Tubeless or not?
#127
Fat n slow

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 2,211
From: Saratoga, NY
Bikes: Cervelo R3, Giant Revolt
I was able to squeeze most of the watery, old sealant out of my front tire. Leaving the valve core out of the stem overnight took care of the rest, so no need for me to break the bead to clean it out this time around (I want to get my new Schwalbe Pro1 Addix installed in the next few weeks, anyway, so I'll have the opportunity to swap stems at that time).
Even though the insertion tube doesn't fit all the way in to my current stems, I can already tell that the sealant syringe will be a welcomed addition and $12 well spent. It takes the guesswork out of dosing, it's easy and it's relatively clean. I did have one instance where I hit some resistance when injecting - rather than push harder, I pulled back on the plunger and tried again and I got smooth sailing in return. After filling the tires, I flushed the tubes/syringe a few times with some warm water and took it apart to let it dry. Good stuff.
Even though the insertion tube doesn't fit all the way in to my current stems, I can already tell that the sealant syringe will be a welcomed addition and $12 well spent. It takes the guesswork out of dosing, it's easy and it's relatively clean. I did have one instance where I hit some resistance when injecting - rather than push harder, I pulled back on the plunger and tried again and I got smooth sailing in return. After filling the tires, I flushed the tubes/syringe a few times with some warm water and took it apart to let it dry. Good stuff.
just curious how much wheels play into that
#128
Frankly, I'm more curious about how your tire came unseated. Are they loose enough that they'll unseat when you deflate? That would concern me.
#129
Fat n slow

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 2,211
From: Saratoga, NY
Bikes: Cervelo R3, Giant Revolt
I'm running Hutchinson Fusion 5 Performance 11Storm. Unless you're running Mavic/Mavic, I think that getting the tires to seat with a track pump is dumb luck with the rim/tire combo.
Frankly, I'm more curious about how your tire came unseated. Are they loose enough that they'll unseat when you deflate? That would concern me.
Frankly, I'm more curious about how your tire came unseated. Are they loose enough that they'll unseat when you deflate? That would concern me.
#131
Senior Member



Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,762
Likes: 5,382
From: Minneapolis
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220
Here is where I am in my continuing adventure to figure out Tubeless.
To review, I have a set of Mavic Cosmic Pro UST with Yksion tires that arrived with my new bike. I didn't expect to set up tubeless right away, but the front tire went flat almost immediately and I found that it's much easier to mount the tires without a tube than with.
So, when I mounted the tires (w/o tube) and pumped up the front one, the beads seat, but then there is a leak from one of the spoke holes. On closer inspection, I can see that whomever put the wheels together (Canyon or Mavic?), had trouble with the rim tape because there is a piece of black tape placed over the normal rim tape in the vicinity of that particular spoke. There must be a perforation in the rim tape beneath it. The black tape looks well-placed to me, but obviously it is not gas-tight.
So, should I
1. just proceed with adding sealant, assuming that it will plug this hole?
2. Remove the black tape and try to seal whatever hole is in the rim tape with a better piece of tape?
3. Pull off all the rim tape and start again?
Advice requested.
To review, I have a set of Mavic Cosmic Pro UST with Yksion tires that arrived with my new bike. I didn't expect to set up tubeless right away, but the front tire went flat almost immediately and I found that it's much easier to mount the tires without a tube than with.
So, when I mounted the tires (w/o tube) and pumped up the front one, the beads seat, but then there is a leak from one of the spoke holes. On closer inspection, I can see that whomever put the wheels together (Canyon or Mavic?), had trouble with the rim tape because there is a piece of black tape placed over the normal rim tape in the vicinity of that particular spoke. There must be a perforation in the rim tape beneath it. The black tape looks well-placed to me, but obviously it is not gas-tight.
So, should I
1. just proceed with adding sealant, assuming that it will plug this hole?
2. Remove the black tape and try to seal whatever hole is in the rim tape with a better piece of tape?
3. Pull off all the rim tape and start again?
Advice requested.
#132
Fat n slow

Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 2,211
From: Saratoga, NY
Bikes: Cervelo R3, Giant Revolt
Here is where I am in my continuing adventure to figure out Tubeless.
To review, I have a set of Mavic Cosmic Pro UST with Yksion tires that arrived with my new bike. I didn't expect to set up tubeless right away, but the front tire went flat almost immediately and I found that it's much easier to mount the tires without a tube than with.
So, when I mounted the tires (w/o tube) and pumped up the front one, the beads seat, but then there is a leak from one of the spoke holes. On closer inspection, I can see that whomever put the wheels together (Canyon or Mavic?), had trouble with the rim tape because there is a piece of black tape placed over the normal rim tape in the vicinity of that particular spoke. There must be a perforation in the rim tape beneath it. The black tape looks well-placed to me, but obviously it is not gas-tight.
So, should I
1. just proceed with adding sealant, assuming that it will plug this hole?
2. Remove the black tape and try to seal whatever hole is in the rim tape with a better piece of tape?
3. Pull off all the rim tape and start again?
Advice requested.
To review, I have a set of Mavic Cosmic Pro UST with Yksion tires that arrived with my new bike. I didn't expect to set up tubeless right away, but the front tire went flat almost immediately and I found that it's much easier to mount the tires without a tube than with.
So, when I mounted the tires (w/o tube) and pumped up the front one, the beads seat, but then there is a leak from one of the spoke holes. On closer inspection, I can see that whomever put the wheels together (Canyon or Mavic?), had trouble with the rim tape because there is a piece of black tape placed over the normal rim tape in the vicinity of that particular spoke. There must be a perforation in the rim tape beneath it. The black tape looks well-placed to me, but obviously it is not gas-tight.
So, should I
1. just proceed with adding sealant, assuming that it will plug this hole?
2. Remove the black tape and try to seal whatever hole is in the rim tape with a better piece of tape?
3. Pull off all the rim tape and start again?
Advice requested.
#133
Pizzaiolo Americano
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 544
Likes: 141
From: Hopefully riding my bike...
Bikes: 2021 Trek Domane, Bianchi Intenso, Specialized Epic Evo, Surly Ice Cream Truck, Some other stuff
Here is where I am in my continuing adventure to figure out Tubeless.
To review, I have a set of Mavic Cosmic Pro UST with Yksion tires that arrived with my new bike. I didn't expect to set up tubeless right away, but the front tire went flat almost immediately and I found that it's much easier to mount the tires without a tube than with.
So, when I mounted the tires (w/o tube) and pumped up the front one, the beads seat, but then there is a leak from one of the spoke holes. On closer inspection, I can see that whomever put the wheels together (Canyon or Mavic?), had trouble with the rim tape because there is a piece of black tape placed over the normal rim tape in the vicinity of that particular spoke. There must be a perforation in the rim tape beneath it. The black tape looks well-placed to me, but obviously it is not gas-tight.
So, should I
1. just proceed with adding sealant, assuming that it will plug this hole?
2. Remove the black tape and try to seal whatever hole is in the rim tape with a better piece of tape?
3. Pull off all the rim tape and start again?
Advice requested.
To review, I have a set of Mavic Cosmic Pro UST with Yksion tires that arrived with my new bike. I didn't expect to set up tubeless right away, but the front tire went flat almost immediately and I found that it's much easier to mount the tires without a tube than with.
So, when I mounted the tires (w/o tube) and pumped up the front one, the beads seat, but then there is a leak from one of the spoke holes. On closer inspection, I can see that whomever put the wheels together (Canyon or Mavic?), had trouble with the rim tape because there is a piece of black tape placed over the normal rim tape in the vicinity of that particular spoke. There must be a perforation in the rim tape beneath it. The black tape looks well-placed to me, but obviously it is not gas-tight.
So, should I
1. just proceed with adding sealant, assuming that it will plug this hole?
2. Remove the black tape and try to seal whatever hole is in the rim tape with a better piece of tape?
3. Pull off all the rim tape and start again?
Advice requested.
#135
Globo Gym lifetime member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,204
Likes: 614
From: Redmond, Oregon
Bikes: Fast ones
Got my first road tubeless "flat" on my rear tire. I assume it happened during my last outdoor ride on Sunday, but I only noticed it when I pumped the tires up to 94 psi (very high) for an indoor ride yesterday. The added pressure and tire deformation on the roller drum was enough to push sealant through the hole a little more and onto the roller drums making them slick. It was actually a fairly large hole, so color me impressed with the sealing properties of Stans Race Sealant.
The main takeaway here is that I didn't even notice I had a puncture because it sealed instantaneously on the outdoor ride. I didn't even have sealant splatters on the chainstay or seat tube. This "flat" was probably for the better, as that GP5KTL had over 2000 miles on it and was due for replacement.
This makes me 1 for 1 on road tubeless being waaaay less of a pain than a tubed setup when it comes to punctures.
The main takeaway here is that I didn't even notice I had a puncture because it sealed instantaneously on the outdoor ride. I didn't even have sealant splatters on the chainstay or seat tube. This "flat" was probably for the better, as that GP5KTL had over 2000 miles on it and was due for replacement.
This makes me 1 for 1 on road tubeless being waaaay less of a pain than a tubed setup when it comes to punctures.
__________________
#136
I wish that I had taken a picture at the time, but in late Dec, when I was visiting my in-laws in VA, I got back from a ride and looked at my rear tire. Like yours, it had more than 2k miles on it and was close to EOL, but the interesting bit was that on the side of the tire facing me, there were half a dozen little cuts with wet spots surrounding them. The shoulders down there were pretty gritty, but that was surprising.
#137
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 662
From: Québec, Canada
Bikes: Tarmac SL8, Pink Lady Crux, TCR Beater
So I had my first badluck with my TL setup this Saturday - I rolled on broken pieces of a glass bottle (youngsters and their delinquency...) while riding on the shoulder of a nearby road and it made 2 small punctures (1-2mm). Sealant wasn't able to do it's job and it sprayed everywhere.
I ended up putting a tube instead (thanks to my girlfriend for the towing service) & am now hesitating between the 3 options (#1 would clearly be the one I would go with...). I don't have the tools required at home to play with TL setups.
1) Patching the tire from the inside - I heard it was feasible?
2) Replacing rear tire with the same one (1 week for my LBS to order it + a few more days to install it)
3) Replacing the 2 tires with non-tubeless ones (quite expensive...)
What do you think?
I ended up putting a tube instead (thanks to my girlfriend for the towing service) & am now hesitating between the 3 options (#1 would clearly be the one I would go with...). I don't have the tools required at home to play with TL setups.
1) Patching the tire from the inside - I heard it was feasible?
2) Replacing rear tire with the same one (1 week for my LBS to order it + a few more days to install it)
3) Replacing the 2 tires with non-tubeless ones (quite expensive...)
What do you think?
#138
So I had my first badluck with my TL setup this Saturday - I rolled on broken pieces of a glass bottle (youngsters and their delinquency...) while riding on the shoulder of a nearby road and it made 2 small punctures (1-2mm). Sealant wasn't able to do it's job and it sprayed everywhere.
I ended up putting a tube instead (thanks to my girlfriend for the towing service) & am now hesitating between the 3 options (#1 would clearly be the one I would go with...). I don't have the tools required at home to play with TL setups.
1) Patching the tire from the inside - I heard it was feasible?
2) Replacing rear tire with the same one (1 week for my LBS to order it + a few more days to install it)
3) Replacing the 2 tires with non-tubeless ones (quite expensive...)
What do you think?
I ended up putting a tube instead (thanks to my girlfriend for the towing service) & am now hesitating between the 3 options (#1 would clearly be the one I would go with...). I don't have the tools required at home to play with TL setups.
1) Patching the tire from the inside - I heard it was feasible?
2) Replacing rear tire with the same one (1 week for my LBS to order it + a few more days to install it)
3) Replacing the 2 tires with non-tubeless ones (quite expensive...)
What do you think?
If you've got the tire off already, or you have to take it off to remove the tube, you might as well patch it (just like you would with a tube, though I don't think that you need to scuff up the surrounding area - just make sure it's clean). But at 1-2mm, I'd be tempted to just re-mount and put in some good, fresh sealant.
#139
The main takeaway here is that I didn't even notice I had a puncture because it sealed instantaneously on the outdoor ride. I didn't even have sealant splatters on the chainstay or seat tube.
This makes me 1 for 1 on road tubeless being waaaay less of a pain than a tubed setup when it comes to punctures.
This makes me 1 for 1 on road tubeless being waaaay less of a pain than a tubed setup when it comes to punctures.
#140
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 662
From: Québec, Canada
Bikes: Tarmac SL8, Pink Lady Crux, TCR Beater
1-2mm punctures should be child's play for a decent sealant - what was in there? Was is old?
If you've got the tire off already, or you have to take it off to remove the tube, you might as well patch it (just like you would with a tube, though I don't think that you need to scuff up the surrounding area - just make sure it's clean). But at 1-2mm, I'd be tempted to just re-mount and put in some good, fresh sealant.
If you've got the tire off already, or you have to take it off to remove the tube, you might as well patch it (just like you would with a tube, though I don't think that you need to scuff up the surrounding area - just make sure it's clean). But at 1-2mm, I'd be tempted to just re-mount and put in some good, fresh sealant.
The LBS I went to on Saturday evening told me it was not reparable. I do not trust this LBS, and I am going to another one to see if it is. IMO, I can put crazy glue inside the hole from the exterior, then a patch inside & put sealant. Would do this all by myself, but as I said, I am not equipped for TL maintenance at all. I need to buy sealant & either a new tubeless pump or keep my current one & buy one of these tank that you can ''charge'' with a regular pump. I realized it was a must if I wanted to keep running TL tires.
#1 (a little bigger than 1-2mm, sorry for that, I just saw this. The tube inside stretched it).

#2
Last edited by eduskator; 05-04-20 at 09:22 AM.
#141
The bottom one looks worse than the top, but neither is a 1mm puncture.
Is the bottom one a V-shaped cut? Is the casing bulging in that area when under pressure? If so, bin it. If not, it's probably worth a try to do as you say - superglue on the outside and patch on the inside.
Is the bottom one a V-shaped cut? Is the casing bulging in that area when under pressure? If so, bin it. If not, it's probably worth a try to do as you say - superglue on the outside and patch on the inside.
#143
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 662
From: Québec, Canada
Bikes: Tarmac SL8, Pink Lady Crux, TCR Beater
The bottom one looks worse than the top, but neither is a 1mm puncture.
Is the bottom one a V-shaped cut? Is the casing bulging in that area when under pressure? If so, bin it. If not, it's probably worth a try to do as you say - superglue on the outside and patch on the inside.
Is the bottom one a V-shaped cut? Is the casing bulging in that area when under pressure? If so, bin it. If not, it's probably worth a try to do as you say - superglue on the outside and patch on the inside.
#144
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 662
From: Québec, Canada
Bikes: Tarmac SL8, Pink Lady Crux, TCR Beater
#145
I always buy 3 tires at a time for 2 reasons. Rear tires wear out at about a 2-1 rate, and I like to have a spare on hand in case something like this happens.
#147
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 358
Likes: 21
This is a timely thread for me as I just swapped out the Mavic Yksion Pro UST 28 (set up as clinchers) to Schwalbe Micro skin TL 30 on my Orbea Gain M30. Mind you, this bike has easily the most uncomfortable rear I’ve ever ridden. It crashes and bangs over bumps and was so unpleasant that I (in my usual dim witted way of thinking) started shopping replacements.
Anyway, largely due to WhyFi’s posts on the topic, I felt compelled to at least try an install a set of TLs myself. Picked up the PRO ONES from Merlincycles for $41 each, ordered some Mavic sealant and come the big day...one of the valves was defective.
While that made the first install more challenging than necessary, it also provided an opportunity for an interesting comparison: 30mm tubeless front TL VS 28mm tubed Yksion rear. PSI F 50, RR 60 (you read that correctly—I weigh 210 yet in my quest for comfort had dropped my rear tire pressures all the way down to 60 with a tube tire on a 19mm internal rim).
First time out it was clear that the front was clearly more comfortable, but I wasn’t so sure the rear would work as well. After all, the Yksion is a highly rated tire and 2mm and some sealant couldn’t make that big a difference, right? Wrong...
The TL at 55psi in the rear (now 45 in front) transformed the ride into titanium sweetness. I’m stunned, and happy to say that the installation was easy (once I got valves that worked). No sealant spills and just one tire lever needed to get the bead onto the rim. As far as pace, comfort is everything: you sit down, mash the pedals and motor forward, (instead of lifting your butt up over each bump) so your pace feels more consistent, as does your mindfulness—yesterday I enjoyed the most meditative 30 mile ride since I purchased this bike six months and 800 miles ago.
Long story short—I am a tubeless, low pressure convert and can’t believe it took me this long to figure it out.
Anyway, largely due to WhyFi’s posts on the topic, I felt compelled to at least try an install a set of TLs myself. Picked up the PRO ONES from Merlincycles for $41 each, ordered some Mavic sealant and come the big day...one of the valves was defective.
While that made the first install more challenging than necessary, it also provided an opportunity for an interesting comparison: 30mm tubeless front TL VS 28mm tubed Yksion rear. PSI F 50, RR 60 (you read that correctly—I weigh 210 yet in my quest for comfort had dropped my rear tire pressures all the way down to 60 with a tube tire on a 19mm internal rim).
First time out it was clear that the front was clearly more comfortable, but I wasn’t so sure the rear would work as well. After all, the Yksion is a highly rated tire and 2mm and some sealant couldn’t make that big a difference, right? Wrong...
The TL at 55psi in the rear (now 45 in front) transformed the ride into titanium sweetness. I’m stunned, and happy to say that the installation was easy (once I got valves that worked). No sealant spills and just one tire lever needed to get the bead onto the rim. As far as pace, comfort is everything: you sit down, mash the pedals and motor forward, (instead of lifting your butt up over each bump) so your pace feels more consistent, as does your mindfulness—yesterday I enjoyed the most meditative 30 mile ride since I purchased this bike six months and 800 miles ago.
Long story short—I am a tubeless, low pressure convert and can’t believe it took me this long to figure it out.
#148
Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 662
From: Québec, Canada
Bikes: Tarmac SL8, Pink Lady Crux, TCR Beater
Do you have some other reasons for wanting to go away from tubeless? Because if your reason is that it didn't succeed in plugging up cut #2 , that's like saying that you're not happy with your car because it can't get you from NY to BOS in 70 minutes.
I am now thinking of ordering a new bike pump that comes with a built-in compressor. They are not cheap, but could clearly save me some headaches on the long run.
Last edited by eduskator; 05-04-20 at 04:16 PM.
#149
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,227
Likes: 11,270
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Guess it's just the extra hassle that comes with it. Anyways, I ended up buying a new TL Giant tire at my LBS & some sealant. I spent 1 hour trying to inflate the freaking tire using one of my air compressor (150PSI) and it didn't work. Even at high pressure, air was getting out instead of pushing the beads to where they should be. I was about to put WD-40 in there & light it up, but came back to my senses and gave up. There is something I am not doing right. Oh well, first times are the worst. I will resume tomorrow. If you have any tips for me, feel free to make me happy!
#150
Guess it's just the extra hassle that comes with it. Anyways, I ended up buying a new TL Giant tire at my LBS & some sealant. I spent 1 hour trying to inflate the freaking tire using one of my air compressor (150PSI) and it didn't work. Even at high pressure, air was getting out instead of pushing the beads to where they should be. I was about to put WD-40 in there & light it up, but came back to my senses and gave up. There is something I am not doing right. Oh well, first times are the worst. I will resume tomorrow. If you have any tips for me, feel free to make me happy!
- When seating, do the little things. Have a bottle of soapy water on-hand. Mist the tire beads all the way around, on both sides. Pinch and wiggle the tire all the way around - you're making sure that the beads are in the channel and that the beads/rim are slippery enough to pop up on to the shoulders when you hit it with air. Access to a good compressor or air blast canister really helps. A "snap, snap, POP!" is the sign of a job well done and is *so* satisfying.
- After seating a tire, deflate it - if the beads don't stay in place, you didn't do it right. If the beads do stay in place, remove the core, add sealant dose through the valve, re-inflate. Shake and spin the tire a bit so that the sealant can plug any little leaks. Check pressure a little later - add more air and spin if necessary.
Last edited by WhyFi; 05-04-20 at 08:31 PM.





