Tubeless Tyres -"saying the same things about tubeless tyres over and over again" Hippy read the first f**king post

I used powder-coaters masking tape to ghetto tubeless my Archetype rims and it worked perfectly. Lot cheaper than stuff sold as tubeless tape. There's at least one big manufacturer that uses this stuff out of the factory for tubeless, can't remember which one it was though.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-Green-Polyester-Tape-28-6mm-x-66m-Powder-Coating-High-Temp-Masking-Tape/223507265163

You probably won't need the o-ring, but definitely after the wedge.

Was using WTB tyres though, and you know what they say about them.

Nope. No idea.

Nice. Might give that stuff a go.

Apologies if saying the same things about tubeless tyres over and over again (didn't read the whole thread)...
but that final pop followed by sweet, sweet silence when the air stops hissing out is possibly the most satisfying bike-related thing ever.

Today was a frustrating tubeless experience.

I've been running my tyre/sealant combination since February this year and there's been a number of issues but mostly with the tyres - Gravel King Mud 35c, which is tubeless compatible (a number of the GK range aren't). I've now had 6 punctures on them whilst running tubeless. So it's way past time to give them up, that's as many punctures as i've had in the last 5 years across all other bikes. They simply cut up far too easily.

It wouldnt be the end of the world though if they always sealed up but that's not been the case. The sealant, Caffelatex, has been rather hit and miss.

Just yesterday I'd topped up both tyres and they had plenty sloshing about yet todays cut just wouldn't seal despite it being tiny, a small thin nick in the casing that should have been trivial. Yet it just kept bubbling away. No matter how much spinning, bouncing, or just letting the sealant pool at the hole - it just kept bubbling out. When the pressure was low I pumped up again, just goes down again.

So I tried a Maxalami. Didnt help, sealant just bubbled out past it. Previously a Maxalami had helped seal a much bigger messier hole. WTF.

After 30 minutes I had to give up and pop in a tube. Of course then my pump broke and I had to sit, take it apart and reassemble it to finally get back on the road.

New tyres were on the cards anyway - something that doesnt cut up so easily. But the sealant has me worried too.

Since February, a 1L bottle of Caffelatex is now 2/3-3/4 used across two bikes. Once I fit new tyres, and top up the tyres on the other bike that'll be pretty much the whole tub of Caffelatex gone so time to buy more of some brand or other.

A lot of that use has been due to topping up through the large number of punctures, some sealed, some not. But also due to drying out. And that drying out seems pretty quick, it's northern Europe, not a particularly warm place, but it's occurred twice (and I'd topped up in the meantime) already in 9 months. I guess I can't complain /too/ much as they do claim 1-4 months between top ups.

But it seems pretty expensive if it's going to continue to cost 20eur+ a year, and give somewhat average results.

Has anyone converted Zipp 202’s to tubeless who would like to comment on their experience?

Where you are getting cuts that don't seal, have you tried inserting "anchovies" to give the sealant something to coagulate around?

My own experience is of using 38mm Schwalbe G-One tyres over a couple of seasons. Used for 60/40 trails/tarmac, including commuting. These are tyres that don't have great durability as the "knobs" do wear down relatively quickly. However using the regular Stans sealant I have only had a couple of occasions where an anchovy has been required, and never had to resort to having to put a tube in. My bikes are stored in a relatively warm room (where our boiler/washing machine/clothes rack are situated), and found that the sealant requires topping up every 3ish months. (Of course now that I have said all of this I will constantly be getting flats now)

IMO it sounds like this combination of tyre/sealant hasn't worked very well, but perhaps a change of these and use of anchovies may help you continue to have faith in tubeless tech?

The 'anchovies' would be the Maxalami I use. All punctures have been cuts from glass in the centre tread, no sidewall issues. Anyway I'm gonna order new tyres in the week (probably x-one all-round), see how they work with what's left of the current sealant.

Ah got it, apologies. For completeness I use the Genuine Innovation ones and found them reliable: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genuine-Innovations-Bacon-Tubeless-Refill/dp/B01MCYSRCY

bought one of the milkit booster heads (they screw into any standard alu water bottle) for seating tubeless tyres. Only tried it on one MTB tyre so far but it did a good job. For 20 quid it's better than using a CO2 cartridge, swearing a lot, taking it to the LBS/petrol station etc.

What bottle brand are you using it on - assuming it's not one of their bottles?

I'll have to check but I think SIGG

If it's not blown your face off yet, that's promising. I might ignore the safety guidance and give it a go.

I only did one tyre and it's not an old bottle. Got me worried now, maybe I'll buy one of theirs

Are there any environmental concerns with sealant? My LBS were just saying the muc-off stuff is a bit friendlier.

ah sorry! It's one of those "I'm sure it's fine" but I'm totally risk averse...

Are there any environmental concerns with sealant?

If you want to be strictly on-point, avoid the glitter trick (microplastics). The rest of the goop is pretty harmless, it's mostly water and most of the rest is natural latex, which is food for microbes. You're probably doing more harm with the wear particles from your synthetic rubber tread.

The GI plugs is what I used to sell before maxalami. The reason why i gave up is the GI plugs are not as sticky and more prone to blowing out and the small plugs did not help much with thumb sized holes. Inserting a fresh plug again or better still the fat o e on the kit should work. Sometimes with a small hole the fat plug is needed.

Needless to say most tubeless woes are just down to, I should need to do that but you do.

Also never rely on sealant to plug holes. All these tales of stans or this sealant works better is mostly that. Each sealant has its plus point and it's down sides. Stans works but balls up especially if co2 or compressed air is used in inflate a tyre. Orange seal works fine but I dont buy of extra uk. No sealant seals all holes all of the time.

The sealants only job is to seal the tyre and tyre rim interface so it holds air. If it does anything more thats a bonus. Dont be upset if it doesn't though. It slowed the air leak enough for you to plug it.

This is why the maxalmi kits have two sizes of plugs so all holes can be plugged. Use the bigger plug.

Your frustrations are based on false expectations.

Also I hope the p fairy stays over some of you. I have had my fair share and I am enjoying a puncture free autumn. That's it I have jinxed it now. Blow out on the way home.

Yeah I wouldn't roll a turd in glitter. In that case what's the test approved sealant? I've never had issues with Stans so far mind, except for maybe it not lasting all that long.

Used stans for a long time (had a big bottle of it). Currently using MucOff. No problems with either.

Caffe Latex is good IME, Stans is my default simply because its the most widely available, Orange sealant I haven't got on with as well as Stans, the Finish Line stuff is absolutely useless.

Thanks, I'll go down there tomorrow and see which is cheaper.

what's the test approved sealant?

I'm using Schwalbe, which is apparently the same as Stan's but it was cheaper at the time of purchase. On the other hand, don't ask me, I literally haven't ridden either of my tubeless bikes this year, and I don't ride them much any year.

I’ve used Stans based on availability, schwalbe blue dot since I got it with my schwalbe tyres and now on caffelatex fro @thecycleclinic I must admit they’ve all sealed pretty well and I’ve never been worried which one is in the tyre. I probably won’t go back to Stans though. Not sure why which isn’t that helpful.