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Maxxis tyre problems - bulges
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
This 'little' bulge appeared 4 days after the Angry Doctor, while the bike was simply on its rack.
Seems to be quite a few Maxxis tires (not sure if it's isolated to Crossmarks - which are my favourite tires) with these little bulges appearing (mid ride), therefore rendering the tyre useless... 
Not sure exactly how many ppl had had the same problem, but would be keen to write to Maxxis and ask "What's up?"...
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I had the same bulge appear on my Larsen TTs which I was running tubeless about 3 months ago. I wasn't aware of the bulge (it was only about the size of a 5 cent coin) until it punctured. It resealed enough to get me home but the tire was toast. Mick
And is it a UST specific tyre?
Wazza at KOM replaced mine as they are a manufacturing fault. take yours back to your lbs.
Whisperer, not sure about Shaun but mine were UST specific. I think the warranty is voided when you put sealant in the tire, although not sure how they would ever know. Mick
Yeah, on that subject.. anyone know what the problem with putting latex in the tyre is?
I'm running tubeless and yes, this tyre is UST.
I also use Stan's sealant and it's the first time I have heard of it voiding the warranty. Be interested to hear if this is the case...
Apparently usinging any fluid-based sealant in a Kenda tyre will void their warranty.
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/mountain-bikes...
Same problem when I put in sealant and tried to mount these up as tubeless. Must be a Maxxis issue as I never had this problem or heard of it with Specialized 2Bliss or Schwalbe tyres.
I was sitting on the start line at a recent 4hr race at Yarramundi when a fellow competitor pointed to my front tyre and asked about my bulge in my almost new Crossmark. Oh crap! Lucky for me Blackman's had a tent less than 20m from the start and I was able to buy a replecement, have it fitted then make it back to the start line on time. I have since been told that if it were to happen mid ride then simply let some air out of the tyre and the bulge will be pulled in and get you to the end. It's a bit of a worry to hear the problem is common.
probably caused by the use of Stans sealant...
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=5015667
Actually on that thread "bholwell" (a Maxxis employee apparently) says that it isn't related to stans type latex fluid.
Another thread claims the ammonia in Stans has some impact.
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=507805
Also you would think a bad batch wouldn't impact multiple UST models (Ignitors, Crossmarks, Highrollers, Rancheros) over a couple of years.
Not so. I had it recently on my Schwalbe UST Nobby Nic front tyre.
Also, read this Schwalbe
So they are confirming that the type of sealant is the cause of the blistering rather than it being a tyre manufacturing defect. Certainly from all the posts here and on mtbr.com the Maxxis UST + Stans combo seems to be the most common complaint. I wonder what Schwalbe puts in their sealant that is so special.
In my case I wasn't using Stans. When I examined the interior surface of the tyre there was no visible problem. The 2 bubbles I had appeared to be in the outer layers which indicate probably not a sealant problem.
I was in Clarence St Cyclery today and notice the Bontrager race tyres actually specify they are to be used with a sealant. I'm going to try them out.
Bontrager sells their own sealant and I'd be unsurprised if they don't *require* it to be used on their tyres - a la Schwalbe - for any warranty claims.
FWIW I've used the Bontrager sealant on Maxxis tyres and had no (bubble) problems.
I've just had another Maxxis Crossmark LUST tyre suddenly develop a couple of bulges about the size of my thumb nail. This time the tyre has been on the bike for a few months and is getting pretty worn and both bulges happened overnight. If it is the sealant causing it then clearly Maxxis need to develop tyres to run with sealant as there aren't too many people riding tubeless tyres without sealant!
It's the ammonia that keep the sealant liquid that de-laminates the tyre. I haven't had an issue running slime sealant