Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Mountain Biking
Reload this Page >

DIY tubes to tubeless conversion - easy?

Notices
Mountain Biking Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Check out this forum to discuss the latest tips, tricks, gear and equipment in the world of mountain biking.

DIY tubes to tubeless conversion - easy?

Old 08-15-18, 11:26 AM
  #1  
Plainsman
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,503
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 40 Times in 30 Posts
DIY tubes to tubeless conversion - easy?

Long time road cyclist, new to the MTB scene. Thinking I would like to convert my tubed 29er to run as tubeless. Is this an expensive/difficult conversion? I'm pretty handy with my bikes, just not that familiar with what's involved with going tubeless (as opposed to buying a new wheelset). Any actual difference in rims between the two, or is it all really about how they are sealed and the valve stems? Thanks for any links/advice pertaining to my newbie question!
Plainsman is offline  
Old 08-15-18, 12:47 PM
  #2  
RubenAlonzo
Senior Member
 
RubenAlonzo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Laredo, Tx
Posts: 78

Bikes: Scott Aspect 970

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Hi there Plainsman, I tried to do the conversion on my Scott Aspect 970 but could not for the life of me get the tire to seat. I taped the wheel, used a good screw down stem and Slime. I just could not get the tire (Kenda Slant Six) to bead up. Yes it is possible, but WAY harder than the YouTube videos I saw make it out to be. In the end my LBS and Scott dealer will get my business for converting my tubed tires to tubeless ($40 for both wheels) this weekend. You do NOT need a new wheelset, ANY tube ready wheel can be converted according to my LBS.
RubenAlonzo is offline  
Old 08-15-18, 02:01 PM
  #3  
Plainsman
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,503
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Liked 40 Times in 30 Posts
$40 total? Really? Wow, that seams like a slam dunk to me. I assumed I would spend that or more just on materials.
Plainsman is offline  
Old 08-15-18, 04:06 PM
  #4  
carlosponti
Full Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Moore, OK
Posts: 200

Bikes: '90 Raleigh Technium Prestige, '90 Fuji Thrill - Gone, '18 Fuji Nevada 1.7 29er, '19 Fezzari Abajo Peak

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Liked 34 Times in 23 Posts
I did it on my fuji, I started with using gorilla tape to seal the rims. start with 2 inches from the stem hole wrap slowly around pressing down as you go till you cover the wheel to another two inches beyond the stem hole. Get a tubeless ready tire it has a tougher side wall and is sealed so not leak out sealant. I found inflating with a tube for a week or so helped a new set of tires seat. also get a bucket put some soapy water if you cant get them to inflate the soapy water might help. don't waste sealant by trying to seat the tires first time, make sure they will seat before adding sealant. take the valve core out when inflating for the first time. then let out the air put in sealant and reseat with valve core in. It certainly isnt as easy as the videos but its not terrible. It certainly is easier to pay someone.
carlosponti is offline  
Old 08-15-18, 10:41 PM
  #5  
Canker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,743
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 329 Post(s)
Liked 209 Times in 133 Posts
Do you have an air compressor? If you you do that makes it fairly easy. If not you just have to hope you have one of those lucky combos of rim and tires that are easy.
Canker is offline  
Old 08-16-18, 06:01 AM
  #6  
trailangel
Senior Member
 
trailangel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 4,847

Bikes: Schwinn Varsity

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1931 Post(s)
Liked 741 Times in 421 Posts
Do you have tubeless rims? Tubeless tires? Why make it harder trying to get non-tubeless tires and rims to work?
trailangel is offline  
Old 08-16-18, 07:50 AM
  #7  
grubetown
Senior Member
 
grubetown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 384
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 110 Post(s)
Liked 24 Times in 21 Posts
IMHO not worth the hassle if you don’t have tubeless tires and rims.
grubetown is offline  
Old 08-16-18, 09:38 AM
  #8  
Dreaded1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Latham NY
Posts: 77

Bikes: 03 Marin Bear Valley, 1999 GT ZR2000, Raleigh M80(converted to single speed), 2017 Masi Gran Corsa disc.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I just bought a new MTB that came with tuebless ready tires. I did the conversion myself, without too much hassle with about an hours worth of work.. I think I spent ~$50 for the tape, valve stems and sealant from my LBS. 1 tire went smoothly, the other needed some help. After taping and adding sealant I could still hear a leak. I had to lay the wheel flat on both sides for an hour then keep swirling the sealant around and adding air. Right before I went to bed I adder air one more time, when I checked in the morning the tire was holding pressure. If your tires are tuebless ready It's a pretty simple task.

But if your LBS will do it for $40, that's a hell of a deal. I decided to give it a shot, then have my LBS if I couldn't get 'er done. Luckily I prevailed.
Dreaded1 is offline  
Old 08-19-18, 04:53 PM
  #9  
Howard70
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 57
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 10 Posts
Plainsman:

I've converted three sets of wheels - it got easier each time. I prefer to use the Cafelatex rim strip rather than tape as it goes on easy and can be removed, switched to another wheel, etc.

To facilitate seating the tires, I took an old presta core and removed the central post/valve/finger nut (just cut the central post with diagonal cutters below the finger nut). That leaves a clear tube with greater air flow to "pop" the tires up onto the rim seats. Sometimes I can seat with vigorous use of the floor pump but if that fails I use and air compressor with a presta chuck.

All of the tires I've used have been "tubeless ready".

Howard Snell
Howard70 is offline  
Old 08-20-18, 08:14 PM
  #10  
nbarbieri
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
In a pinch, a C02 cartridge works pretty well to seat a tire.
nbarbieri is offline  
Old 08-22-18, 03:27 PM
  #11  
rm76
Newbie
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 3
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
All of the above....
running some sealant around the tyre bead made it easier for me.
Good seal, fast air flow seem to be the 2 critical factors.
rm76 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Gearjockey
Road Cycling
19
09-01-19 06:35 PM
BOOMER_SOONER
Mountain Biking
14
02-10-17 03:17 PM
BigPoser
Road Cycling
50
09-06-16 01:55 PM
OTHB
Bicycle Mechanics
2
06-17-11 04:53 PM
zeo_max
Mountain Biking
2
04-09-10 09:47 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.