Tubeless Conversion Kits

[Syphanx]

Hey guys,
I was interested in coverting both my wheels to tubless. First of all is this possible? I've heard that you can buy tubeless coversion kits for around $50aus??? What are the advantages and disadvantages of tubeless wheels? And can you give me any other info that might be useful.

Regards,

- Michael

[shmity]

For a start you can do ghetto tubelss for far less than 50 bux.
Look here for a guide: http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?t=786&page=2&pp=20&highlight=ghetto+tubeless
A tubless rim and tyre setup is almost always going to be heavier, than a tubed equivelenet, especially in the xc field. A standard rim and single ply tyre, with a 1.9 tube that weighs next to bugger all is far lighter than a tubless rim(not much if any weight saving here) and tubless tyre (which are far hevier than a tyre and tube set up, for xc anyway). For DH a specific tubless setup and tubed setup are going to be somewhere in the same league, probably the tubeless setup is going to be slightly lighter.
Where tubeless comes into its own, is traction and pinch flat resistance. I find i hook up better with a ghetto tubeless setup, than a tube. I also managed to rocket thru a rock garden, with 10psi in my rear tyre, cracking my rim pretty good, but my tyre stayed inflated, till i bothered to take it off to get a new rim put on.

[Syphanx]

Ok so I don't really know much about tubeless wheels. I have non-tubeless rims at the moment, so if i wanted to convert them would I have to buy tubeless rims? Also what else would I need to buy?
So what's the whole thing on tubeless, like how does the system work? If possible could you please give me some information about it. The most important thing im interested in is what if you get a flat... do you have to buy a whole new tyre? I'm also guessing in a race situation if you got a flat then you wouldn't be able to repair it on the track?

Anyway give me all the info you can,

Thanks,

- Michael -

[shmity]

If you do the ghetto setup or stans no-tubes then no, you can use standard rims and standard tyres.
If you want to go proper tubeless, then you need tubeless rims and tubeless tyres.
You can still run tubes in tubeless tyres and on tubeless rims, its just expensive and pointless, but in a race situation, if you get a flat for whatever reason, bar a masive hole in the tyre, you can just stick a tube in and finish off with that.

[Syphanx]

About sticking a tube in... Wouldn't it be heaps hard to get the tyre off the rim because of the tubeless. Cause it would have to be pretty tight to stop any air leaking.
Ok so if I were to buy two tubeless rims and two tubeless tyres would I need anything else?? or could I just stick them on and off I go?
As you can see I know absolutely nothing about the tubeless setup

- Michael -

[shmity]

Its not going to be much harder than puting a normal tyre on/off. If you want to run a specific tubeless setup then all youll need is the rim and tyre.

[Bodin]

Its not going to be much harder than puting a normal tyre on/off. If you want to run a specific tubeless setup then all youll need is the rim and tyre.

I don't mean to be rude, but you sound like you don't have much (or any) experience with tubeless setups. :o

Yes, technically, it's just a rim and a tyre, but regardless of which tubeless system you run, there's a fair bit of work involved in making sure the bead of the tyre seals correctly against the rim. Believe it or not, a big brush and a bucket of warm, soapy water are essential items! And if you're going to run a tubeless system that involves pouring sealant into the tyre, then you need a specific valve... The list goes on...

I'm not trying to turn anyone away from tubeless - it's the best upgrade you can do to any bike :D - but it involves a fair bit of preparation before you're rolling.

Syphanx - go get a Stan's kit from your LBS and go to www.NoTubes.com for all the info you'll ever need about how to do it correctly. Give serious consideration to buying some Stan's-recommended tyres, as I'm under the impression that some work better than others. Even with buying the kit AND tyres, it will still be cheaper than buying a whole new set of UST rims and tyres.

Re: Ghetto tubeless. This is an awesome system for DH, but I've never come across anyone using it for XC. I might end up being corrected, but I race a fair bit of XC and I've never seen anyone using it. I think a wider rim works better...

[Regan]

I have used the Stans system along with Maxxis tyes for about 3 years and it works great! I can pump them up very easily with a track pump. It makes you bike handle SOOOO much better I race DH and 4X and have never had a flat since going tubeless!

I have recently purchased some Mavic UST rims (EX823’s) for my DJ/4X bike and they work even better and is lighter again as you don’t need to use rim strips! I still run a little Stans sealant in them as I run Maxxis Bling Bling’s and they are not a UST specific tyre. It works AWESOME!!!

Just remember when using the Stans System, that some tyres work better than others. I have found Maxxis tyres work great.

Once you try it you will NEVER use a tube again! :)

[shmity]

there's a fair bit of work involved in making sure the bead of the tyre seals correctly against the rim.
Easiest way ive found, is to inflate the tyre with at tube first, have a ride and leave it for a day or two (especially when its a new tyre). Not the most time effective way, but its a good way to do it, especially if your tyres have been folded for storage or postage.

[John U]

There is alos meant to be an advantage of removing friction between wheel and tube, and tube and tyre. I guess there is some energy lost there which is removed when you go tubeless. I haven't tried tubeless yet but read this in Mountain Bike Action. Could just be hype be sounds logical.

[scratchy]

Disclaimer: I sell Stans No Tubes so I guess I have a vested interest. </disclaimer>

OK. Seeing this is in the XC section the answer will be directed at XC. The Ghetto system seems to take a bit of fiddling to get right. Like Bodin I have never come across an XC ride with it fitted, everyone uses Stans. I think this is because a DH run getting a flat is no big deal, you generally only have to hold it together for a couple of minutes, the end of the run is close enough.

As a retailer I put most riders into 2 catagories. The first is the majority of us, who are happy to ride, clean our chain when it gets really dirty and start making a sound, fix the gears when they mis-shift. Basically the focus is on the ride and not endlessly tweaking the ride. Some of these people find setting it up for the first time a bit of a drama, but done once most people start helping there mates set theirs up after they've talked them into it (it seems we get a lot of sales that starts just as one guy then all his riding buddies get it as well).
The other catagory is the people who are always tweaking, cleaning the bike, servicing the hubs, re-lubing the bearings. They seem to have no problem doing it (despite what the notubes site says use a compressor first time!!!)

No Tubes is one of those things that takes a bit of fiddling to set up. Once you've done it once your a pro. NoTubes.com has instructional videos/pictures about doing it.

As Regan can attest they are the ducks nuts. 99% of people who buy it love it. Check on the notubes site what brands of tyres run best with NoTubes also.

Saul Britton is the Aussie distributor. I think he has some ads in Australian MTB, you can buy direct from him or me (online bikeshop www.bikefanatic.com ) I think the price is the same.

If anyone has had good/bad experiances with tyres its always good to know.

[Syphanx]

Ok so let me get this all straight...
After I buy the Stans No Tubes package, is that everything covered, nothing else I have to buy?
Can I use regular tyres (non tubeless) with the Stans No Tubes?
Just one more thing, can you use tubes in tubeless tyres? and do they still run to a high standard?

Thanks,

I'll definetly be getting one of these Stans No Tubes packages very soon!

- Michael -

[Regan]

Yep, you will be all set!

And yes, you can use regular tyres with Stan’s and you can run a tube in a tubeless tyre.

[gappy]

I got my stans kit...

w00t!

[scratchy]

Gappy how did your Stans go?

[jeffandal]

I know this thread was started a while back, but here goes.
The best combination for tubeless in XC is to run a tubeless rim, a light tyre such as Python or a Larsen with some stans in it.

I originally tried the whole stans scenario with rim strip etc on a standard rim, but in a race when trying to put in a tube if you flat (usually due to a reasonably significant hole in the actual tyre), separating the rim tape and the tyre is a major pain, because the liquid latex glue the two together so it becomes like a roadie single.

If you run a full tubeless system, still run some stans in the tyre as it self heals any small holes you get in the tyre, also run some glitter in the tyre with the stans, this actually allows the stans to repair slightly larger holes without the stans just squirting out. (a trick passed on by Rowney)
Jeff.

[Bodin]

I run a full tubeless system and use some green kind of sealant that I think is meant for cars. It has a fair bit of grit in it, which seems to do a fairly good job of plugging the punctures, because I often find little green spots on the outside of the tyre after a ride, but I've never had a flat.