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I'm currently using 40C Landcruisers but am considering moving to WTB Riddler 45Cs. I've also decided that I want to go tubeless.
The rims I currently have are these: http://www.alexrims.com/products/cxd26/
The website says they aren't tubeless compatible, but I've seen posts here saying it's been done:
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/alexrims-cdx26-tubeless-compatible/
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/saracen-avro-road-wheels-cx026-are-they-tubeless-ready/
My question is: it may be "doable", but is it worth the apparent risk? Assuming I get someone who knows what they're doing to help, is it worth a try, or should I just look at upgrading my wheelset? The last thing I want is to have a tyre explode as I'm tanking down a track.
Any rim can be converted to tubeless. I find the split innertube method easiest. If the tyre isn't going to blow off the rim with a tube in it, it won't blow off the tube without a tube unless you run crazy low pressures and roll it off the rim.
I played safe (rather than dabbling with split innertubes) and used Stan's Rim Strips on my Mavic XC717s and they've worked fine, this link should let you know which version you need.
https://www.notubes.com/rim-strip-and-tubeless-system-guide
I'd do it with the relatively low pressures of MTB tyres and rims, perhaps up to about 40psi but definitely not with road tyres/rims at higher pressures
I've done it with a set of On-One rims that aren't explicitly stated as being tubeless ready. This is with 37c tyres at about 45psi. As with @mtbtomo I wouldn't do it with higher pressure road tyres.
Any rim can be set up tubeless with enough time an effort. We managed before tubeless compatibility was a ‘thing’. Obvious points are that it may be more trouble than you want to go to and there’s no telling that you won’t have a catastrophic burp. Only one way to find out if it works for you...
Hi op.
The link above was from me. I've been running my wheels tubeless for around 2 years and several thousand miles at 100 psi and I'm still alive.
I sealed the join with glue prior to using schwalbe rim tape. No idea if it made any difference but it worked. It needed 2 strips of tape to get the tyre to go up.
I've run them with schwalbe pro one tyres with no issues.
The issue usually isn't tyres blowing off the rim - I've done tubeless on old-school Open Pros at 90psi. If you have proper tubeless tyres you should be fine.
Rather the issue is often getting them inflated in the first place. Non-tubeless rims sometimes don't hold the tyre tight enough to get it inflated. Rimstrips help - either bought or ghetto.
I managed with Mavic 319 no bother. I done trail centres ardmoors on them with no problems. The stand sorted out any problems with pours tyres and any leaks.
I did use a bit plumbers mate on one of the valves as it had a slight leak at the hole.
I was also worried incase it come off the rim but never did only had one burp but I think a wheel with inner tube would have exploded.
I dunno if I would quite agree, that any rim can be tubelessed. I have some no brand rims that are tapered up to the rim hook and all 26 tyres I have tried will not stay seated. The seat fine with a boost tank, and will hold pressure all day, but when you take the adaptor off, as soon as the pressure drops, they fall back down off the rim. Other than those though I've never had an issue with "non tubeless" rims, and seeing as those Alex rims have been done already it seems a goer to me.
*favourites*
Interested to see how you get on.
Tried recently on son's very old Specializes wheel. Went up ok. At 40 psi the tyre left the rim with a bang and fired Stan's everywhere. Dripping from me, the walls and the ceiling. Total jeffing mess!
Ride a pair of 26" non tubeless ready Giant wheels tubeless for years without issue previously.