Tubeless tire maint
03-09-17, 04:56 PM
#1
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Tubeless tire maint
So, do you have to add sealant and if so, how much and how often?
03-09-17, 05:36 PM
#2
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1) yes
2) depends
2a) your tire, punctures, and in the absence of the other two, the local climate are big deciding factors. You can either break a bead to check the state of the sealant, or unscrew the valve core, rotate it to the bottom of the wheel, and shove a small zip tie down the throat, touching the inside of the tire, as a dipstick. I find, when you start getting small punctures that weep, but don't seal, it is also a good indication that you need to add sealant. I break one bead completely then, to pull any buildup out of the tire.
A paltry few miles away (granted, over water), my sealant usually lasts around 3-6 months.
2) depends
2a) your tire, punctures, and in the absence of the other two, the local climate are big deciding factors. You can either break a bead to check the state of the sealant, or unscrew the valve core, rotate it to the bottom of the wheel, and shove a small zip tie down the throat, touching the inside of the tire, as a dipstick. I find, when you start getting small punctures that weep, but don't seal, it is also a good indication that you need to add sealant. I break one bead completely then, to pull any buildup out of the tire.
A paltry few miles away (granted, over water), my sealant usually lasts around 3-6 months.
Last edited by wschruba; 03-09-17 at 06:04 PM.
03-10-17, 08:00 PM
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Try orange seal long life sealant.
But yeah, when your tires don't hold air, they need more sealant. 3-6 months is typical.
But yeah, when your tires don't hold air, they need more sealant. 3-6 months is typical.
03-11-17, 10:14 PM
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This is what I pulled out of my tires after a year and a half. I hadn't ridden enough lol! I think I am going to recycle and sell to condom manufacturers!
03-12-17, 12:19 PM
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Every few months I'll shoot an ounce in there to be safe. Maybe break the bead and see what's going on inside. I've not yet had issues with not holding air after a time period....but I'd rather not chance being 10+ miles from home and getting a puncture that won't seal because my sealant is dried up. I carry tubes so getting back home isn't an issue. I just don't want to deal with the PITA of installing a tube roadside if I could have prevented it by adding some sealant once in a while.
03-13-17, 01:52 PM
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Before every ride I shake my bike up and down, and if I hear pronounced sloshing around, I ride. If I hear minimal or no sloshing, I top it off with a couple oz of Stans. Seems like the more I use, the longer it lasts, to a point. This has not failed me yet; usually I have to top off within about 4 months. In summer it's more like 90 days.
03-13-17, 02:13 PM
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It sounds like inside can be a real mess and should be cleaned out every now and then.
03-13-17, 02:57 PM
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Stan's especially is known for having "Stanimals" which are globs of dried sealant. Admittedly, I'm haven't done tubeless yet, waiting til the weather isn't... snowing but planning on using Orange Seal which I've heard a lot of good things about. Supposed to do a great job sealing and not have the buildup of dried sealant like Stan's.
03-13-17, 04:59 PM
#9
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People who ride a fair bit (and so, wear their tires out reasonably fast) don't get serious buildup, regardless of the brand they use.
I've been using Orange Seal (classic, now, I guess) for a few years now. Rather than clumping like Stans, it just seems to coat the inside of the tire fairly evenly...but, aside from the last couple of months, I usually ride 20-40 hours a month...so individual results may vary. If it sits for a long time, it will dry out in one spot, just like anything else.
03-13-17, 05:13 PM
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My CX bike is used mostly from December to April when I switch to my road bike.
