Tubeless Tyres
Discussion
Well, these are fun...
Picked up a new bike with tubeless tyres and immediately noticed they were losing air. Not just a bit either - enough that I'm pumping them up every day.
No big deal, as I was planning to swap the tyres anyway. Fitting them was more difficult than with tubes, but the rim tape looked tidy and there was plenty of sealant inside.
New tyres are now on...and I'm still losing around 10psi a day from both the front and rear.
Have I missed something obvious, or is there another likely culprit?
Picked up a new bike with tubeless tyres and immediately noticed they were losing air. Not just a bit either - enough that I'm pumping them up every day.
No big deal, as I was planning to swap the tyres anyway. Fitting them was more difficult than with tubes, but the rim tape looked tidy and there was plenty of sealant inside.
New tyres are now on...and I'm still losing around 10psi a day from both the front and rear.
Have I missed something obvious, or is there another likely culprit?
If the rim tape looks good, check the valves are tight and well seated.
That aside, new tyres can be a bit porous but if it continues after a few rides, add more sealant.
On the plus side, I had my first tubeless winter just gone. When I took the tyres off I found 4 blobs inside showing holes which I was oblivious too because of the mudguards and sealant quickly sorting them.
That aside, new tyres can be a bit porous but if it continues after a few rides, add more sealant.
On the plus side, I had my first tubeless winter just gone. When I took the tyres off I found 4 blobs inside showing holes which I was oblivious too because of the mudguards and sealant quickly sorting them.
Did you do the sealant dance when you fitted the new tyres, or go out for a ride? Both can help plug all the small gaps, as can over inflating the tyres a little - apologies if you are already experienced with setting up tubeless and you already know this.
Edited by benny.c on Monday 6th July 21:34
Go for a ride.
I often get problems getting them to seal when running a cushcore inside, as it limits the sealant getting around any tiny gap in the taping.
I can spin the wheel for ages on the stand, still don't seal.
Go for a ride, and it magically seals!
If you spray some soapy water around the spokes, you will probably see bubbles, which means the air is getting through the tape.
I often get problems getting them to seal when running a cushcore inside, as it limits the sealant getting around any tiny gap in the taping.
I can spin the wheel for ages on the stand, still don't seal.
Go for a ride, and it magically seals!
If you spray some soapy water around the spokes, you will probably see bubbles, which means the air is getting through the tape.
If it's not the valve then it's the rim tape and if the valve has been cranked down so tight that you can't undo it by hand then the person who did the original setup knew they'd messed up. The valve only needs to be tightened by hand and cranking it down tighter and tighter is usually a symptom of a rim tape problem.
With random leaks like this, I'd always go back to basics. Take the valve out and replace the rim tape, then reseat the valve and tyre. The tyre should hold pressure without sealant and you can either inject it through the valve (with the core removed) or pour it straight in (but you'll need to unseat the tyre a bit).
The sealant isn't compatible with the rim tape, so it won't actually seal any leaks for you in that area. Also, if there's a leak around valve then it'll cause you trouble down the line; the sealent is a flocculant and clumps around leaks which'll clog your valve eventually.
One other hint that some people miss - when you're running tubeless, treat your valve cores like consumables. The sealant evetually damages the seal in the core (after a year or so) and it'll become difficult to inflate the tyre. Just keep some spares and replace them every so often.
With random leaks like this, I'd always go back to basics. Take the valve out and replace the rim tape, then reseat the valve and tyre. The tyre should hold pressure without sealant and you can either inject it through the valve (with the core removed) or pour it straight in (but you'll need to unseat the tyre a bit).
The sealant isn't compatible with the rim tape, so it won't actually seal any leaks for you in that area. Also, if there's a leak around valve then it'll cause you trouble down the line; the sealent is a flocculant and clumps around leaks which'll clog your valve eventually.
One other hint that some people miss - when you're running tubeless, treat your valve cores like consumables. The sealant evetually damages the seal in the core (after a year or so) and it'll become difficult to inflate the tyre. Just keep some spares and replace them every so often.
ecs said:
If it's not the valve then it's the rim tape and if the valve has been cranked down so tight that you can't undo it by hand then the person who did the original setup knew they'd messed up. The valve only needs to be tightened by hand and cranking it down tighter and tighter is usually a symptom of a rim tape problem.
With random leaks like this, I'd always go back to basics. Take the valve out and replace the rim tape, then reseat the valve and tyre. The tyre should hold pressure without sealant and you can either inject it through the valve (with the core removed) or pour it straight in (but you'll need to unseat the tyre a bit).
The sealant isn't compatible with the rim tape, so it won't actually seal any leaks for you in that area. Also, if there's a leak around valve then it'll cause you trouble down the line; the sealent is a flocculant and clumps around leaks which'll clog your valve eventually.
One other hint that some people miss - when you're running tubeless, treat your valve cores like consumables. The sealant evetually damages the seal in the core (after a year or so) and it'll become difficult to inflate the tyre. Just keep some spares and replace them every so often.
This is great, thank you.With random leaks like this, I'd always go back to basics. Take the valve out and replace the rim tape, then reseat the valve and tyre. The tyre should hold pressure without sealant and you can either inject it through the valve (with the core removed) or pour it straight in (but you'll need to unseat the tyre a bit).
The sealant isn't compatible with the rim tape, so it won't actually seal any leaks for you in that area. Also, if there's a leak around valve then it'll cause you trouble down the line; the sealent is a flocculant and clumps around leaks which'll clog your valve eventually.
One other hint that some people miss - when you're running tubeless, treat your valve cores like consumables. The sealant evetually damages the seal in the core (after a year or so) and it'll become difficult to inflate the tyre. Just keep some spares and replace them every so often.
To add, I had a similar experience with a set of tyres on a new bike and for me the solution was to replace the rim tape. I used Gorilla Handy Roll tape rather than the "proper" stuff as I find from experience that it is extremely forgiving and easy to fit and none of the wheels (MTB) I've used it on have ever leaked. When I seat the new tyres I also tend to put in some sealant and then intentionally over inflate them a bit before leaving them a bit and then reducing to normal running pressure. Not sure if it does much but I saw someone do it once and claim it helped the initial seal.
Some valves work better than others for the inner rim profile- I’ve had to play around a bit in the past to find combos that work and seal correctly.
As above gorilla tape works well as rim tape.
Also did you over inflate the tyres slightly until you heard the bead pop into place? Sometimes they will hold air but the bead isn’t quite in the right place. Some soapy water can help lubricate things
As above gorilla tape works well as rim tape.
Also did you over inflate the tyres slightly until you heard the bead pop into place? Sometimes they will hold air but the bead isn’t quite in the right place. Some soapy water can help lubricate things
I'm in the middle of a tubeless nightmare on one of my bikes, thought I had fixed it, but came back to a flat tyre. After spraying with soapy water, the air was leaking from the spoke nipples, so the tape had failed. I had already replaced the rim tape, so not impressed. I expect that the tape got nicked on one of the many times I've had the tyre on and off the rim, as I have chased leaks around.
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