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Im sick of pinch flats so i think its time to go tubeless and get with the times.
I currently have e*thirteen TRS+ 27.5" wheels, I think these are tubeless ready but i have no idea how to tell??
I know i need new tyres but what kit is best and how easy is it to fit??
Cheers
Depends on the Rim but it does saw tubeless ready. Are there spoke holes? If so you will need some tape to cover them up.
If not then Fit tubeless valve, fit tyre, add sealant (before completely fitting the tyre) get a kitchen spray bottle (surface cleaner type thing) with a washing up liquid solution in it, spray round the bead of the tyre both sides then pump up with a good high volume track pump. If that doesn't work then a compressor or one of the bottle pump things will work.
You will need some tubes for putting in when the tubeless fails due to burping or ironically pinch flats which I got just as bad with tubeless. Try changing your tyre pressure, centering your weight better or avoiding chicken head rocks. That has made more difference to me than running tubeless. Touch wood I have been getting less tubeless pinch flats running stans flows than mavic 819's but although tubeless is nice when it works it's really annoying when it fails.
Also after you stick on the tubeless ready rim tape my LBS recommends putting the tire back on and an inner tube and inflate and leave over night so the tape seats properly. Also get yourself one of those schraeder to presta valve adapters as then you can nip to your local petrol station to inflate your tubeless tires to get them seated on the rim.
I know mike reccomends washing up liquid above, I use PVA wood glue from a pot and brush it on with a pastry brush, it works pretty much the same I think ?
Fitting a tube overnight to compress the rim tape is a good Idea.
If you've got proper rims and get lucky with your choice of tyres then hopefully the faffing above won't be necessary.
If you can see spoke holes then use 25mm Gorilla tape to seal them.
Fit a tube, fit your tyres. Inflate to ~50psi to get everything seated properly.
Leave overnight.
The next day, when your new tyres are the right shape and the tape is pushed down correctly, remove the tube by unseating one side of the tyre.
Fit the tubeless valves.
Add some sealant.
Refit the unseated side of the tyre.
(Hopefully) Inflate the tyre with a track pump.
If it struggles then use the soapy bubbles/compressors etc as mentioned above.
Mostly as above, but get tubeless Val e with a removable core, then you can get a higher volume of air into to valve, making it easier to seat the beads (none of that soapy water nonsense) then - as a bonus - you can put the sealant in through the valve.