Tubeless conversions - really worth it?

[TNT1]

 

Mampara rides on the pavement most of the time anyway .

... wearing yellow booties...

 

[Hog_]

Oh, and for those wondering why I would fix something that's not broken:

I slid out the other day which cause some debris to stick in inbetween the strip and the tyre. I kept on losing pressure, so I decided to clean the front tyre out properly. Then I did the back tyre because I did the front. I still regret it.

 

 

[Yang]

Yang we all know that sugar cane does not have thorns !! Mampara rides on the pavement most of the time anyway .

 

 Boet, next time you're here I'll show off to you some fantastic routes and singletrack that I've found around here. We'll stay away from the berms with the thorns.

[AndreZA]

 

Mampara rides on the pavement most of the time anyway .

... wearing yellow booties...

 

 

 

and don't forget the k@k cotton retro caps underneath my helmut.

[crasher]

What colour is stans?

When I got my bike I was told it had stans already in the tyres

I pulled out a large thorn on Sunday after Walkerville and there was a quick hiss and a tiny bit of white sealant  just wondering if the white sealant is stans because of how well it sealed

[Thug]

Stans is white in colour.

 

I've been running tubeless for a good 3 years now and have just recently converted my new rims (29").

 

A layer of fibre tape to seal the spoke holes,

20" Roadie tubes cut to the appropriate width,

Stans,

Hutchinson Pythons (tubeless ready)

 

Initially sealed the tyres with the local garages compressor and then filled up with Stans through the valves. Then re-inflated with a floor pump.

 

Have had absolutely no hassles.

 

[Hairy]

Worth every cent .... I used to fixed TONS of punctures caused by those damned thorns prior to going the Tubeless route.

 

 

 

I now have a set of Bonti Tubeless ready rims and they are even easier to use.

 

 

 

Why fill the sealant via the valve when you can peal back a part of the tyre from the rim ... scoop in your sealant and inflate!

 

 

 

Hairy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KaKa]

I went TBless after I got a tubeless rim and tires at a good price. i will never look back. it is lighter and faster, thorns are a breese. the effect of running a tbless at less than 2bar is not the same as running a tube at less than 2 bar. tubes feels as if it is holding you back tbless is much better. i think i can ave 3-4 kmph faster over a 60km route than i could with tubes and the ride is softer

[Li Mu Bai]

 

Don't get me wrong' date=' 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.

 

 

 

[/quote']

 

 

umm, bit confused, you started off saying it was all crap?

 

[Weight Weenie]

Ok well here's my 5 Zim Dollars worth of comments hehe.

 

Tubes are a no-no, whether with or without sealant or tyre liners.  They are heavy, don't allow low pressures(so heavier or aggressive riders pinch allot) and with the higher pressures come less grip, comfort and trail conformation so they slow you down IMO.  I've pinched while riding hard on low pressure tubes at Groenies and this has never been an issue with my new tubeless setup.

 

For no hassles get UST tires and rims, heavier/expesnive but you'll never have issues.

 

For weight weenies like myself, normal rims and light tyres are the ticket, but be prepared to have problems installing, sealing, seating etc as it wasn't made to work this way...

 

What I've found is a compromise.  Get tubeless-ready tyres made for tube or sealant use (Bonty jones xr team @485g ) and then run stan's rims, as they have a special bead to keep the tire on the rim at low pressures.  I've got the 355's.

 

Be sure to check the ERTO dimensions(?) of the tyre/rim combo as if they don't match you'll struggle getting the tyre on and off or it may be very loose.

 

Keep strip valves clean by coating with vaseline so they don't gunk up and regularly top up the sealant and remove thorns, glass etc.

 

Getting a shop to do the conversion helps, or have a look at the video on the stans site, www.notubes.com

 

Well ja, now just ride!

[Candz]

Just read thru this and need some help..

 

I ride in very very thorny area (berg and bush area for those that have done the race) but then also do a lot of mountain trails with lot of rocks...

 

I need to do the conversion..ive had enough of punctures.  I have mountain king tyres with tubes and slime at present...

 

what would you guys suggest as the tyre to put on..cos I need to phone my lbs and make sure they order them for me and what else should I tell them I need??? Or do I just drop the bike and say "convert"  How will I know they converting to the right thing??

 

 

 

[DavidStone]

I am rebuilding a bike. How much heavier are tubeless with the conversion, compared to tubes? Sounds like its worth it!? Doesn't riding at lower pressure make you feel sluggish? What about longer rides? 100km etc, should you increase pressure for speed purposes? Something like Karoo to coast?

[Cassie]

Actually, with a compressor at hand(or via petrol station) you can convert ANY tire ghetto style...just done it myself...I had to first strap my tyre with a bike strap ...in order for the beads to seat - smaller area to inflate, and after that....once seated & plenty of OKO inside...any tire will seal and stay sealed (5 days so far with no air pressure loss) - just make sure you carry a CO2 bomb on rides in case a burp occur!)

Goodbye thorns...

[Tumbleweed]

Just read thru this and need some help..I ride in very very thorny area (berg and bush area for those that have done the race) but then also do a lot of mountain trails with lot of rocks...I need to do the conversion..ive had enough of punctures.? I have mountain king tyres with tubes and slime at present...what would you guys suggest as the tyre to put on..cos I need to phone my lbs and make sure they order them for me and what else should I tell them I need??? Or do I just drop the bike and say "convert"? How will I know they converting to the right thing??

 

 

 

 

they still got some tread on them? should be okay. those contis are cool, but it's always better to do a conversion on a new set of the same. at the shop i work at we add oko just before adding the sealant. chances are the shop will have joe's or stan's. they'll know what to do.

[AndreZA]

Has anybody actually tried inflating the tyre with lighter fluid and a match like they do 4x4 tyres in the veld.

[IdeJongh]

Do you guys know where I can find OKO slime? Lately LBS only has Stans and Joes.