Tubeless, whatchu think??

[Z]

Got a shitload of flats last year, could have been due to the area, or maybe the fact that i suck....Changed so many tubes, i've been considering dropping the coin for tubeless tires....Anyone like em, hate em or otherwise??

[AfroMullet]

on my xc ride i run UST rims w/regular tires and stan's sealant.

Setup absolutely KICKS ASS. Be sure to check Stan's site for tires that will hold up to the added abuse of being tubeless.

[spanky]

I went with UST rims last year. At first I tried regular tires (Panaracer Fire XC Pro) and Stans sealant. The damn tires blew right off the rims. The first time it happened I thought someone was shooting at me - it was facking loud. Make sure if you use regular tires that they are capable of being run tubeless (some fit very loosely and you'll wind up with the same problem as me).

Now I run IRC Mythos XC Tubeless with Stans Sealant and haven't had a flat since. The durability and ability to run much lower tire pressures are well worth the extra rotational weight.

Now I only wish I could ride this season (shoulder surgery 2 weeks from today).

[focus]

i run non-ust rims and tires tubeless w/ stan's.... never had a problem w/ it, even riding copper harbor (which is a pretty rocky place).

i'm a wuss...so take my recommendation w/ a grain of salt...but....

[mntlion]

Was just thinging about doing this to the new C'dale I have coming in while all the parts are still new and ressellable

Have Mavic XM819 and
Maxxis High Roller UST, 26 x 2.35"

So why not re sell or trade the UST maxxis for the non UST ones, add some stans, save some weight?


UST rims should be about the same weight as a reg rim
and UST tires are 200ish g more,
tubes are 100g

so adding stans, non UST tires, no tube = lighter AND no flats

or adding stans to a UST tire = no flats

Right?

[focus]

depends on the tire, the rim, and how you ride.... some people have great success with stan's....some people hate it. i personally think it has a lot to do w/ the initial installation.....

[p-tex]

Tubless Sucks!!

I still don't get it - why would anyone besides maybe a downhiller want to run tubless? They are a major pain in the ass to re-seal when you do get a flat, the rims are heavier and so are the tires and once you add goo or gunk or whatever sealant you choose you now have a great place to store dust dirt and other crap. Also - if you dent a rim you are stuck and you still have to carry a spare tube to put in the tire anyway.

I run lightweight tubes and almost never get flats (I had 2 ALL last year, and I ride quite a bit). WTF?

sorry for the rant

[lph]

i run non-ust rims with regular tires and stans. I run non-ust rims with tubeless tires and ust rims with tubeless tires.

They all friggin ROCK!!!!!!!!!!! I have these setups on both a vpfree and a xc bike and I would never go back to tubes. I used to get multiple pinch flats during any given ride, now no pinch flats, no flats at all.

IMVHO, everything works well, stans kit, stans sealant and the whole tubeless big money set up. start cheap and get the stans kit and see if you like it.

oh yeah, i especially like the fact that i can finally run my tire pressure a bit lower without worrying about pinch flats.

oh and mntlion you should use stan's sealant even with a UST rim/tire set up. otherwise the air is constantly going to leak out.

[jayfrizzo]

Curious, how do tubless handle thorns and goat heads and stuff?

[Arnold Babar]

Tubless Sucks!!

I still don't get it - why would anyone besides maybe a downhiller want to run tubless? They are a major pain in the ass to re-seal when you do get a flat, the rims are heavier and so are the tires and once you add goo or gunk or whatever sealant you choose you now have a great place to store dust dirt and other crap. Also - if you dent a rim you are stuck and you still have to carry a spare tube to put in the tire anyway.

I run lightweight tubes and almost never get flats (I had 2 ALL last year, and I ride quite a bit). WTF?

sorry for the rant

This is my opinion as well. A friend has been running tubless, and had no problems for a year, raved about the ability to run suuper low pressure. Then got a flat and now has a whole maintainance issue to deal with: put in tube temporarily (all gooey in there too) take out tube at home, clean out tire and rim re-goo and seal tire. I don't get it, but to each his own. Changing the occasional flat has never been an issue for me.

[Randall 'Pink' Floyd]

This is my opinion as well. A friend has been running tubless, and had no problems for a year, raved about the ability to run suuper low pressure. Then got a flat and now has a whole maintainance issue to deal with: put in tube temporarily (all gooey in there too) take out tube at home, clean out tire and rim re-goo and seal tire. I don't get it, but to each his own. Changing the occasional flat has never been an issue for me.

So, you've never used it? Thanks.

Before tubeless - I got flats. To avoid pinch flats I had to run high psi.

After tubeless - one flat, and that was because a huge nail and piece of wood got lodged in my worn tire. Slapped a new tube in it and was riding in 5 mins. You can't get a pinch flat, which is (was) my primary source. I run 35-40 psi, and on a hardtail, it's noticeably better comfort and traction.

frizzo - I run Stan's sealant in my UST setup, you don't even notice small punctures.

[p-tex]

PS - I ran tubless for a year. Not gonna do it again!

[Crinkle]

i don't run UST, don't have the duckets for it. I changed tires, now run Conti Vert pro's, non-ust tire, non-ust rims, with slime tubes. I got a few pinches then bumped up my psi to 40+ depending on the riding that i am doing and have yet to get a flat with this set up and you've seen how i ride.

[lph]

So, you've never used it? Thanks.

Before tubeless - I got flats. To avoid pinch flats I had to run high psi.

After tubeless - one flat, and that was because a huge nail and piece of wood got lodged in my worn tire. Slapped a new tube in it and was riding in 5 mins. You can't get a pinch flat, which is (was) my primary source. I run 35-40 psi, and on a hardtail, it's noticeably better comfort and traction.

frizzo - I run Stan's sealant in my UST setup, you don't even notice small punctures.

Exactly!!!

Also, if you look at the Stan's jug of sealant it claims to instantly seal all punctures up to I think, 1/4" in size.

If you don't get pinch flats, it is probably not gonna seem like as big a deal. But, if you get alot of pinch flats (depends on terrain, your body weight and how hard you hit the technical sections) then tubeless can make a big difference.

BTW, I have gotten a pinch flat running tubeless. I tried to do this stupid little bunny hop/gap and my rear tire landed right on the rock on the far side and I ended up with a 1/2" gash in my xc tire, the stans oozed into and out of the gash but couldn't seal it. Put in my spare tube and rode away in the same time it took my buddy running tubes to fix his tube pinch flat encountered about 10 seconds before me on the same rock.

If i was riding non-technical fast terrain without goat heads, then I don't think there would be much of a benefit running tubeless.

[lph]

i don't run UST, don't have the duckets for it. I changed tires, now run Conti Vert pro's, non-ust tire, non-ust rims, with slime tubes. I got a few pinches then bumped up my psi to 40+ depending on the riding that i am doing and have yet to get a flat with this set up and you've seen how i ride.

ya, but you had to upyour psi to 40+. I can't imagine this is the ideal psi for where you ride?

btw, it doesn't have to be expensive. You can buy the stan's kit pretty cheap and turn a non-ust wheel/tire to tubeless.

[wiunnbd]

on my xc ride i run UST rims w/regular tires and stan's sealant.

Setup absolutely KICKS ASS. Be sure to check Stan's site for tires that will hold up to the added abuse of being tubeless.

what tires you running?

[Z]

i don't run UST, don't have the duckets for it. I changed tires, now run Conti Vert pro's, non-ust tire, non-ust rims, with slime tubes. I got a few pinches then bumped up my psi to 40+ depending on the riding that i am doing and have yet to get a flat with this set up and you've seen how i ride.

yeah.....my problem seems to be thorns and goatheads when im just screwing around near my house, or riding the local trails here.....im no rockstar, so pinchflats and other abuse on trail never has given me problems....

I was using slime, but now im just using the protective tape around the tube.....seems like im the only without some sort of sealer

[Arnold Babar]

So, you've never used it? Thanks.

A bit sassy for a JONG! I said "to each his own" . Watching my buddy dick around with all that slime, when he could have just changed a tube made up my mind that I would never go tubeless. The upside is not worth it IMO, which is why I WON'T use it. I rarely get flats anyhow, regardless of psi.

[AfroMullet]

what tires you running?

IRC Mythos 2.1" Kevlar Bead.

Haven't had an issue yet that was the fault of the tubeless system.

[KarlHungus]

i haven't tried the stans brand sealer, my LBS doesn't carry it. So, i use the specialized brand (i think it's yellow) that they carry and it works great. Not sure if it's heavier or is supposed to be worse than stan's for some reason but it seems to work great for me.

The only time time i've gotten a puncture that wouldn't seal with it was when I got a tiny hole on the sidewall right where it touches the rim. It wouldn't seal so i had to run a tube in my UST set-up. Still no complaints though. Seeing the money some people blow on tubes every couple weeks seems to be worth it. I'd like to try the stans set-up for my regular tires and rims on my XC.

[Mr. Altagirl]

I have non-ust rims with 2.5 trail bears and Stan’s on my AS-X (everything from pure XC to DH) -LOVE IT. When we ride XC, it's always for some type of DH section and the tubeless lets me run less pressure without the worry of pinch flats (I used to get a lot of them). I'm probably going to go the same way on my DH bike, a lot of the racers already do. I went with the Ghetto install; cut 24" tubes in half and used them for my seal, pulled the valve core out, installed the Stan's, inflated (don't try to do it with a floor pump if you are using big tires) and go. My test ride was UPS in Moab, didn't lose a pound of air. I carry a tube just in case but the setup has been pretty bomber.

[jayfrizzo]

Mr. AG...I wanna do this. Can you learn me? I've got some old 24" tubes with a couple patches and holes in 'em. Will they werk?

Also, can you run high pressure in tubeless? Like 60-70 pounds? When I ride street I run high pressure.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Mr. AG...I wanna do this. Can you learn me? I've got some old 24" tubes with a couple patches and holes in 'em. Will they werk?

Also, can you run high pressure in tubeless? Like 60-70 pounds? When I ride street I run high pressure.

No problem, go down to Go-ride and have Chris sell you the Stan's, we'll use my ghetto bottle to insert into your tire (extra Hayes bleed bottle works great; make sure you tell Chris what we are doing and he will probably hook you up with a few extras too). I would think the old tubes would be OK, just make sure the patches are very good (plus the Stan's will help seal anyway; I would use new but I really don't want to get caught 20 miles out on an epic and have to improvise too much). You can definitely go with high pressure but it is very tire specific. I'm sure the tires you want to use will work great. Let me know once you have the Stan's and I'll come over.

Hey, MOAB! Let's Go! Hey, MOAB! Let's Go! (Ramones )

[spanky]

we'll use my ghetto bottle to insert into your tire (extra Hayes bleed bottle works great

Can you detail how you do this? I'm assuming it's a cleaner way of putting the stans into the tire. I usually get one tire bead on the rim, pour the stans into the tire, then put the other bead on. Sometimes, things move and some stans drips out.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Can you detail how you do this? I'm assuming it's a cleaner way of putting the stans into the tire. I usually get one tire bead on the rim, pour the stans into the tire, then put the other bead on. Sometimes, things move and some stans drips out.

Sure. Cut a 24" tube (with Schrader valve stem) in half opposite the stem, stretch the tube into the rim with the stem going out as normal (you will have quite a bit of extra tube rubber hanging outside the tire bead but you want this). Install the tire as normal (should be kinda tight). Remove the valve core (the Stan's comes with a small tool to do this or you can use a very small slotted screwdriver; just stick the screwdriver into the valve and turn it out). Use a small bottle with a very small spout (I use a Hayes bleed bottle) to insert the appropriate amount of Stan's (see Stan's instruction for your size tire). RE-install the valve and inflate. This was the hardest part to do at home; I would HIGHLY suggest using an air compressor (go to a gas station if you have to, it will save you a lot of pumping and grief). Once the tire is inflated and sealed (look around each bead for bubbling out Stan's, be patient) trim the excess tube with a razor (I leave a small amount sticking out just in case). Works great and no more pinch flats plus I seem to have better traction (probably due to the lower pressure I can run, tires seem more supple). Good luck!