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.