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How To Setup & Convert To Tubeless Mountain Bike Tires

 

Items Required For Tubless Tire Conversion

  • Tubeless Compatible Tire(s) - This includes, but is not limited to Schwalbe and Maxxis Tubeless Ready and Schwalbe Tubeless Easy Tires.
  • Tubeless Rim Strip Tape
  • Tire Sealant
  • Tubeless Valve Stem

Follow These Steps to Convert to Tubeless Tires

  1. Apply the rim strip tape, starting next to the valve, crossing over about one spoke hole.

  2. When you cross back over the spoke hole and valve hole, leave a couple inches of overlap and cut off the excess.

  3. Use scissors, a small dental pick, or a knife and poke a hole for the valve stem.

  4. Insert the valve stem into the rim through the pilot hole in the tape and install the locking nut. Tighten the lock nut securely for a proper seal.

  5. Begin installing the tire onto the rim, starting with only one bead.

  6. Flip the tire over and begin installing the second bead, leaving about 1/3rd of the bead un-seated.

  7. Pour in the proper amount of sealant. The amount varies based on the sealant brand you are using.

  8. Install the rest of the bead.

  9. Inflate your tire. Depending on your tire/rim combination, a floor pump may work, but an air compressor is even better.

  10. Pro Tip: Remove the valve core from the valve itself for better airflow. Your tire should seat the rim more easily this way.

  11. Once the tire is seated, you must replace the valve core. Remove the compressor or pump nozzle, using your finger to block the hole temporarily, then quickly thread in the valve core and make sure it's tight.

  12. Check tire pressure, refill if necessary, and go ride!

Voila! Your tires are now tubeless! Enjoy riding with lower tire pressure and less chance of flatting out!

Disclaimer: This tubeless tire conversion guide is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a "Do It Yourself" guide to bike adjustment or maintenance, nor as a substitute for professional advice and service. Always have your bike serviced and inspected by a certified bike technician.

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Tubes vs. Tubeless Tires - Advantages of Tubeless

Fewer Flat Tires

There are two main types of flat tires, a pinch flat and a puncture flat. Upgrading to tubeless tires helps to ward off both of these. A pinch flat occurs when the tube is pinched against the rim, usually the result of a hard impact or improper installation. With tubeless bike tires it’s simple: no tubes, no potential for pinch flats! Punctures meanwhile, like thorns, nails and the like will be sealed by the tubeless tire sealant, so you can keep riding. In the event of a puncture that the sealant can’t seal, you can always throw in a tube and keep riding. Dealing with fewer flat tires is one of the biggest advantages of tubeless tires.

Lower Weight

More often than not, you will be able to shave some weight off of your bike by converting to tubeless tires. While the weight savings here aren’t huge, this is the most noticeable kind of weight to lose from your bike - rotational weight. In other words, there will be less weight for you to have to turn with every pedal stroke. This will let you accelerate more quickly, which is definitely noticeable when climbing hills, especially on more technical sections of mountain bike trails.

Lower Tire Pressures

Another great benefit of tubeless bike tires is the ability to run lower tire pressures. Lower tire pressures give you greater traction on the road or trail, and gives your ride some more padding. Traditionally, lower pressures meant a greater risk of pinch flats, but as we discussed earlier, you don’t have to worry about pinch-flatting tubeless mountain bike tires.

How Do Tubeless Bike Tires Work?

Tubeless bike tires work by creating a seal between your bike tires and rims, meaning you don’t need inner tubes to keep air in your tires.The bead of the tire seats into the rim, then a gooey sealant product is inserted into the tire to make it airtight. Running tubeless tires gives you a host of benefits from fewer flats to reduced weight. While the initial setup of your tubeless mountain bike tires can be a little bit tricky, it’s a worthwhile upgrade to any bike.
 
 
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