Trek TLR - WTF? (Warning, Road content)

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by Bullseye, Sep 2, 2014.

  1. Bullseye

    Bullseye New Member

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    I must be missing something... just bought a Trek Madone road bike.
    The stock bike/wheels are advertised as 'Tubeless Ready' (TLR). Great, right? Sounds fast and easy to go tubeless.
    All I have to do is buy/install the Trek TLR Conversion Kit for $220!
    Per Trek's instructions: the stock rims and rim strips are not ready... I have to install the conversion kit's rim strip. The stock tires are not ready... I have to install the tubeless tires from the conversion kit... all of this sounds just the same as converting any generic, non-tubeless wheel to tubeless

    Love the bike and wheels... but what exactly is 'tubeless ready' on this bike?

    When I bought my 'tubeless ready' Specialized bike, all I did was remove the inner-tubes, install valves (which were provided free with the bike), dump in some Stan's sealant and air them up.

    OK, rant over.
    In case anyone has specifc Trek knowledge.... here are my real questions:

    Can I use the stock Bontrager R3 tires as tubeless? Trek site says I need to switch to the R3 TLR tires. The R3's on the bike now do not have a TLR label or any mention of tubeless.
    Can I use the stock rim strip (Bontrager Race Wheelset), do I really need to buy and install the Trek tubeless rim strip?
     
  2. trailninja

    trailninja Going Slideways!!!!

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    Ditch the rim strips. Go buy a roll of 1" gorilla tape at home depot for 2 bucks and call it a day. I have a set of bonty tlr rim strips laying around in my garage that I have no use for but they are for a 26" wheel.
     
  3. Varaxis

    Varaxis Trail Ninja

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    They're trying to sell you this: http://trekstoremadison.com/product/bontrager-r3-tlr-conversion-kit-23c-195720-1.htm

    If you buy it separately:

    - Bonty TLR rim strip $10 (x2) http://trekstoremadison.com/product/bontrager-road-tlr-tubeless-rim-strip-178809-1.htm
    - Bonty TLR valve $7 (x2) http://trekstoremadison.com/product/bontrager-tlr-atb-valve-178815-1.htm (should work as long as your rims aren't too deeply aero shaped)
    - Bonty TLR R3 tire $90 (x2) http://trekstoremadison.com/product/bontrager-r3-tlr-tire-178600-1.htm
    - 32oz bottle of sealant (vs 20oz) $25 http://trekstoremadison.com/product/bontrager-tlr-tire-sealant-178802-1.htm
    - Valve tool (Alternate brand's) $9 http://trekstoremadison.com/product/stans-notubes-core-remover-168265-1.htm

    Adds up to 248.

    #1 The least that "tubeless ready" tires add are beefier beads that are specially shaped and coated for air retention, and also are perhaps a little tighter fitting, less likely to stretch. The TLR R3 seems to have a more advanced casing than the non-TLR model, which increases its cost.

    #2 The Bonty TLR rim strips are molded plastic shaped to match the TLR tire bead and rim. The TLR bead and rim strip are designed to hold up to higher pressures, especially road bike pressures, more reliably and securely without a tube. Also, helps keep things clean when it comes time for tire changes.

    I'd get the TLR rim strip at least. It's cheap and it works better with TLR rims than just tape or the rubbery types from other brands. It's removable and easy to clean, not leaving residue like Gorilla tape. If you ever have a need to change a nipple/spoke, you'll learn how valuable this convenience is.

    The TLR system is arguably the most reliable tubeless system currently available, but it only works at its reputed reliability if you use all TLR components. You can run non-TLR tires in your otherwise TLR tubeless setup, but I'd recommend spending extra care with installation, perhaps doing the "Stan's Shake" to seal the bead and sidewalls, else you might be subject to all the issues people normally face with tubeless conversions, such as sealant weeping, burping, blow-out, losing air over time, trouble inflating and seating beads, and even still flatting. Others have found that using non-TLR tires sufficient for their standard levels, but what kind of price do you put on extra peace of mind? If you want the full system for reliability, but don't mind sacrificing speed/performance, you can also opt to save money on tires by going with R2 TLR tires for $60. You can also negotiate prices, wait for a sale, and/or put sealant in your tubes. Other brand's tubeless ready tires might work pretty well too; non-tubeless ones tend to be hit-or-miss. Blowing a tire's bead off the rim while inflating or while just riding along is probably enough to scare/convert you into using tubeless-ready tire exclusively.
     
  4. Rumpled

    Rumpled Longtime Newb

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    I think the Shimano Ultegra wheels are better than most tubeless attempts.
    The rim channel is sealed and no strip of any kind needed.
    Got two sets for CX.
     
  5. skflow

    skflow Member

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    Unlike MTB tubeless conversions where tire pressures are not much higher than 30-35 PSI, it is mandatory to use specific tubeless tires with robust carbon beads for road tubeless setups requiring higher pressures. Road tubeless tires are expensive, but you cannot just use the existing non-tubeless road tires for the conversion or risk catastrophic bead blowing off the rim.

    To prep the rim for tubeless, you can use 2 layers of Stan's yellow tape to seal up the rim spoke bed and use a tubeless valve stem. Some rims don't have spoke holes (UST style), so it only needs tubeless valves.

    In most cases, tubeless sealant for puncture resistance can be injected after seating the beads.
     
  6. CarbonLegs

    CarbonLegs Search for ultimate ride.

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    So- How much should the bike cost the consumer in order to have tubeless ready rims/tires ?

    Above 2k or 2,500 ? (I know on MTB you know up front at point of sale- right)
     
  7. Bullseye

    Bullseye New Member

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    Wow! Thanks all... and especially Varaxis for all the TLR specific info. Road and MTB are two completely different levels of risk when it comes to tubeless. I want to do it right and have that 'piece of mind', so I'll be picking up the TLR conversion kit.
     

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