Tubeless Tire Puncture
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Tubeless Tire Puncture
I am riding a grave bike with tubeless tires (Pathfinder Sport, 700x38mm). It has a tiny puncture and air leaks very slowly. I only saw this after applying soapy water all over the tire. This is my first experience with tubeless. Doing a little bit of research, found that tubeless is not as straight forward as I thought.
First, Do I even attempt to repair the tubeless tire? If so, what are your recommendations.
Second, How often do you reapply the sealant? I have not applied any since I bought the bike back in Nov 2020. I had no idea. <---Noob
I did watch some youtube videos and some suggest to reply sealant every 3 to 4 months. Is that a good idea? Isn't the sealant going to build up in the tire?
I mostly use the bike to commute to work in NYC roads (not the best) about 7.5 miles each way. Not sure if it matters, but throwing it out there just in case.
First, Do I even attempt to repair the tubeless tire? If so, what are your recommendations.
Second, How often do you reapply the sealant? I have not applied any since I bought the bike back in Nov 2020. I had no idea. <---Noob
I did watch some youtube videos and some suggest to reply sealant every 3 to 4 months. Is that a good idea? Isn't the sealant going to build up in the tire?
I mostly use the bike to commute to work in NYC roads (not the best) about 7.5 miles each way. Not sure if it matters, but throwing it out there just in case.
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If it only has a tiny hole that's noticeable with soapy water, then I'd just add some fresh sealant and call it fixed. Hopefully you have removeable valve cores. If so:
1) buy a small bottle of Stan's
2) remove valve core (they make specialty tools to do so, but you could also use a small crescent wrench if you don't have a valve core tool)
3) squirt in the Stan's
4) replace the valve core
5) pump up the tire
6) spin to distribute
If you don't have removeable cores, you'll have to unseat the tire and pour the sealant in the side. If you have to do this, you might as well replace the your valves while you're at it.
1) buy a small bottle of Stan's
2) remove valve core (they make specialty tools to do so, but you could also use a small crescent wrench if you don't have a valve core tool)
3) squirt in the Stan's
4) replace the valve core
5) pump up the tire
6) spin to distribute
If you don't have removeable cores, you'll have to unseat the tire and pour the sealant in the side. If you have to do this, you might as well replace the your valves while you're at it.
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If fresh sealant doesn't work, a simple "bacon strip" plug should do it, and that can be a fairly permanent fix, especially if the hole is small.
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Not trying to insult your intelligence, but are your wheels converted to tubeless? Do you see sealant coming out of the hole? I'm pretty sure most new bikes with tubeless wheels come shipped new with tubes and not sealant.
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The tires on my gravel bike wouldn't stay inflated overnight. I finally got tired of pumping them up and decided to add sealant. Turned out there were dozens of little holes in the tread. Must have ridden through something.
Sealant fixed that right away. I use a leur lock syringe to add more sealant through the valve. They sell syringes with a tube specifically for that purpose. You also need a way to get the valve core out, which you probably should have anyway.
Sealant fixed that right away. I use a leur lock syringe to add more sealant through the valve. They sell syringes with a tube specifically for that purpose. You also need a way to get the valve core out, which you probably should have anyway.
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Tube repaired and good to go.
But, now I am interested in converting to full tubeless. Sealent, valve core tool and syringe is ordered. Time to buy the valve core and tape.
Thanks guys!
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My Giant gravel bike came tubeless as did my gf & friends Liv gravel bike. All came tubeless from the factory. All 4 four bikes purchases this year if that makes a difference.
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Did they have sealant already in? It was my understanding that companies don't want to do that because some bikes might be sitting in shops for years (at least before the virus and the shortages haha).
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Confirmed on two of the Liv bikes yes. Two friends replaced their tires on the factory rims and there was sealant inside. My giant and gf liv we have not changed the tires yet.
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Giant ships tires installed with no sealant. They will hold air sitting on a shop floor. When a bike is purchased, the dealer adds a small bottle of sealant into each tire. The Giant tubeless system works well and the bikes are truly sold running tubeless. Most will go a year before needing any additional sealant.