Just fitted a new set of Michelin Power Gravels and the rear inflated fine with my track pump but the front is refusing to play nice. First time I've ever had this issue actually.
My nearest "bike shop" is Halfords so just wondering if they usually have air compressors in their bike service areas?
The other options would be Evans or Edinburgh Bike Co, but they're a bit further away.
What about a compressor at a garage?
What about a compressor at a garage?
I did consider that but can't remember if they fit Presta valves.
Have you tried the "reseat the tyre as much as you can with a tyre lever" trick ?
Have you got one of those really cheap brass Presta to Schrader adaptors? They cost pennies and then you can use a petrol station one.
Have you tried the "reseat the tyre as much as you can with a tyre lever" trick ?
The SECRET TO INSTALLING TUBELESS TIRES WITH FLOOR PUMP (without an air compressor or charger pump) - YouTube
Tried that but no joy unfortunately. The beads just want to stay in the shallow rim bed... which is ironic as I nearly had an aneurysm getting them in there in the first place to get the tyre on! I thought Schwalbe G-Ones were a tight fit!
Have you got one of those really cheap brass Presta to Schrader adaptors? They cost pennies and then you can use a petrol station one.
I wish I did!
Looks like you can make a DIY version using a plastic Presta valve cap with the top cut off then screwed on upside down.
I'll pop into Halfords tomorrow anyway, and if they don't have a compressor I'll just buy a CO2 inflator.
What about a compressor at a garage?
Nah, they're all slow flow ones now that keep pausing to check pressure and just blow in a couple of PSI at a time. Unless you're talking about a car repair garage, not a filling station.
My Bikehut employed son says some stores have electric ones, some have the Bontrager/Airshot type. So they'll be able to sort it if you're too inept 😛
(Oh but, unless you have a family member there, you'll have to book about a week in advance. Cos they is BUSY!)
Where abouts are you OP? There's probably a friendly member with an airshot near you who would assist.
What about a compressor at a garage?
Nah, they're all slow flow ones now that keep pausing to check pressure and just blow in a couple of PSI at a time. Unless you're talking about a car repair garage, not a filling station.
Good to know, thanks! 😉
My Bikehut employed son says some stores have electric ones, some have the Bontrager/Airshot type. So they'll be able to sort it if you're too inept 😛
(Oh but, unless you have a family member there, you'll have to book about a week in advance. Cos they is BUSY!)
Haha! It's the first tyre that hasn't seated with my Joe Blow II in around 15 years of running tubeless so I do feel like a bit of a failure!
Good to know about Halfords though. I'll maybe pop into Evans instead. It's next to a Greggs so I'll get a box of donuts first to offer as a bribe 😋
FFIW, tan Power Gravels appear to have very porous sidewalls. Checked on the rear wheel before bed last night and it was flat so covered it in soapy water and bubbles formed everywhere. I gave it another good spin and shake and let it sit flat overnight and it's still holding air, although not the 60psi I put in it. The bubbles have dried but there are little blobs of sealant showing. Now reinflated, soaped up again and sat its opposite side. A good first ride would have probably negated all that, but obviously can't with no front wheel.
Halfords may also accept bribes 😀
Halfords may also accept bribes 😀
No Greggs next to Halfords though, plus I quite fancy a cheese & onion bake myself now😊
Have you got one of those really cheap brass Presta to Schrader adaptors? They cost pennies and then you can use a petrol station one.
Generally no, they don't work on bikes!
The forecourt compressors work when they sense backpressure, and the pressure in the line has to be the same as the pressure in the tyre for the gauge to work. So the attachment has to depress the pin in the Schrader valve before it starts pumping. Those adapters don't typically allow the pin in the airline to open the valve enough to actually let air into or out of the tyre.
Went into Evans and the mechanic couldn't get it to fully seat even with the compressor. It airs up and then around 20% of the bead slips back into the well and it deflates.
Tried all the usual tricks like pulling the bead towards the rim edge, filling it with the core removed, using zip ties to force it to inflate out rather than up, pushing all the bead into the well (this had most success) and I also bought a Muc-Off pouch to see if sealant would help. Still kept doing it. In hindsight I should have probably asked him to try a tube before adding the sealant.
I've left it with them as I didn't want to mull around and take up their whole afternoon, but he says he'll keep trying between other jobs.
He did grumble about Mavic rims being a nightmare to fit tight tyres to!
Full credit to his efforts for a box of donuts! 🤗
Tried this stuff round the bead? I always use it and have very few stubborn bastid tyres
Tried this stuff round the bead? I always use it and have very few stubborn bastid tyres
Yeah it's good stuff with the handy sponge applicator. It's what I used to get these new tyres on to begin with.
I'm now wondering if the Mavic UST rim strip maybe got damaged when installing the front tyre. May explain why it won't seat with the compressor. I'll see if the Evans mechanic fancies popping one side off to have a look when I go pick it up, that's if he has no luck before then. Will be a messy job to sort if is damaged though, now it has 80ml of Muc Off in it!
Not hard to see why some folks are dead against going tubeless when you get a stubborn tyre like this one... but it's glorious when it works 😀
Evans just called and they've actually went above and beyond trying to fix it.
They decided to retape it for me but discovered a small divot in the rim bed at the point where the bead won't seal so sadly it looks like I'm going to have to run a tube for now.
I've done nearly 3000 miles on the wheelset and give them a hard life so I've probably had my moneys worth. As such I'll probably just get a new front wheel at some point as I expect a rebuild on another rim* would end up being just as/if not more expensive by the time I add rim, spokes, nipples and cost of labour.
*Annoyingly Mavic don't appear to sell the Allroad rims separately, at least in the UK.
No, but the Allroads are pretty good value as a complete. I think you can get spares if you contact Mavic, I had a very early version of an Allroad go kaput and seem to remember them quoting me for some parts. Didn't bother in the end, just bought a cheaper Allroad.
Do you have a mate nearby that has a 4x4? Might have an air compressor you could use?
No, but the Allroads are pretty good value as a complete. I think you can get spares if you contact Mavic, I had a very early version of an Allroad go kaput and seem to remember them quoting me for some parts. Didn't bother in the end, just bought a cheaper Allroad.
Yeah a whole new front is only around £110. I'll keep an eye on eBay too.
I do actually like the wheels. Hubs run nice and they've stood up to a lot.
Do you have a mate nearby that has a 4x4? Might have an air compressor you could use?
No, only normal cars and foot pumps.
As above though, even Evan's compressor couldn't properly seat it.
I'll run it tubed for a while and then pop the opposite bead off and see if holds tubeless.
The tyres are great. I did 22 miles yesterday on road, gravel and forest paths towing my daughter in the trailer and they performed well. They feel very similar to G-Ones.
