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This might be the dumbest request for advice seen for a while on STW but at the risk of ridicule... are tubeless rims really suitable for running with normal tyres and tubes ? If so what am I doing wrong ?
I spent 4 hours yesterday changing three tyres & tubes all on Stan Flow tubeless ready rims (Hope wheelsets). I've broken one tyre lever and ruined two new tubes. I still have one wheel to do and one needs re-doing as the tube won't hold air, I imagine it's been pinched during the change.
The tyres are a very tight fit on the rims, very hard to get on and off, so snug you cannot rotate the tyre when just one side has been mounted. When getting the tyre on and off it's very hard to avoid damaging the rim tape and trapping the inner tube, also lots of scuffs on the rims and rim stickers (cosmetic I know) from the efforts. With all the huffing and puffing I could see it would be easy to damage the spokes or rotor.Â
I've changed tyres & replaced tubes many times on my old wheels with no problems. I cannot imagine doing this on a cold wet day on the trail. Â Before anyone suggests it I don't want to run tubeless.
yes - but some are very tight.
There is a bit of a knack to it, watch the videos on stans website
[b]Clobber[/b] - Member
There is a bit of a knack to it, watch the videos on stans website
There are videos - doh ! I knew this would be embarrassing.
Rule of thumb is always keep tyre levers away when refitting tyre with tubes. Thumbs should be ample for getting them back on.
@MarkN - absolutely no way I could get the tyre on without levers. I struggled to get the first side on without levers (Maxxis HRs and Fat Alberts)
You're trying to fit 26er tyres onto 29er rims. Well done for getting as far as you did! 🙂
Before anyone suggests it I don't want to run tubeless.
But why?
I ran tyres with tubes on Stans Crests for about 6 months before giving up. Tyres were such a tight fit that I was ruining tubes when I fitted them. Run tubeless now and never looked back. It does mean I swap tyres round a lot less though, which is probably a good thing (haven't needed to put 'summer' tyres on this year!)
Not a stupid question as I have had massive issues getting tyres on and off Stans rims in the past. BUT key is to get the bead in the centre of the rim, start getting the other side of the tyre in and actually believe you can do it - it can take time but it does work!
[b]chiefgrooveguru[/b] - Member
[i]Before anyone suggests it I don't want to run tubeless.[/i]
But why?
Because I'm experimenting with tyres at the momemt to see which I like the best. I perceive tubeless to be a pain for fit with that sealent (I understand now that perhaps the fit once and forget is a plus) and more expensive. What happens when the tyre "burps off" miles from home ?
To be honest at this rate going tubeless is looking a distinct possibility.
Can we swap scenario's?
I have tubeless tyres on tubed rims, and they are so unbelievably loose you can just hook the first side on, and the second goes on with just one hand = no good for tubeless as impossible to seat beads & inflate, even with HUGE factory compressor.
Also ran tubed on them today, and on tarmac even at 40psi (way harder than I've ever ran MTB tyres before) the tyres just about rip OFF the rim in moderate cornering. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can we swap? I'd love tyres that would actually stay on my rims.
Tyres behave different tubeless and tubed. Also there's no point finding a tyre you like with tubes in if it then proves a nightmare/impossible to use tubeless. If you already have tubeless rims and aren't buying really cheap tyres then tubeless isn't more expensive.
Tyres only tend to burp if you're running excessively low pressures and/or crash, and then you just pump them back up (and they rarely lose all their pressure) or if it's completely disastrous put a tube in - no worse than getting a puncture with tubes. If I had Flow rims then I'd just stick some Specialized or Bontrager tubeless ready tyres on - they go up great with a trackpump if you've seated them with a tube overnight.
I put a Rubber Queen UST and a X-King Protection onto Flows at the weekend - straight up with a track pump with about 20ml of sealant. X-King was flat the next day so squirted a more sensible amount of sealant in, pumped it back up and went to play on some DH tracks. AOK.
are tubeless rims really suitable for running with normal tyres and tubes ?
It probably depends on the tyre, just the same as when running Stan's rims tubeless.
I (eventually) fitted a Maxxis ADvantage with a tube on a Crest when I first got the rim but had to cut it off, so I took the plunge and went tubeless, it was much faster and less hassle.
If you don't want to go tubeless, and it's not working with this rim, get a different rim.
"What happens when the tyre "burps off" miles from home ?"
Put a tube in - same if you get a slashed tyre. It'll go in easier because you won't have rim strip, just the plastic sealant tape.
To be honest at this rate going tubeless is looking a distinct possibility.
You're banging your head against a wall. It hurts. The wall isn't going to give.
Stop banging.
Stans are ridiculously difficult to mount tyres (with tubes) on...
So much so i sent mine back after spending a similar time to you trying to do so on a new set. Like you i'd never had problems with other rims and when I realised the possibility of me not being able to fix a puncture in the middle of nowhere I sent them back sharpish.
Honestly never had any issues fitting Maxxis HR , swampthing or Bonty mudx to my Flows tubed. Switched to tubless at the weekend, mudx went straight up with a pop and minimal leakage. HR took a while for sidewall seepage to stop, both stayed inflated overnight and were ridable next day.
Thanks to everyone for your comments.