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Opinions on tubeless kits
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
I'm running DT Swiss XR4.1d rims with Nobby Nic UST 2.1's, looking to ditch the tubes and wondering which kit is the best option.
The DT Swiss kit is reasonably priced and designed for the 4.1s, but has mixed reviews
The Stan's kit says it is compatible with 4.1s
Any suggestions / other options?
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Hi Jonny
Forget the heavy rubber kits and just buy a pair of valves, some tubeless tape (Yellow Stans or white FRM)& a bottle of Stan's sealant.
Wembley cycles & Kalamunda cycles do this stuff plus most other serious offroad bike shops.
This is the most straight forward & lightest option imho.
Btw, I have run this set up with the same rims & tyres as you are using for 2years plus.
Tubeless capable (But not UST) tyres are much harder to get to seal with tape even with a compressor & tank, plus they are more delicate so despite the weight advantage I would stick to proper USTs.
Good luck T
I did DIY tubeless on dt 465 rims - gaffa tape from bunnings $4-00, the waterproof material type one - put a tear in the centre on the tape, and wrapped around the rim twice (tightly and slowly with no air bubbles), punctured the tape over the valve hols, pushed a tubeless valve through, tightened, inflated - Voila!
Then injected a scoop of stans through the valve with a syringe - mainly for ensuring a seal around the edge of the rim and the valve, shake it all about so the stans runs everwhere, and they are now tubeless - take weeks to go down.
the tape has to be the stuff you can tear with your fingers - the plastic stuff doesnt work, and electrical tape isnt sticky enough.
I bought that originally and could not get it to seal for love nor money, so bought the Stans kit. I am running X1800 rims currently and managed to get Non UST Racing Ralphs onto the rim.
Got to do it all again tonight with a set off Maxxis Ikon's, got the EXC EXO 3C versions.
The Bontrager moulded rim strips mimic the UST interior profile and I found that Maxxis UST tyres can be inflated and seated with *no sealant*.
I was just playing around and was super surprised at this, but they stayed up for weeks. Much better than fluffing about with Stans. Much cheaper too.
Because I have DT Swiss EX500 rims I used the DT Swiss tubeless conversion kit to fit UST and "tubeless compatible" tyres.
No problems at all and it contains everything you need.
If I hadn't done this I'd probably have gone Stans as my next choice.
FRM has worked flawlessly fro me.
I Also had success converting customers with the velocity velotape.
Velocity say it's only for their p32 rims but at $30 for enough tape to do 2 or 3 rims and 2 removable valves it's worth a try
I run Bontrager rhythm strips and they are perfect. My rims are Bontrager Rhythm pro's though, so the strip is actually designed for the rim profile.
What everyone else has said. Tubeless may seem daunting, and a black art, until you do it the first time. Then it's a doddle, though access to a compressor can help.
If you do go the tape only route it may be worthwhile first checking if you have a "tubeless ready" rim. Stans etc are "tubeless ready" in that they have a UST bead seat and hook, but are drilled for spoke nipple holes. Non "tubeless ready" rims have flat bead seats and can benefit from a rim strip if you intend on running very low pressures.
The bead seating in the rim by "popping" over the bead seat is the source of the familiar sound when inflating a tubeless tyre on a tubeless rim. It's also what makes tubeless rims and tyre combinations less likely to burp at low pressures and extreme side loads.
As for running tubeless without goop.... I can't see the benefit in saving the weight of 30 grams of solution and then increasing the risk of a flat due to a tyre puncture. I'm unlikely to ever go back from running UST rims, UST or Tubeless ready tyres and a jigger of Stan's best NY latex solution.
Trouble getting your non-ust tyre to seal on the rim?
Get a spray bottle, add water and a couple drops of detergent. Spray onto the tyre so that the bead has is damp. Inflate; I've only ever had to use a track pump.
Wait for the cool, but surprisingly if you haven't heard it before, pop! That's the bead seating itself down (pun intended).
Weak detergent solution is nice and slippery but evaporates away quickly and leaves behind a non slip surface.
Now get this, I've managed to go tubless with:
No-name brand MTB wheels (from 2002) and non ust Maxxis tyres (used electrical tape for this one - come on, I was going through Uni!)
Mavic equipe road wheels (non UST) with non UST Michelin Lithium Tyres (on the roadie)
UST Roval rims with UST Specialized Tyres
If your rim's weld/ joint is leaking too much air, before you tape the rim lengthways, place a bit of rim tape across the rim, covering the weld/join bit. Then tape along the rim as per usual and then, maybe after fitting a tyre with a tube so that the rim tape is pushed into all the crevices, cut the rim tape along the rim where the tyre bead should sit so that the area is tape free where the tyre bead sits.
Maybe I'm lazy but I've often had issues getting tyres to seal using a pump even with my UST rims. Now I just use a CO2 cartridge and it works everytime without fail, well worth the $2 rather than frigging around with compressors and trying to find the right servo etc etc
It's been mentioned before in another thread, but use a tie down strap run along the middle of the tyre if you are using non-UST tyres. This helps spread the bead out to the sides.
I tried for about 1 1/2 hours with Yarg to get my Maxxis Crossmark non-UST tyre to seat. The beads on each side pull in towards the middle of the rim, and no amount of air will force it out quick enough to bead. In the end we pinch a tyre off Cheryl's bike.
... wasn't clear in what I said.
I still use Stans goop with the Bontrager rim strips, and my UST rims as well: it's good stuff and I agree it's false weight-weenie-ism to skip it.
The faffing about I was referring to was trying to get the bead seated with Stan's rubber strips. Doubt I'll bother with them again.
the bonty rim strips (approx $5 each) snap tightly onto dt swiss m1800 tubeless ready wheels (19.5mm rims). add bonty tubeless valve and nobby nic evo tubeless ready 2.4 tyre with a bit of washing up liquid/bubbles. add 1 cup of stans and pump up with track pump....pop...seats perfectly...and stays up for weeks!!.
My advice would be to ensure you stick with a UST/LUST tyre and you should be okay. Adds a smidgeon of weight, but ensures a good seal and reduces a sidewall rip/puncture.
Peter: your photo is now out of date. Get a new one so we don't have to see that Mandarin Ibis.