What do you do when you find your tubeless tyre is flat?
Discussion
Scenario. Ridden day before. No puncture noticed. Next day flat. Small leak of sealant seen on tyre but nothing requiring a plug. I've had this before with loss of pressure and sealant doing its job - just pumped up tyre but never lost all pressure before.
I just ran in a bit of sealant, pumped up and rode. Ride went OK and holding pressure since. Anyone else doing any different?
I just ran in a bit of sealant, pumped up and rode. Ride went OK and holding pressure since. Anyone else doing any different?
_Rodders_ said:
Get the missus to come and pick you up.
Ditched tubeless the first time that happened.
I had to do that last time I had a flat with a TPU tube. Nasty carpet tack - might have got home if I'd been tubeless and left it in. Fancy electric pump had run out of power.Ditched tubeless the first time that happened.
Recent flat was in the morning before the ride finding the tyre completely flat. Previously there has only been a partial loss of pressure before it's self sealed.
I'm pretty sold on tubeless for mountain biking and gravel. Road I'm very happy with TPU inners.
I see a lot of those tubeless plug kits on the market but I'm not 100% sure what level of puncture would require one.
Every time I've punctured with tubeless, it's sprayed a bit of milk on my legs then sealed almost immediately.
I just check it every 2 months, top up when required and ride on.
Every time I've punctured with tubeless, it's sprayed a bit of milk on my legs then sealed almost immediately.
I just check it every 2 months, top up when required and ride on.
or just grab another bike :PDiscendo Discimus said:
I see a lot of those tubeless plug kits on the market but I'm not 100% sure what level of puncture would require one.
Every time I've punctured with tubeless, it's sprayed a bit of milk on my legs then sealed almost immediately.
I just check it every 2 months, top up when required and ride on.
Second ride. I've since ridden over a year on it. I always carry a 29" tube in my backpack, just in case all else fails.Every time I've punctured with tubeless, it's sprayed a bit of milk on my legs then sealed almost immediately.
I just check it every 2 months, top up when required and ride on.
I had that recently, no visible leaks. The tyre would hold overnight, so I added sealant (should have done that a while ago) and still kept losing air.
What solved it was changing the valve core. They do get faulty at times, very cheap to replace. Maybe try that before ditching the tubeless or spending money for a new tyre?
What solved it was changing the valve core. They do get faulty at times, very cheap to replace. Maybe try that before ditching the tubeless or spending money for a new tyre?
Only time i've had that happen - tubeless tyre go flat for no reason, it was the sidewall worn through. It was hard to see, but from running low pressures the side wall right along the bead had become porous.
On the flipside, still run tubeless and its got me out of countless holes - one time i had a large nail puncture the tread area and exit on the side wall, pulled the nail out and managed to get the Stans to seal. I wouldn't ever use anything except Stans.
On the flipside, still run tubeless and its got me out of countless holes - one time i had a large nail puncture the tread area and exit on the side wall, pulled the nail out and managed to get the Stans to seal. I wouldn't ever use anything except Stans.
On the subject of valves, I've replaced the Prestas on my road bike with Fillmore HiFlow tubeless valves (they don't have a presta core and don't clog), and I've fitted the Muc-Off Big Bore valves on my mountain bike too, these are great and allow you to seat a 2.6" MTB tyre tubeless with a normal track pump.
Bit fancier than your normal valves but they're much less likely to clog and allow far more airflow when pumping up tyres.
Bit fancier than your normal valves but they're much less likely to clog and allow far more airflow when pumping up tyres.
Discendo Discimus said:
On the subject of valves, I've replaced the Prestas on my road bike with Fillmore HiFlow tubeless valves (they don't have a presta core and don't clog), and I've fitted the Muc-Off Big Bore valves on my mountain bike too, these are great and allow you to seat a 2.6" MTB tyre tubeless with a normal track pump.
Bit fancier than your normal valves but they're much less likely to clog and allow far more airflow when pumping up tyres.
Thanks for the tip. Silly question as I have never used the Fillmores, how do you refill the tyre with sealant if the valve core doesn't come off? Bit fancier than your normal valves but they're much less likely to clog and allow far more airflow when pumping up tyres.
You can adapt the old fashioned approach by turning the wheel in a washing up bowl full of water and looking for bubbles - don t even have to take it off the bike. This generally identifies the valve cores as the culprits.
I ve used road tubeless on one of my bikes for eight years now and (touch wood) have never had a puncture that didn t seal itself (I use Orange Seal Endurance - but no evidence that it is better than any other) or for which the sardines haven’t worked.
I do carry a tube, but having seen that measure fail with others for various reasons (could not remove tubeless valve, tube came out through hole etc.), I think you are really on the last chance saloon with that one (and probably would have been irrespective of initially tubeless or tubed).
I ve used road tubeless on one of my bikes for eight years now and (touch wood) have never had a puncture that didn t seal itself (I use Orange Seal Endurance - but no evidence that it is better than any other) or for which the sardines haven’t worked.
I do carry a tube, but having seen that measure fail with others for various reasons (could not remove tubeless valve, tube came out through hole etc.), I think you are really on the last chance saloon with that one (and probably would have been irrespective of initially tubeless or tubed).
If its sealed up without a plug its fine. You only need a plug if it won't seal with the wheel spinning or with the punctured section at 6 o'clock.
I've had my tubeless be totally flat the next day, usually its down to
A small puncture you need to ride on to seal it
No or very old sealant in tyre
The bead has unseated from the rim and is bleeding air.
Having said that after 1000s of miles on tubeless gravel, no way I'd go back to tubes. 99% of the time it just works vs getting at least 1 puncture per month on tubes or getting beat up using armoured tyres on gravel and single track.
I've had my tubeless be totally flat the next day, usually its down to
A small puncture you need to ride on to seal it
No or very old sealant in tyre
The bead has unseated from the rim and is bleeding air.
Having said that after 1000s of miles on tubeless gravel, no way I'd go back to tubes. 99% of the time it just works vs getting at least 1 puncture per month on tubes or getting beat up using armoured tyres on gravel and single track.
Siao said:
Discendo Discimus said:
On the subject of valves, I've replaced the Prestas on my road bike with Fillmore HiFlow tubeless valves (they don't have a presta core and don't clog), and I've fitted the Muc-Off Big Bore valves on my mountain bike too, these are great and allow you to seat a 2.6" MTB tyre tubeless with a normal track pump.
Bit fancier than your normal valves but they're much less likely to clog and allow far more airflow when pumping up tyres.
Thanks for the tip. Silly question as I have never used the Fillmores, how do you refill the tyre with sealant if the valve core doesn't come off? Bit fancier than your normal valves but they're much less likely to clog and allow far more airflow when pumping up tyres.
andygo said:
This required a call to International Rescue (my son and his T5 camper van). Sealant just laughed and left the chat.
I did wonder what the odd noise was as the back end went a bit squirrely! Most of the stick was inside the tyre.
There's a good chance that monster broke the rim tape too so no amount of sealant or plugs would save it if it did!I did wonder what the odd noise was as the back end went a bit squirrely! Most of the stick was inside the tyre.
Edited by andygo on Thursday 27th August 22:08
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff