Tubeless conversions - really worth it?

[Hog_]

Let's be honest with ourselves for a little while.

 

Tubeless conversions are CRAP.

 

I serviced the 'Goose over the last few days. Did the wheels today. First thing that you'll notice is the tyre and the liner have fused together like glue. They're pretty much 1 unit. So you pry the wheel off the rim, then tear the strip off the tyre. Great, now EVERYTHING is sticky. You do your best to clean the strip and the tyre, but it would be easier to just set them on fire and buy new ones.

 

Now comes re-installation. Only this time the strips aren't flat any more, they have creases long the length. The tyres are still sticky, so the sidewalls are sticking to each other. The strips stick to the tyres and the whole damn lot stick to you. Once you finally manage to seat the tyre inside the strip, you try to get enough sealant in through the valve, but that doesn't happen as the sealant seals the valve hole.

 

Finally get enough sealant in, shake and spin everything around and grab the pump. You pump like a madman for about 2 minutes until the thing finally seals. Now half the sealant is on the floor, but you can't care any more.

 

 

Now here's my point: You go through all this effort to run tubeless. The main benefit of tubeless is lower tyre pressure, but do we ever really run our tyre pressures THAT low? I don't. Even when I used to have slime tubes I ran similar pressures and only once had a pinch flat. Never had a puncture because it sealed anyway.

 

Anyone care to convince me that tubeless conversions aren't a waste of time?

 

 

 

[Plentipotential]

Well worth it. I use Stan's and replace sealant every 3 months. Just wash with soap and water. Had a few punctures, the stan's takes care of it straight away.

[gazza]

it's sound to me like you need to watch the stans installation video's again mate... my first tubeless attempt I also wasted a ton of white gold, but after a few attempts it's much easier to mount new / old tyres with strips.

 

I recently purchased a set of stans arch 29er rims and watched the "video" and set about the task - i installed the yellow tape and valves, popped a set of non tubeless WTB tyres on and was able to pump them up without any sealant.. i was amazed, after two days he tyres were flat, I topped up the tyres with stans and they now still sealed.

 

On my 29er I run 1.5 to 2bar in 2.3 WTB exiwolfs - very soft and man those rims are awesome.. i still can't believe it.

 

As for normal rim strips and stans, I run Geax tyres on my 26er with strips and never had an issue with sealing them with a floor pump and using the backet and dishwashing liquid technique...

 

I too was anti-tubeless, as I was anti-disk brakes 10 years ago...

 

[rad006]

Use Bonti Strips and OKO much better as they seal with air alone

[Sean Badenhorst]

To me, tubeless is essential, especially when riding lots of rocky terrain.

To me, fiddling with a happy tubeless set-up is not necessary. EVER!

 

 

 

[Dicky DQ]

Depends if joy the benf you want to realy enjoy the benifts of running tubeless. 1.5 to 1,8 bar. ther is no way you can do that with tubes long term with rocky rides. 

[Hog_]

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of tubeless, but I think the big flaw is the conversion. Maybe I'll try doing the conversion with think insulation tape instead of the strips.

 

 

 

[Hog_]

 

Use Bonti Strips and OKO much better as they seal with air alone

 

You talking about his one here? http://bontrager.com/model/02566

Where do you get them, and how much?

 

 

 

[mountain_lion]

But why did you take the tyres off in the first place? 

 

You can top-up without removing the tyre.

Only need to take the tyre off when replacing the tyre...

 

 

[rad006]

Use Bonti Strips and OKO much better as they seal with air alone

You talking about his one here? http://bontrager.com/model/02566
Where do you get them' date=' and how much?


[/quote']

From your LBS.... if you dont feel like shopping around for R400 ill  have it posted to you.

But make sure your rims is at least 18mm wide though else these wont work

[Hog_]

R400? Thanks but I'll try my luck with the insulation tape. Either that or buy a wheel set with tubeless ready rims in the future.

 

 

 

[Konaman]

I have for the last 5  years only used tubeless conversion kits. Its a pain in the butt. Recently I got genuine tubeless rims. What a pleasure - no more strips moving around. Tyres inflate first time. Will not go back ever again.

Whatever you do - you have to use tubeless, unless you enjoy fixing tubes next to the road and taking a rest.

 

[Hog_]

 

I have for the last 5  years only used tubeless conversion kits. Its a pain in the butt. Recently I got genuine tubeless rims. What a pleasure - no more strips moving around. Tyres inflate first time. Will not go back ever again.

Whatever you do - you have to use tubeless' date=' unless you enjoy fixing tubes next to the road and taking a rest.

 

[/quote']

 

Ever tried tubes with sealant? I never had a puncture, only 1 snakebite but I really had myself to blame for that one. That was in over a years worth of fairly heavy use.

 

 

 

[Wernervdmerwe]

Odd questions, but

 

1. Do you still use Stan's (by choice) if you have a tubeless rim?

 

2. If you do get a flat / sidewall tear, how do you fix it without a compressor / foot pump, even if you have a boot?

[Hog_]

 

Odd questions' date=' but

 

1. Do you still use Stan's (by choice) if you have a tubeless rim?

 

2. If you do get a flat / sidewall tear, how do you fix it without a compressor / foot pump, even if you have a boot?[/quote']

 

1. You still run sealant, but the hassle of the strips is solved

2. Co2 bomb

 

 

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

One note on going getto - 1.9 do not work. This thread inspired me to give ghetto a go again tonight (as I'm busy monitoring our servers on Nagios - like paint drying).

 

So put on the 20" tube, wet it ... blah ... and then put on tyre. The 1.9 Kenda just is not wide enough. Considering I only have a floor pump I do not want something that requires me to go to the petrol station every time.

 

But not in vain, good excuse to upgrade my crappy tyres next Friday