priced compared to some others.

I’ve used them for a while now and found them to be effective in reducing pinch flats and getting me down sections when I’ve nicked a sidewall and lost tyre pressure in a tricky spot on the trail.

Rimpact Pro in the rear and standard in the front for me.

I think I rode HBR a day or so before you and my rim is unblemised.

The Rimpact Pro is one of those products that just makes you think “bloody hell they’ve got that just right”, IMO.

I have rimpact inserts. Not sure if they do different widths but the ebike rear is a sod to fit in a 35mm rim with 2.5 tyres . I also strongly suggest one of them cushcore bead tools to get the bead into the centre of the rim. It also traps air around the rim, leaving next to nothing against the tyre. I ended up sticking a hot screw though the valve hole to burn a hole to allow the air through. Next problem was that hole now gets clogged with tubeless fluid 🥴

Front is fine though.

Rimpact Pro here. I really like them. I just bought a second pair so I can enjoy the benefits with both wheelsets.

Fitting them can be a real life experience. It will make you question yourself. Your strength, your abilities, your value as a human.

I was defeated by one on Saturday. I can’t even open the garage door to look at it yet.

It also traps air around the rim, leaving next to nothing against the tyre. I ended up sticking a hot screw though the valve hole to burn a hole to allow the air through.

So you didn’t tick the box for the Rimpact valves then? The ones with the side exit holes.

I use cushcores in my Roval Carbon rims on my Specialized Enduro. I also use Super trail tyre casing versions of the Magic Mary and Big Betty.

Maybe try a casing diff to speed grip first?

Fitting them can be a real life experience. It will make you question yourself. Your strength, your abilities, your value as a human.

Couldn’t agree more. And then, dear god, at some point you have to take the tire and insert off again. BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULLLLLLLL…. I wept, I laughed, I hammered the garage floor with my bare fists “why god, why?!?!?!?”.

You know tough tires that are really difficult to break the bead to get them off the rim? Yeah? really? Bit hard was it… pfft! Walk in the park mate. 🙂

Edit: to add, I use Panzer fellas. Seem to do the job. No more ‘WHANG!’ noises and no pinches or rim dings since fitting.

I had Rimpact front and rear and when I needed some new ones (hardtail went up a wheel size) I kept the old ones for the fronts and got the Pro for the rears.

Buy a Cushcore Bead Dropper tyre lever too – I did it without for a years and finally gave in recently. Worth every pound of the rather high price, if you value your own time at all!

I have rimpact pros on two bikes, front and rear, and love them. I’ve also just done my first tyre change with them in on one of the bikes and it only added five minutes at most. That was with Conti Kryptotal tyres… 🙂

Looks positive, apart from the thumb workout getting them on and off! 😂 I’ll have a look at the pro version too. Looking at the Schwalbe tyres, looks like they’ve changed them to supertrail???? (I’m replacing the specialised tyres, not my preference)

Should have stated looking at rear only. Never had any issues with the front.

the ding. Wheels are only just over a 100miles old 😢

for those running inserts, are you using them with normal weight tyre casings (eg maxxis EXO or EXO+) typically or people using them in heavier weight casing as well (eg maxxis DD or shcwable super gravity)?

if the latter, are the heavier casing not giving you the protection you need or are their other benefits?

Should have stated looking at rear only. Never had any issues with the front.

That’s what I used to say. The last 2 tyres I’ve slashed and binned have been on the front.

Also a pair of Rimpacts weighs about the same as a single 29er inner tube. There are no downsides to running a pair.

Yes I have the valves. The insert is that wide it pushes on the inside of the tyre and won’t let the air past it.

They’re fun to fit I’ll give them that. I tend to use a standard rimpact when running slightly flimsier tyres than I should.

Used them with exo casing rekons and Forekaster, super trail rock razor (currently on my hardtail) and managed to squeeze one in my last dhr2. It’s the final bit of getting the tyre over the rim once all fitted up that can be an utter b*stard.

Definitely get yourself a cushcore bead dropper – helps you push the bead under the insert – also helps break the seal when trying to get the tyre back off again.

Sometimes I’ve got it all mostly fitted then had to give up and come back for a 2nd session fresh.

Maybe I’m doing it wrong but I’m sure I’ve warped 2 or 3 exo casing maxxis tyres fitting them with inserts. Schwalbe and Continental no such problems.

On my big bike I’m leaning towards using more continental tyres now. Xynotal currently on the rear and fancy a Kryptotal front if they ever release a trail casing / soft rubber combination. I do have a DH casing one with ultra soft rubber but it’s a bugger to pedal anywhere.

edit – I’ve only used them on the rear – not broken a front tubeless tyre yet. On the rear I have recently destroyed a Xynotal sidewall (rimpact wouldn’t have helped-it was a sharp rock at Dyfi ) and holed a rekon – but no rim damage. So either I got lucky or the insert is doing it’s job.

Rimpact V2 ordered ☑️

Off to find cushcore tool

Use Pro Core as I bought them when they were the only option.

Managed 10 miles on a flat rear tyre (slashed sidewall), they can be a faff when the valve gums up or the tube punctures.

I tend to use them for BPW, Ard Rock and Mega. Usually with a Supergravity type casing. I don’t tend to bother for normal riding, I’m not that hard on wheels.

Being able to run 15psi at the front and 20 at the back on a  2.3ish tyre is great.

Also no hassles seating tyres.

@sofaboy73, I’m running Exo + equivalent which hold up really well with the rimpact pros. I have destroyed DD tyres before doing lots of drops with the pressures I like to run. I did a 10-12 foot drop the other day which was quite an impact and the tyres were fine. 🙂 sidewall slashes though, I haven’t had any but whether the rimpacts help, who knows…

I run the originals front and rear with Maxxis EXO. Rear has picked up a few cuts which might have otherwise been pinch flats, and the front has saved me a rim/crash due to puncture at high speed on a rocky descent.

It also traps air around the rim, leaving next to nothing against the tyre. I ended up sticking a hot screw though the valve hole to burn a hole to allow the air through. Next problem was that hole now gets clogged with tubeless fluid 🥴

Yes I have the valves. The insert is that wide it pushes on the inside of the tyre and won’t let the air past it.

I had a similar experience with air trapped in the tyre so couldn’t remove one of mine them. Rimpact’s advice is to push the valve up so air could rush out around it, which didn’t work so I presume I had the same problem as you. I used an allen key through the valve to punch a hole, and yes the sealant kept blocking it. Also my Peatys Mk2 valves had sunk into the insert, which in conjunction with sealant blocked the air channels. The Rimpact ones might be better for that as their bottom is flat so should be less prone to sinking.

Definitely get yourself a cushcore bead dropper – helps you push the bead under the insert – also helps break the seal when trying to get the tyre back off again.

So much this. I hated them for that and was going to bin them at the next tyre swap until I bought that tool.

Xynotal currently on the rear and fancy a Kryptotal front

@joebristol off topic – how’s the Xynotal? Wondering how it compares to a Dissector, my dryish season rear.

I’ve gone for standard valves. I’d previously used Peatys and wasn’t impressed. I replaced them with Reserve Filmore valves, but that’s an entirely different topic!

I use Cushcore pro with Exo+/Grid trail casing.

I wouldn’t use anything else, other than maybe going down to the new Cushcore trail insert and Exo casing for the front.

I really like the feel of running the lighter casings at lower pressures.

I’ve given them a real hammering (multiple days at BPW, Revs, Dyfi, and four weeks riding big mountain enduro trails in the Alps.

Cushcore don’t list side wall protection from slashes as one of their features, but I do think that they must do as I ride quite hard in steep technical terrain with sharp rocks and although there have been sidewall abrasions, there are no slashes.

@bikesandboots – so far I quite like the Xynotal. I’ve had too many rear maxxis tyres go wobbly so wanted to try other things.

Would say it maybe similar rolling to an aggressor but with more braking grip, more forward drive and less drifting in the corners. I didn’t find the dissector I tried wildly exciting.

My Xynotal is an enduro casing / soft rubber one as I got a bargain on it. Normally I think I would have got the trail casing / endurance rubber on the rear. I’ve got a trail kryptotal rear as a thick winter mud rear tyre and it’s definitely a thicker / stronger casing than exo. Finds really good grip in the mud – better than a 2.4” dhr2.

Yes I have the valves. The insert is that wide it pushes on the inside of the tyre and won’t let the air past it.

I have previously removed a valve core and poked a thin hex key up it, when I needed to lower my tyre pressure mid-ride.

😀

I had the same issue with the insert blocking the valve (using the rimpact valve with holes on the side!) Couldn’t get air out or sealant in!

The solution I found was actually on the FAQ section on the rimpact website – cut a hole through the insert and align it with the valve. They recommend pushing a copper pipe through the insert. It’s completely solved the issue for me

They recommend pushing a copper pipe through the insert. It’s completely solved the issue for me

A drill works fine too, I did that on my original Rimpact for the valve and to create holes for a ziptie when it split and needed turning back into a circle.

Rimpact V2 installed using their valves. The Razor rock on the DT wheels went reasonably easy. I’ve also done the rear wheel on the hard tail. A git in comparison. Arch rim and nobby nic. Unlike the DT wheel, the tyre was already installed in the rim and the with the tyre being wet with sealant it made it tricky to get it to sit. Got there in the end. Will be sometime before I get to ride them and see how they work.

Good to hear the V2 fits in the Rock Razors which are 2.35. The V2 ones are 5mm wider at 55mm, for 2.4-2.6 rather than 2.35-2.6, so I was thinking of stocking up on the V1s for ease of fitting in my 2.4s.

You’ll need to drop the pressures. To get the same feeling as without inserts, I dropped 3psi from the front and 4psi from the rear, down to 20 and 22.  That’s with me 70kg on Maxxis EXO. They felt hard at the original pressures.

Tried Rimpacts method of removal using knees and rolling the tyre back. It nearly broke me and the tyre didn’t budge.
the method below of pushing bead away (I used the big Cush core tool) works for me.
New tyre day!!

I like the look of the rockstop’s, made in the Lakes apparently.

confess I’ve never used them (or any others come to that)

This video has been posted on here before and works for me, though I’ve always made sure the tyre has been in a warm room/sun for a few hours before installing. Not used an Airshot for years just a track pump.

https://youtu.be/5qfACwvSsGM?feature=shared

I’ve used Rimpacts previously and currently use Rockstop. Can’t recall any rim damage for the last few years.

Do the inserts make any difference to how the bike handles? Don’t think I’m skilled/aware enough to notice, unless I did a back to back test. Even then .. ..