Tubeless PITA – Mavic UST

Third ride out on my new bike yesterday. Picked up a puncture. Decided to would convert over to tubeless, as I was thinking about it anyway. I wonder why I continue to use tubeless setups, utterly utterly sh1te in every way. First off, not a tubeless issue exactly, but getting a Pirelli Cinturato off was the hardest tyre I’ve ever had to deal with. Took me over half an hour of cut fingers, lots of soapy water and swearing to get it off and then the same amount getting it back on. New tubeless valve in, spray of soapy water etc, track pump, no go. Went through 3 canisters, none worked. It’s pissing air at the valve. Tried a second, new valve, same result.

Oh, these are Mavic UST Allroads, maybe I need a UST type valve. Silly me. Internet says yes and no. Great. Look at the UST valve online and it is not what I think would fit as the valve seat/hole area is round, not square like the UST valve. The valves I tried sat in the hole nicely, not over tightened, o-rings used.

Bike left in garage along with some blood and a dented garage door from anger management.

I’m sure one of you will be along soon to tell me what I’ve done wrong.

If it’s anything like mine (MTB), the rim might be asymmetric. The shaped spacer that comes with the proper valve seemed necessary to tighten the valve straight into the hole.

It’s not. The wheels came with 9mm adapters and that was it. This is a symmetrical wheel with a round valve hole.

Was it already taped for tubeless? Older mavic UST used a sealed rim bed that didn’t need any tape, but I believed they binned that off as it made heavier wheels.

Air out of the valve hole is almost never a valve problem – it is the tape.

Taped from factory, tubeless ready. These are brand new wheels.

I had a recent hunt wheel that leaked from new – shouldn’t happen but sometimes the tape isn’t laid down quite right, or it’s gotten nicked somehow. Needs a re-tape most likely.

Every set of Mavic wheels I have bought came with spare spokes and the correct vale.. did you get these?

I’ve not managed to put a tube in, then get a valve to seal after.

Each time I’ve tried it the tape has been cut up by the tubes valve.

Maybe it needs retaping?

Tubeless is fine until it isn’t. Mostly it’s been fine for me, but one rim took 4 retaping and eventually a different shaped valve

Ah, awful, I can taste the frustration. Ouch. Another vote to say if air pissing out the valve, imhe it’s the tape at fault somewhere around the rim.

Tubeless is bloody amazing, until it isn’t, then it’s the shittest thing in the world.

The valve is usually the easiest escape route for air so it doesn’t mean that the air is leaking at the valve, it’s probably getting under the tape and into the rim cavity and then out the valve. I.e. check the tape and don’t assume it’s the valve

Used Mavic USTs since tubless first came along and I’ve always used Mavic’s own valves. They have a rectangular base that sits in the centre of the rim. Great setup and really reliable. Though the gravel wheels can be a fight to get the tyres on, definitely worth it.

add insert into the mix for more anger  :0)

Stick with tubes !

I’ve only ever used Mavic UST on one set of wheels and it was the easiest tubelss set up I’ve ever done.

That was using the proper tape (which wasn’t actually tape, but a REALLY tight rim strip with precut valve hole) and UST valves. Just worked.

That was using the proper tape (which wasn’t actually tape, but a REALLY tight rim strip with precut valve hole)

That is what these seem to be. However, they do NOT have the UST rectangular channel for the UST valve. I will check the rear wheel to see if that has the same issue. If it does, I’ll just see if my LBS can sort it.

But yea, tubeless setup can get in the sea.

You’re in south Manchester aren’t you?  I’ve got a few different valves you could try out if you want?

I did have to tape one of my original Ksyrium Allroads as the installed strip managed to leak for some reason. Was fine after that.

So, an update. I gave up in the end and bought a new tube. Impossible, couldn’t get anywhere near a full tyre on the rim. Went to my LBS. We went for with and without a tube. They couldn’t do either. We then installed different rim tape, still couldn’t do it.

So, I now have a useless new bike sat in the garage with the wheels off. Second weekend I haven’t been able to ride it.

I could have bought some new tyres to try, but I’m not spending £100 to have the same problem.

It does sound like that combination of tyre and rim just doesn’t work. I’d be cutting my losses, sticking the tyres on eBay and buying a new set with a looser bead. Sounds like those rims/rim strip leaves little space in the channel for the bead to sit while you lever the other bead on which is key to fitting a tight tyre. If the bead won’t sit in the channel it’ll be almost impossible to fit.

The ‘proper’ Mavic UST with the undrilled rim bed are great, as they don’t need tape. Your’s sounds like a nightmare, sorry. It probably is just a particularly tight tyre and particularly tight rim not going well together. Perhaps worth trying some different tyres,  may be some second hand Maxxis if you can find them — I’ver always found them to be a good balance of tight enought but not too tight to get on.

Yea I’m pretty f#$ked off tbh. I’ve no confidence that a different tyre will work. Not going to waste the money right now with it. The bike can gather dust for a while ffs.

Im surprised you are having issues getting a Pirelli Cinturato on/off

Im running a set of 45mm gravel ones on some Fulcrums with a sealed rim bed, set up tubeless with no issues, tyre can be easily removed with tyre levers if need be

Im guessing Mavic’s tolerances are really tight and their UST rims more suited to Mavic tyres

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It’s the 45mm version I’m using too. I just don’t get it. You’d almost think it was a 650b tyre, that’s how bad it is.

No, it isn’t ?

Its the rims unfortunatley, it seems unless you use Mavic tyres then any others will be a pain to fit/remove

My rule is if they are a pain to fit in the garage where its nice and warm and i have all the tools i need to hand then what are they going to be like when out on a ride and you puncture and the sealant/bacon strip cant stop the leak?

The internet seems to agree the rims are tight unless using Mavic tyres

Mavic Allroad wheelset tyre compatibility
byu/Murky-Flight5877 inbikewrench

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/1163486-experience-mavic-open-pro-ust-hutchinson-tires.html

https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/tyres-that-fit-on-mavic-cosmic-pro-carbon-ust-tubeless/38380/8

New wheels it is then. I was planning on upgrading in about 6 months, guess my mind is made up early.