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Bubbling Tubeless Tyres

By Exxodus - Posted on 02 February 2011

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

G'day folks,

Has anyone ever had "bubbling" on their tubeless tyres? I'll post fotos when I get home. Im @ work at the moment - as you can all tell . . . .

It's happened to me twice now, both times on Maxxis Ignitors. The first time the supplier exchanged the tyre as it was considered a manufacturing issue. The second time they refused on the grounds that I had used a tyre sealant - apparently the warranty is void if you use ANY puncture sealant at all [see http://www.maxxis.com/Bicycle/Bicycle-Warranty.aspx ], and the supplier considers STANS tyre sealant to be in breach of their warranty conditions.

So, the point of my email is to warn everyone out there to be mindful that IF you do use rims that are converted to tubeless you must be using some kind of sealant and it is likely that you are voiding your tyre warranty . . . . . . if you do get these "bubbles".

If anyone was aware of this, and has found a tubeless tyre that we can use with a sealant then please let me know as I don't think I will risk getting Maxxis again until I upgrade my rims . . . . . .

Cheers

ADDITIONAL COMMENT ADDED 15th Feb 2011

Well, I had a conversation with the supplier of Maxxis tyres in NSW and he has told me that the Warranty WILL be respected if I use STANS tyre sealant. He told me they are aware that the bubbling does happen but it is still rare, and clearly a manufacturing issue. If any of you are having trouble getting the tyres replaced free of charge I suggest you get the Maxxis number off the shop manager [which ever store it is that you use] and call them directly. My store manager didn't push the case strongly enough and I was going to get shafted in the process!

Cheers

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See

Submitted by Brian on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 15:13.

See this:

Yeah, thats a good image of

Submitted by Exxodus on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 15:17.

Yeah, thats a good image of what I have, except my tyre was brand new and has 4 or five "bubbles" not one . . . . . . . . . . .

Thats a picture on my tyre,

Submitted by ChopStiR on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 15:54.

Thats a picture on my tyre, Its a Kenda and only 4 months old.
Here is the thread: http://bmorc.com/node/19428

I just bought a Maxxis Larsen TT Lust to replace it.

So if we cannot use sealent, what are we supposed to do? Use a patch on the inside of the tyre?
Does that void the warranty? Or do we then use a tube?

Basic consumer rights

Submitted by daveh on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 16:05.

I know that it's not fun to go down this route but voiding their warranty on a faulty product means nothing. If a product is being used in the manner that it was intend (and I would say that they would have a hard time arguing that use of a sealant in a tubeless specific tyre was somehow not normal use) and it is clearly faulty then they have a duty to replace the product.

They can void their warranty until the cows come home but they can't void your basic consumer rights. Now of course, if the product was purchased from overseas.....!

Another

Submitted by ar_junkie on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 16:53.

http://nobmob.com/node/10648

Or just vote with your feet.

Submitted by Fatboy on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 17:49.

Or just vote with your feet. I had bubbles occur on 3 separate maxis crossmark lust tyres so stopped buying them. I use same sealants on kenda small block 8's and have never had a problem.

My experience at Bike Addiction

Submitted by Little-Ditty on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 18:59.

I can relate to you my experience only 2 weeks ago.

I was on holidays riding in Rotorua and noticed after my final ride there (1 day before leaving) that I had a bubble on my rear Crossmark tubeless (on a non-tubeless rim), basically identical to that photo.

When I arrive home to Cremorne, I called Bike Addiction about this problem with my Maxxis tyre, that it looked like a manufacturing fault, and whether they were interested in pulling the tyre off my bike, sending it to Maxxis to check out the problem, and replacing the tyre. They were. Squiddly Diddly (you ledge!) took care of the whole thing, tyre replacement for free, tubeless Stans sealant, on site tyre inflation and some quick check of the drivetrain to boot! All in 10 minutes without getting my own hands dirty.

I should also note here that I am a fairly long time customer at BA, have purchased a bike there, and substantially rebuilt another one. That said, I can hardly fault their superior service they have always given me, so I couldn't let this post slide by without giving you my experience there.

Hope you get it all sorted.

I popped the bubbles and kept on riding.

Submitted by Johnn on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 19:14.

I popped the bubbles using a pin until I got round to replacing them. Seemed to work. Amazing how may bubbles needed popping. New bubbles every ride.
I would have taken them back (Crossmax LUST) but couldn't remember which shop I purchased each tyre from.
No problem with the current crop using the exact same tyre sealer purchased from Super Cheap Autos.

Maybe try a different sealant

Submitted by Scottboy on Wed, 02/02/2011 - 19:32.

I was using the slime sealant in my Ignitor, it was in there for over a year no problems . Now the bike is gone & everybody has there sealant prefence & no it didn't clog up my valves once .