Sealing Tubeless Tires

[ThinkFast]

I finally made the switch to tubeless. I did the front tire a couple weeks ago and it sealed up perfect on the first try. I did the back tire on Wednesday and it still has a slow leak. I ran water along the rim and tire and I don't see any leaks there so I'm guessing the bead has sealed well. I'm losing about 20+ PSI overnight. Should I be concerned about this, or will the tire seal once I get out there and ride it? Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[2wheel_lee]

I'm assuming you have UST tires and UST tubes. EDIT...I mean UST rims, not tubes. (brain fade!!!)
You may just need to ride it to get it to seat better. Most people still runs Stans even in tubeless applications to ensure a good seal as well as preventing leaks. Also, check to make sure it's not leaking at the valve itself.

[Rob]

Did you pump it up the first time with an air compressor to 50 or 60 psi?

[katonk]

Doesn't sound like you have it seated properly. You may need to use some CO2 or an air compressor to get the bead seated correctly.

+1 on Lee's suggestion to ride around on it, just do it on the pavement and don't go too fast.

[foofighter]

ditto on the air compressor thing, often times that rush of air will seat and you hear that familiar popping sound similar to the sound your car tire makes when the tire store seats the bead. Also, a couple drops of dish soap squirted on the nipples will reveal that air is leaking out of that as well. AND the prescribed amount of stan's fluid will help all that seal up nicely.

Lastly after all thats done, do what Lee said go for a ride...it'll help

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

I'm assuming you have UST tires and UST tubes.

You may just need to ride it to get it to seat better. Most people still runs Stans even in tubeless applications to ensure a good seal as well as preventing leaks. Also, check to make sure it's not leaking at the valve itself.

I'm assuming you have UST tires and UST tubes.



Where do you get those?

[kanga]

The first time I switched to Stan's tubeless (with non UST and non tubeless tires) I had problems getting the rear tire to seal. Front sealed no problem with just a floor pump.

I ended up just riding it down the trail (milagrosa trail), and it sealed itself within a minute. Pumped it back up to pressure, and I didn't have to put air in again for a few months. Turned out it just needed some more vigorous effort to distribute the liquid around the tire, which riding it gave.

You didn't specify UST or Stan's. I've run UST before, and while it is possible with a floor pump on some tire/rim combos (with three sets of hands holding the bead on the rim), others absolutely need a compressor or C02 cartridge.

Let us know how it goes.

[Geronimo]

Sounds like the beads are set or it would have shown up when you put it under water. Put some stans in there and turn it with the wheel horizontal to the ground, turn over and repeat on the other side. Inflate the tire and ride around on the street. If that fixes it, great. If it only slows it down ( which is normal for a non UST tire) , add more stans and repeat. Let us know how it goes. Good Luck.

Beat me to it. ^

[ThinkFast]

I'm using UST tires and I'm running DT Swiss rims and used their tubeless kit. I used a CO2 cartridge to seat the tire and it seemed fine. Pumped it up to 50 PSI. I did everything I was supposed to. I'll check the nipples and see if I can find the problem. The back tire is a Specialized S-Works (The Captain). Is it normal for some tires not seal for a couple days?

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

I'm assuming you have UST tires and UST tubes.



Where do you get those?

Too funny!

I'm going to blame age on that one. Heck, it's amazing that I stayed on topic, instead of talking about forks all of a sudden (I usually edit that stuff out after reading it).

[katonk]

That's not normal. 2Bliss Captain? Maybe some "extra" rubber on bead is folded under, or otherwise disrupting the bead? The 2Bliss bead is pretty beefy. Maybe too beefy?

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by ThinkFast

Is it normal for some tires not seal for a couple days?

yes as a matter of fact my maxxis crossmarks still leak air...none of my specialized S-works tires leak or the nevegal.

[katonk]

Sure, they all leak air, but 20 PSI overnight is not normal.

[ThinkFast]

Originally Posted by katonk

That's not normal. 2Bliss Captain? Maybe some "extra" rubber on bead is folded under, or otherwise disrupting the bead? The 2Bliss bead is pretty beefy. Maybe too beefy?

Yes, the 2Bliss Captain. I couldn't find a leak on the nipples or along the rim. Maybe I just need to ride it like you guys have suggested. I only rode it to the top of the street and back tonight so maybe that was my problem. The front tire seated so good, and the back seemed good initially, that I didn't ride it around like I guess I should have. Should be a long day on the bike tomorrow so hopefully it's OK in the morning or at least by the end of the day.

[Geronimo]

When I converted my DT 5.1's with the DT kit I had the same exact problem, but with non ust tires. I put 3 ounces of stans in each tire using the stans syringe and voila, sealed right up.

[Red Hot Sloth]

Originally Posted by ThinkFast

..find a leak on the nipples.. .

Originally Posted by katonk

Maybe too beefy?

Originally Posted by ThinkFast

Pumped it up... I'll check the nipples and see if I can find the problem.

Originally Posted by kanga

Turned out it just needed some more vigorous effort.

Originally Posted by foofighter

Also, a couple drops of dish soap squirted on the nipples

Oh my...it's very difficult for me to believe this is all about mt biking

[ThinkFast]

Originally Posted by Red Hot Sloth

Oh my...it's very difficult for me to believe this is all about mt biking

You forgot one.

Originally Posted by katonk

...just do it on the pavement and don't go too fast.

[Johnny Dirt]

Originally Posted by foofighter

a couple drops of dish soap squirted on the nipples .....

[foofighter]

LOL i didnt think about that comment and how Sloth can take it to the next level