tube sealant

[crasher]

I have not been running any sealant in my tubes

After suffering another punture today from a small thorn that would pale in comparison against a splinter I suppose I must use something or get used to changing tubes rather than riding

 

Can someone give me a few pointers on what product to use and any pro's or cons associated with the products use esp ease of getting it into tube with these small valves and then maintenance time periods of renewal etc good practices

 

 

 

Thanks guys

 

 

 

 

[Weight Weenie]

The tubes with the small valves arent removeable afik so you need to use the large valves to get sealant in or buy tubes with thin valves with the sealant in. 

 

Tyre liners help as well and glass will be less of a problem as the tyre can be cut but the tube stays whole.

 

Best would be a tubeless conversion, a bit expensive but seals much better, its lighter and you dont pinch flat and you can run lighter pressures.

[Christopher Brunsdon]

How well do tyre liners work and are they easy to install? I was thinking about thorns today as I want to do some riding where there might be many thorns ... don't have the cash for tubeless yet as I doubt my alex rims will support them.

[downhilldemon]

tire liners work pretty well. i haven't seen a thorn go through one, but i haven't ridden large distances with them.

 

you can still put sealant in presta valves (thin ones). when i did it i just made a small cut in the tire, put the sealant in (the container had a small/ sharp ending to get inside the tire) and then put a patch on. thats on my dads bike now and its still fine 2 years later.

 

i've also seen a guy fill his pump with sealant and pump it into the tire, but it looked like more of a schlep than the way i did it.  

[PPWTF]

pick up Presta valves with removable valve cores, this way it's easy to get the sealant in to the tube. This is how Specialized and Dr Sludge do their thing.....

[crasher]

Thanks guys

Iwas at my LBS today they showed me the tubes with removable presta valves unfortunately they didnt have size I needed but will shop around now for new tubes with these valves then put some slime or whatever in them

I also picked up some tyre liners which look like a pretty good option as well although its more weight again into the wheels but they would of certainly have prevented my punctures

[Christopher Brunsdon]

Cool. Will get some tire liners then. Not phased by the more weight as it would be the same as carrying 2 extra tubes with you anyway.

[Pom1]

Guys I would really reccomend a tubeless conversion rather than liners etc... Use a good 120tpi tyre Maxxis or Geax with some Stans (not Joes) and you will say goodbye to punctures. I have ridden 3 epic without one puncture running with Stan's and Geax Saguaro's

[Johan Bornman]

How well do tyre liners work and are they easy to install? I was thinking about thorns today as I want to do some riding where there might be many thorns ... don't have the cash for tubeless yet as I doubt my alex rims will support them.

 

Your Alex rims will be just fine for a tubeless conversion. And, if you like most of us here balk at the cost of an "official" tubeless conversion, I suggest you search here for "ghetto tubeless". You'll be surprised how cheap it is to do your own DIY tubeless. And it's fun too. Nothing like a snot explosion to get you revved for the day.

 

I'll suggest you stay away from liners. Not only are they heavy but they greatly increase tyre rolling resistance by a factor of several hundred percent.

 

Further, on softish tyres they tend to abrade the tubes at the edges and cause their own punctures.  In my books, tyre liners are just one step above permatubes, which in turn are one step above wheelbarrow wheels.

 

Go tubeless.

 

 

[jagwil]

I agree with the idea of going tubeless. It may be a bit expensive, but get your LBS to do the job for you using Stan's. Much simpler than trying to do it yourself. No need to experience the "snot explosion".

[Oiltrash]

Why don't you just buy the tubes with sealant in already?

 

 

 

[leet22]

Whats a ball park price of a LBS doing a tubless conversion for you? Want to get it done but dont want to be ripped.

[Overlord]

 

Whats a ball park price of a LBS doing a tubless conversion for you? Want to get it done but dont want to be ripped.

 

Get the kit and tyres and I will do it for you.

 

[leet22]

Thx for the offer will let you know once i have the stuff.

[jagwil]

Whats a ball park price of a LBS doing a tubless conversion for you? Want to get it done but dont want to be ripped.

Get the kit and tyres and I will do it for you.

 

Now there is an offer you can't refuse !!

[Overlord]

 

Thx for the offer will let you know once i have the stuff.

 

Best thing is once you see how easy it is you can do it yourself. Let me know when you have everything then we get it done.