Tubeless, whatchu think??

[spanky]

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!

Wow. I was just looking for info on how you use the bleed bottle to insert the stans. But, this info is great. Do you see any advantages in the ghetto method over the stans kit?

Also, I'll reiterate the use of an air compressor if you're using non-UST tires. It's almost impossible to get a seal using a floor pump. OTOH, I have no problems getting a seal with UST tires, stans and a floor pump.

Reiteration #2: If you're using non-UST tires, make sure you don't use any of the tires listed here: https://www.notubes.com/support_tire.php. I had first hand experience with Panaracer tires and had problems with burping and tire blowout.

[Tap]

a couple things i've learn (and am still learning) about UST

remember, 425g = 1 lb.

- UST tires are typically heavier than non-UST tires (800-900g vs. 500-600g), as are the UST rims. The weight typically comes from a thicker sidewall, as there is no tube to provide side-loading support.
- UST tires have bigger lips on them, so they seat in the UST rim nicely
- some UST tires are lighter (Conti Vert Pro) but have thin sidewalls and will pinch flat much easier than thicker UST tires (930g Geax Sturdy, i.e.)
- some non-UST tires have big enough lips to seat in a UST rim, as long as you use Stan's to form a seal (Stan's website has a list of recommended non-UST tires that work well with UST rims)

-as stated, you can run lower pressures with UST...better traction and possibly better feel (but I'm not that thenthitive)

i'm working out my own drama with UST's. After pinch flatting the Conti Vert Pro's 3-4 times last summer, I switched to a WTB Weirwolf 2.3 non-ust up front (w/ tube) and a Geax Sturdy 2.25 UST in back. The Geax has been great. Absolutely no problems. It's heavy tho at over 2 lbs. I'm gonna try a much smaller 2.0 non-UST tire and see what happens. Just switching from the Geax to something like a Specialized Roll-X saves me 3/4 lb. And I'm not trying to be a weight weenies....i'm just playin' around and seeing what works for my area. Certainly I'll be using the Geax when the gravity-fed speed increases or the terrain requires it.

word to your mother.

[Tap]

--from Stan's website--

Recommended (non-tubeless) Tires

Continental
Hutchinson
Kenda
Specialized
and most other brands.


Standard Tires NOT Recommended

Michelin
Nokian
WTB
Panaracer
Bontrager
Intense

[wintermittent]

Mr. AG, your tube hack valve solution is really cool.

Also though, Spanky, Stan's has a valve core kit that lets you unthread the valve from the rim without removing the tire. It's handy when you want to add just a little more sealant and don't want to unseat the sealed bead. Also, if the valve core gets funked up, you can swap it out quick.

I've been running Stan's and removable cores w/Hutchinson UST Scorpions on Mavic rims for 6 or so months. Nice setup.

Might just have to try the frugal Mr. AG trick, though. Thanks for sharing.

[mntlion]

Great idea.

other thing, geto (24" tube) is more weight then stans I think. but WAY cheaper

[bigtrubs]

My buddy has tubeless but landed wrong on a gap jump and bent his rim, it probably wouldn't have happened if he had regular ones.

[focus]

My buddy has tubeless but landed wrong on a gap jump and bent his rim, it probably wouldn't have happened if he had regular ones.

uhm... why?

[lph]

My buddy has tubeless but landed wrong on a gap jump and bent his rim, it probably wouldn't have happened if he had regular ones.

hmmm, how do you explain that??? The logic, or lack thereof, sounds a bit faulty.

[wintermittent]

Umm, tubeless dirt jumping seems a little risky. Maybe even risque.

Your buddy get better traction when gapping @ 18psi?

Even at higher pressure, I'd still be concerned about burping the UST bead off the rim if I landed hard or off-kilter.

[bigtrubs]

Yeah he normally rides street on that particular bike, but I have a feeling that with tubes it would have sucked up the impact and popped, but since there is no innertube the energy went toward bending the rim, which is too bad. I'm not all that bike-savvy, and it was an unfortunate event, but I just have a feeling that tubeless isn't quite as burly and can't withhold as much action as a regular tire.

[focus]

Yeah he normally rides street on that particular bike, but I have a feeling that with tubes it would have sucked up the impact and popped, but since there is no innertube the energy went toward bending the rim, which is too bad. I'm not all that bike-savvy, and it was an unfortunate event, but I just have a feeling that tubeless isn't quite as burly and can't withhold as much action as a regular tire.

uh...no. pretty sure that isn't why that happened. the only way, really, that you could lay the bent rim on the doorstep of tubeless is if the tire burped, but was otherwise running a similar pressure to what he'd have in tubes.

if he'd been running a tube at the same pressure and it "popped" he would have had about exactly the same result. the extra 1/8" of rubber wouldn't have done shit...

you might say, however, that if he'd had a tube in there he'd have been required to run a higher pressure, and avoided the bent rim... but lower pressure is one of the reasons we run tubeless in the first place.

it ain't bike savvy, it's common sense savvy...



i spent way too long on that response....who the fuck cares? i don't.

[Spats]

Another good way to avoid pinch flats is to run a bigger tire.

My big bike has 32mm rims and 2.6" tires -- I'm sure it's possible to pinch flat, but I'd have to be going a lot bigger than my balls allow me to.

Plus the traction. Oh, the traction. (Except on wet roads )

[Blizzard7763]

Ok, so I was reading this thread earlier today. All of this talk about flat tires got me kind of worried.

So a few hours after that, I decide to go out for a leisurely ride around the perimiter of the airport that's next to my college. I didn't bring a tube and pump with me, because it's all easy hardpack and/or sidewalk.

So of course, at exactly the farthest point from my school I could be before coming back, I get a flat tire. So I'm walk the bike back for a mile and a half. I haul the bike upstairs, and what do I hear? Pssshhhhhh...

So I'm thinking to myself "how is this possible, the tire is already flat?" Sure enough, the front is leaking. I pick a piece of glass out of the rubber, and every bit of pressure left comes out.

Dammit.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Mr. AG, your tube hack valve solution is really cool.

Also though, Spanky, Stan's has a valve core kit that lets you unthread the valve from the rim without removing the tire. It's handy when you want to add just a little more sealant and don't want to unseat the sealed bead. Also, if the valve core gets funked up, you can swap it out quick.

I've been running Stan's and removable cores w/Hutchinson UST Scorpions on Mavic rims for 6 or so months. Nice setup.

Might just have to try the frugal Mr. AG trick, though. Thanks for sharing.

Yeah, for $20, I got two tubes and a good size bottle of Stan's. I did both tires and have enought Stan's to do at least 2-3 more. Just rode LPS in Moab and zero issues (I haven't put air in since last October, I forgot to check before this ride; we did Sovergn as well). Love the tubeless.