To Stan's or Not to Stan's

[BoingBoing]

Just replaced my stock front 2.2 Bontrager Jones ACX with a Kenda Kinetics StickE 2.35 on my XC bike. I really like how it grabs the rocks. But I figure I just added about 150g to my wheel.

I've been awaiting an excuse to try Stan's, and this may be it. But the guy @ Jenson's told me that Kendas are a pain to convert to tubeless. (Something about more than one try and sealant all over the place!)

Panaracer makes some light tires that people seem to love for XC. I could get one for the rear, but cheap bastid that I am, I want to wear out both Jones' first.

Maybe I can go Stan's in the rear and see how I like it...

Thoughts anyone?

[ghixon]

It depends on your wheelset. I didn't have any issues converting my Nevegals on a set of Sun Single Track wheels.

A buddy had a set of Mavic's and had nothing but problems.

[BeantownRider]

I stansed a set of those exact tires a couple years ago and ended up with the white goop all over the parking lot. I felt lucky that they didn't blow out on the trail. I would strongly discourage anybody from using that combo.

[BoingBoing]

Originally Posted by ghixon

It depends on your wheelset. I didn't have any issues converting my Nevegals on a set of Sun Single Track wheels.

A buddy had a set of Mavic's and had nothing but problems.

My wheels are Bontrager Rangers.

[ghixon]

Originally Posted by BoingBoing

My wheels are Bontrager Rangers.

I'd say it's a 50/50 proposition at best. Probably a better idea to stick with tubes until you change wheelsets later. Bonty's are notorious for sealing issues.

Trek's got some goop that they sell that's supposed to work better with their setups. I think they call it Super Juice. Give it a shot. Who knows, it might work out.

[Pho'dUp]

I would not run a non-Tubeless KENDA tire tubeless. Their non-tubeless tires sidewalls I think are too weak/thin to run tubeless.

[TURNERob]

Originally Posted by Pho'dUp

I would not run a non-Tubeless KENDA tire tubeless. Their non-tubeless tires sidewalls I think are too weak/thin to run tubeless.

Good advice. Even one you get them sealed the sidewalls are so thin and the sealant weakens them even more over time. Maxxis and Schwalbe are just a couple examples of brands that are MUCH more friendly for Stans conversions.

[Pho'dUp]

Originally Posted by TURNERob

Good advice. Even one you get them sealed the sidewalls are so thin and the sealant weakens them even more over time. Maxxis and Schwalbe are just a couple examples of brands that are MUCH more friendly for Stans conversions.

I might add Specialized Tires too. I've been running older Resolutions and my buddy runs Resolutions and Capitans tubeless without any problems.

[cjwally]

Mr. XC,

If you are worried about the weight, just use lightweight tubes. Using the stans conversion system sucks. I converted my old rims and wish that I never did it. If you want to run tubeless, buy a tubeless rim.

CJ

[mazer75]

I just bought the Stan's kit myself, but am hesitant to use it. I don't care about weight, I am just sick and tired of needle-induced flats. I have Nevegals and my rims are DT 4.30 (made for Specialized).

Do the Slime tubes work well enough for needle-induced flats? Again, I don't care if they're heavy at all, since I'm slow as hell anyway

[CalEpic]

Non-UST Kenda tires can be converted without a ton of trouble but are not as easy as other brands. Make sure you watch the videos on the Stans website and follow the directions EXACTLY. You'll need to keep shaking and adding air until the Kendas finally seal. Don't even bother trying with a floor pump. You'll need an air compressor. If you're converting a non-tubeless rim be very careful to get the rim strip correctly mounted. The results are worth the effort in my opinion.

C

[dstepper]

I have skipped the Stans conversion and went to UST. So far the Fat Albert UST on a Mavic 819 has been excellent, it has a scoop of Stans in it for thorns. When I find a Big Betty UST I will relace the front rim.

Dean

[BoingBoing]

Originally Posted by mazer75

I just bought the Stan's kit myself, but am hesitant to use it. I don't care about weight, I am just sick and tired of needle-induced flats. I have Nevegals and my rims are DT 4.30 (made for Specialized).

Do the Slime tubes work well enough for needle-induced flats? Again, I don't care if they're heavy at all, since I'm slow as hell anyway

Slime tubes work very well IMO. First day I had a mountain bike, I got flats in both tires from those little prickly-ball things. Put in Slime. Never flatted since!

[2wheel_lee]

Also, if you're converting single-ply Kendas, expect it to take at least a day or two of re-airing the tires before they hold air (mostly).

But after you add a rim strip (if needed for your application) and the goop, a lightweight tube is about the same in weight.

And don't forget, if you do go with the Stans route, you have to refill the tires with the goop every couple months (YMMV), or you may have a sudden flat (that happened to me once).

I'm back to tubes fulltime on everything but the DH bike (and then I still often run tubes after ripping the UST sidewalls).

[RacinJason]

The weight after the goop and rim strips is about the same as when you use light tubes. Im not into the mess. I use tubes on everything including my DH bikes. I rune tubeless tires with tubes on one of my bikes. Thats only when weight isn't a problem.

I have had some sample Crosslander wheels for the Chumba XCLs. I did not like them at all.
We didn't have any UST tubeless tires in the shop so I went to put normal tires with tubes on the rims.(Maxxis ignitors)
Well it just doesn't work. For some reason the OD of the rim would not let the regular tires seat correctly.
They had massive hops in them no matter what I did.
We later picked up some tires for them and they worked fine but I don't like that I can not use normal tires. This applies to the crosslander mavics. I haven't bothered with mounting normal tires on UST Mavic wheelsets since.

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Also, if you're converting single-ply Kendas, expect it to take at least a day or two of re-airing the tires before they hold air (mostly).

But after you add a rim strip (if needed for your application) and the goop, a lightweight tube is about the same in weight.

And don't forget, if you do go with the Stans route, you have to refil the tires with the goop every couple months (YMMV).

I'm back to tubes fulltime on everything but the DH bike (and then I still often run tubes after ripping the UST sidewalls).

[TURNERob]

Yes loosing weight isn't going to happen really. The main advantages of tubeless are better traction (lower pressures), no pinch flats, puncture protection and less rolling resistance. If you maintain the sealant properly it can and will save your butt and the advantages are well worth it. If you have UST rims then just go with a UST tire and a scoop of sealant for added protection.

[katonk]

There's an older thread on this same subject here:

Converting Tube rims to tubeless?

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by mazer75

Do the Slime tubes work well enough for needle-induced flats? Again, I don't care if they're heavy at all, since I'm slow as hell anyway

Slime Tubes rock! I ride thorny trails a lot and have not been disappointed by the Slimes.

[Chewyeti]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

Slime Tubes rock! I ride thorny trails a lot and have not been disappointed by the Slimes.

I am a big guy.... and i like redundancy... and I hate flats... and the little extra weight doesnt bother me. (I know all about increased rotational mass blah blah)

I run thornproof tubes.... WITH slime.

Havent flatted in 6 months

[sdyeti]

FWIW...Dan has had problems with Crossmax + Stans. He's going for attempt #2.

Originally Posted by ghixon

A buddy had a set of Mavic's and had nothing but problems.