Full tubeless set up - including what to do when things don't go to plan :-)
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| That feeling of happiness when the tyre pops onto the rim! |
Setting up tyres to run without inner tubes (tubeless) is very common in mountain biking and is spreading to other cycling disciplines. It's fairly straightforward but there are some common problems that can make you think you'll never get the wheel to run tubeless.
In this video I've shown the whole tubeless set up, including what to do when it doesn't go to plan. It's worth persevering with as wheels feel great without inner-tubes (think sitting on a luxurious, comfy sofa) and they really lower the impact of small punctures on your ride.
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Stans No Tubes Tire Sealant
Stans No Tubes Rim Tape
Stans No Tubes Universal Valve
Park Tool tyre levers
Granite Juicy Nipple Valve Caps
Airshot Tubeless Inflator
It's not essential to have a tubeless inflator, but it does make it easier to get a large volume of air quickly into a wheel. If you don't have one and the tyre isn't inflating, try using the washing up liquid solution to encourage the tyre to move into place.
Process:
1. Check that tyre and rim are both 'Tubeless Ready' or 'TR'. If they are not it will make it very difficult to set up as tubeless.
2. Remove tyre from the rim, using this technique.
3. Thoroughly clean the inside of the rim to make sure it's free of grit and grime. If it's a tubeless ready rim it may be taped already (this means a it has an air tight plastic tape pulled tightly around it, from edge to edge with only 1 hole for the valve). If it's pre-taped check for any holes or tears in the tape.
4. Tape the rim, if necessary (see video).
5. Insert tubeless valve and pull it securely into place, anchoring with the lock nut.
6. Checking direction of tyre (marked with a small rotation arrow and words direction or rotation on the side wall of the tyre), replace it on the rim.
7. Inflate the tyre to seat it properly on the rim. Check it's seated correctly via the little raised rubber line a few mm in from the rim. This should be parallel all the way round.
7a. If the tyre won't inflate try rubbing foamy washing up liquid/water all round the inside of the rim to help it move into place.
8. Remove the core of the valve using a core remover tool - I like the Park Tool one or the Granite valve end cap, which doubles as one.
9. Fill will tubeless sealant via the hollow valve.
10. Replace the valve core and inflate the tyre. Push it to a high psi eg 40-50psi and rotate the wheel to get the sealant all round the tyre and rim.
11. Ideally leave for 24hrs to check it's holding.
12. Go ride your bike!
For more information on removing and replacing tyres check out this recent blog post.
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