Tubeless tire not holding air
#1
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,609
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
Tubeless tire not holding air
After years of riding on tubes over all types of gravel and never having to think twice about my tires, I went to tubeless for my current gravel bike to be trendy and try something new.
Itd been great for almost a couple months, then the rear entire lost pressure multiple times on my last ride. No idea why- it was all on roads I've ridden before and nothing aggressive.
It's totally sealed, but slowly leaks air. So I added some sealant and it's still leaking, though I cant see or hear where there is an issue.
This is just me complaining as I'm sure it will reseal over the night and be good as new come tomorrow.
Just annoying that it's already more work than i ever put in with tubes.
Itd been great for almost a couple months, then the rear entire lost pressure multiple times on my last ride. No idea why- it was all on roads I've ridden before and nothing aggressive.
It's totally sealed, but slowly leaks air. So I added some sealant and it's still leaking, though I cant see or hear where there is an issue.
This is just me complaining as I'm sure it will reseal over the night and be good as new come tomorrow.
Just annoying that it's already more work than i ever put in with tubes.
#2
Non omnino gravis
Not to sound condescending, but if it's losing air, that air is getting out somewhere.
If it's not a UST wheel and it needs tape, it might be leaking out through an error in the tape.
Might be leaking out the stem or core.
The bead might not be seated all the way around, particularly if the tire was mounted dry.
Living with tubeless is something of a learning process. I've been strictly on tubeless for +30,000 miles now, and leaks are infrequent. But it was a bit of trial and error to get here.
If it's not a UST wheel and it needs tape, it might be leaking out through an error in the tape.
Might be leaking out the stem or core.
The bead might not be seated all the way around, particularly if the tire was mounted dry.
Living with tubeless is something of a learning process. I've been strictly on tubeless for +30,000 miles now, and leaks are infrequent. But it was a bit of trial and error to get here.
#3
Senior Member
I've had this happen with a mountain bike, it was fine for months, then started leaking and sealant didn't stop it. I ended up removing the tape, cleaning everything off, then tape it again as if doing a new wheel. That fixed the issue.
Likes For katsup:
#4
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,609
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
Ha, no not condescending. I agree it's getting out somehow.
Tonight I am going to pull the tire, clean the rim and tire, check the tape and valve, then install.
Cant imagine what I hit to make this happen as it's been perfectly fine up to that ride and there isnt any noticable sealed hole/cut.
Forensic time!
Tonight I am going to pull the tire, clean the rim and tire, check the tape and valve, then install.
Cant imagine what I hit to make this happen as it's been perfectly fine up to that ride and there isnt any noticable sealed hole/cut.
Forensic time!
#5
FLIR Kitten to 0.05C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 5,331
Bikes: Roadie: Seven Axiom Race Ti w/Chorus 11s. CX/Adventure: Carver Gravel Grinder w/ Di2
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2349 Post(s)
Liked 406 Times
in
254 Posts
Ha, no not condescending. I agree it's getting out somehow.
Tonight I am going to pull the tire, clean the rim and tire, check the tape and valve, then install.
Cant imagine what I hit to make this happen as it's been perfectly fine up to that ride and there isnt any noticable sealed hole/cut.
Forensic time!
Tonight I am going to pull the tire, clean the rim and tire, check the tape and valve, then install.
Cant imagine what I hit to make this happen as it's been perfectly fine up to that ride and there isnt any noticable sealed hole/cut.
Forensic time!
#6
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,609
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
#7
Gravel Rocks
Put dish soap in water and spread around on the tire and rim, where it starts to suds will let you know where it's leaking. If it's coming out the spoke holes it's the rim tape probably. Could be valve stem too.
Likes For srode1:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
Ha, no not condescending. I agree it's getting out somehow.
Tonight I am going to pull the tire, clean the rim and tire, check the tape and valve, then install.
Cant imagine what I hit to make this happen as it's been perfectly fine up to that ride and there isnt any noticable sealed hole/cut.
Forensic time!
Tonight I am going to pull the tire, clean the rim and tire, check the tape and valve, then install.
Cant imagine what I hit to make this happen as it's been perfectly fine up to that ride and there isnt any noticable sealed hole/cut.
Forensic time!
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
Did you shake the rim a bunch and lay it on its side both ways to make sure the sidewalls of the tires are sealed? Depending on the volume of sealant it may be leaking out of pinholes still in the sidewalls higher up
Likes For redlude97:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
He rode it for a couple months, I'm guessing it got pretty shaken up.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#11
Senior Member
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Did you find anything?
The soapy water trick is your best bet. If I was to bet, I would guess it had something to do with the stem - especially if its been fine for so long. The stem will get a latex o-ring buildup that prevents it from sealing properly. Take the valve core out, clean it well, clean the valve stem with pipe cleaner or something, and reassemble. Ensure the stem is still snugly sealed against the rim.
The soapy water trick is your best bet. If I was to bet, I would guess it had something to do with the stem - especially if its been fine for so long. The stem will get a latex o-ring buildup that prevents it from sealing properly. Take the valve core out, clean it well, clean the valve stem with pipe cleaner or something, and reassemble. Ensure the stem is still snugly sealed against the rim.
#14
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,609
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
I discovered the issue.
- I tried to put air back in and call it good, but it slowly leaked out thru the night.
- Next I added some sealant, pumped the tire back up and spun it, but it still slowly leaded out thru the night.
- So then I pulled the tire, pulled the tape, and cleaned the tire and rim before adding new tape and pumping it up.
After filling it with air for a 3rd time during this process, a hole revealed itself in the middle of the tread right by a lug(i would guess due to air pressure working the partial seal apart). So apparently it mostly sealed while riding which kept it mostly inflated and allowed me to ride for awhile before having to fill it up, and it is small enough that I didnt feel it when running my thumb over the inner casing, though that was a pretty fast check on my part. I have no idea why the hole didnt full seal- its really small, but maybe I needed to have more sealant in the tire?
Funny that I rode thousands of miles on tubes and never flatted, but then switch to tubeless which should seal flats and end up flatting. Timing makes for funny irony.
Anyways, I will plug the hole so its permanently fixed and get the wheel set back up because Saturday is supposed to be 55 and sunny!
- I tried to put air back in and call it good, but it slowly leaked out thru the night.
- Next I added some sealant, pumped the tire back up and spun it, but it still slowly leaded out thru the night.
- So then I pulled the tire, pulled the tape, and cleaned the tire and rim before adding new tape and pumping it up.
After filling it with air for a 3rd time during this process, a hole revealed itself in the middle of the tread right by a lug(i would guess due to air pressure working the partial seal apart). So apparently it mostly sealed while riding which kept it mostly inflated and allowed me to ride for awhile before having to fill it up, and it is small enough that I didnt feel it when running my thumb over the inner casing, though that was a pretty fast check on my part. I have no idea why the hole didnt full seal- its really small, but maybe I needed to have more sealant in the tire?
Funny that I rode thousands of miles on tubes and never flatted, but then switch to tubeless which should seal flats and end up flatting. Timing makes for funny irony.
Anyways, I will plug the hole so its permanently fixed and get the wheel set back up because Saturday is supposed to be 55 and sunny!
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
I discovered the issue.
- I tried to put air back in and call it good, but it slowly leaked out thru the night.
- Next I added some sealant, pumped the tire back up and spun it, but it still slowly leaded out thru the night.
- So then I pulled the tire, pulled the tape, and cleaned the tire and rim before adding new tape and pumping it up.
After filling it with air for a 3rd time during this process, a hole revealed itself in the middle of the tread right by a lug(i would guess due to air pressure working the partial seal apart). So apparently it mostly sealed while riding which kept it mostly inflated and allowed me to ride for awhile before having to fill it up, and it is small enough that I didnt feel it when running my thumb over the inner casing, though that was a pretty fast check on my part. I have no idea why the hole didnt full seal- its really small, but maybe I needed to have more sealant in the tire?
Funny that I rode thousands of miles on tubes and never flatted, but then switch to tubeless which should seal flats and end up flatting. Timing makes for funny irony.
Anyways, I will plug the hole so its permanently fixed and get the wheel set back up because Saturday is supposed to be 55 and sunny!
- I tried to put air back in and call it good, but it slowly leaked out thru the night.
- Next I added some sealant, pumped the tire back up and spun it, but it still slowly leaded out thru the night.
- So then I pulled the tire, pulled the tape, and cleaned the tire and rim before adding new tape and pumping it up.
After filling it with air for a 3rd time during this process, a hole revealed itself in the middle of the tread right by a lug(i would guess due to air pressure working the partial seal apart). So apparently it mostly sealed while riding which kept it mostly inflated and allowed me to ride for awhile before having to fill it up, and it is small enough that I didnt feel it when running my thumb over the inner casing, though that was a pretty fast check on my part. I have no idea why the hole didnt full seal- its really small, but maybe I needed to have more sealant in the tire?
Funny that I rode thousands of miles on tubes and never flatted, but then switch to tubeless which should seal flats and end up flatting. Timing makes for funny irony.
Anyways, I will plug the hole so its permanently fixed and get the wheel set back up because Saturday is supposed to be 55 and sunny!
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#16
Gravel Rocks
I discovered the issue.
- I tried to put air back in and call it good, but it slowly leaked out thru the night.
- Next I added some sealant, pumped the tire back up and spun it, but it still slowly leaded out thru the night.
- So then I pulled the tire, pulled the tape, and cleaned the tire and rim before adding new tape and pumping it up.
After filling it with air for a 3rd time during this process, a hole revealed itself in the middle of the tread right by a lug(i would guess due to air pressure working the partial seal apart). So apparently it mostly sealed while riding which kept it mostly inflated and allowed me to ride for awhile before having to fill it up, and it is small enough that I didnt feel it when running my thumb over the inner casing, though that was a pretty fast check on my part. I have no idea why the hole didnt full seal- its really small, but maybe I needed to have more sealant in the tire?
Funny that I rode thousands of miles on tubes and never flatted, but then switch to tubeless which should seal flats and end up flatting. Timing makes for funny irony.
- I tried to put air back in and call it good, but it slowly leaked out thru the night.
- Next I added some sealant, pumped the tire back up and spun it, but it still slowly leaded out thru the night.
- So then I pulled the tire, pulled the tape, and cleaned the tire and rim before adding new tape and pumping it up.
After filling it with air for a 3rd time during this process, a hole revealed itself in the middle of the tread right by a lug(i would guess due to air pressure working the partial seal apart). So apparently it mostly sealed while riding which kept it mostly inflated and allowed me to ride for awhile before having to fill it up, and it is small enough that I didnt feel it when running my thumb over the inner casing, though that was a pretty fast check on my part. I have no idea why the hole didnt full seal- its really small, but maybe I needed to have more sealant in the tire?
Funny that I rode thousands of miles on tubes and never flatted, but then switch to tubeless which should seal flats and end up flatting. Timing makes for funny irony.
Anyway, what sealant are you using?
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Glad you found it.
All of my small holes seal themselves. If it is much more than a pin hole, I will let the tire sit overnight (at pressure) with the hole on the ground, so it is in a puddle of sealant (in the tire).
Periodically, I'll check for wet spots on my tire - as any new holes will be a little damp from a little sealant seeping out.
All of my small holes seal themselves. If it is much more than a pin hole, I will let the tire sit overnight (at pressure) with the hole on the ground, so it is in a puddle of sealant (in the tire).
Periodically, I'll check for wet spots on my tire - as any new holes will be a little damp from a little sealant seeping out.
#18
Sunshine
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,609
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
The cut is in the middle of the tread and didnt reveal itself until a few refills of the tire.
Are you suggesting I fill the tire with soapy water and would have then seen the cut?
Its Stans sealant.
#19
Gravel Rocks
I'd recommend ditching the Stans sealant and using Orange Seal, it's what everyone I know uses, never had a leak it didn't fix although a good sized gash it might not.
#21
Senior Member
For a leak on tubeless if you wipe soapy water on the tire the leak will suds up quickly be it on the tire or the stem etc. It would have found that lead immediately.
I'd recommend ditching the Stans sealant and using Orange Seal, it's what everyone I know uses, never had a leak it didn't fix although a good sized gash it might not.
I'd recommend ditching the Stans sealant and using Orange Seal, it's what everyone I know uses, never had a leak it didn't fix although a good sized gash it might not.
My guess is that with a really tiny tiny leak the air just isn't coming out with enough force to push any sealant into or through the hole and therefore won't actually seal, especially if you don't position the hole at the bottom of the wheel rotation for a while and let the sealant get into to puncture. Which is what I did after putting about another ounce of sealant in my tire. Sealed up just fine once I left it sitting that way for a bit.