How do you change a flat when you’ve got rims that will not seat without soapy water?

[anomad]

Its ok if the tube is not “pinched” by the tire.

That bang is hard on the ears when it lets go. I think we’ve all done it at least once…

@huskerdont 155535 wrote:

That’s what I was wondering–is it okay to do this? I’ve have been careless changing tubes before and didn’t get them to seat properly all around, then a few hours later would hear a loud bang when the tube crept out and blew. Coupla times, actually (to my shame). I wouldn’t want this to happen while riding.

[hozn]

@Tania 155533 wrote:

They came tubeless ready and I had them tubeless for a little bit but they didn’t hold air at all and the tire flatted and rolled on the SO when I let him race it in Dec (doh!). I haven’t had them re-taped yet so I wonder if that wouldn’t help things. I changed the tires several times this weekend (the maxxis didn’t fit in the rear) and I can’t quite remember the color of the tape but I’m going with blue.

Again, they seat great with soapy water (or an air compressor). If it’s ok to ride the wheel with a wobble until I get home/pass a bike shop then I guess it’s all good.

Hmm, if you’ve got tires that simply won’t fit, then maybe this really is a more significant problem with those rims/wheels. But I agree with @anomad that maybe retaping the rims with a single layer of tape (assuming you don’t need to run > 60psi on these) is probably a good idea. FWIW, my limited experience with blue tape (as bought from Velocity, I believe), was that the yellow tape was better — lasts longer on the rims. But I’m sure blue tape is not all the same and my sample of 1 probably isn’t very scientific.

Also note that Stans yellow tape is Tesa 4289, which can be found cheaper (though maybe only in larger quantities than you desire).

[Vicegrip]

@Tania 155533 wrote:

They came tubeless ready and I had them tubeless for a little bit but they didn’t hold air at all and the tire flatted and rolled on the SO when I let him race it in Dec (doh!). I haven’t had them re-taped yet so I wonder if that wouldn’t help things. I changed the tires several times this weekend (the maxxis didn’t fit in the rear) and I can’t quite remember the color of the tape but I’m going with blue.

Again, they seat great with soapy water (or an air compressor). If it’s ok to ride the wheel with a wobble until I get home/pass a bike shop then I guess it’s all good.

I bet they might even seat up while you were riding them.

[Harry Meatmotor]

This isn’t really a trail-side fix, but for home mechanics without access to compressed air or one of the high volume, secondary air chamber-style floor pumps: take a ratchet strap and run it around the circumference of the tire while there’s only 5-10 PSI in the tire, then tighten down the ratchet strap, then begin inflating the tire again. [yYou’ll need to work quickly if the bead is still weeping sealant – this often works best if you’ve got an assistant pumping the tire to keep 5-10 PSI in the tire.] This will concentrate the outward force of the air along the bead of the tire. Once the bead seats, let some air back out of the tire, then remove the ratchet strap.

Also, the best furniture polish I’ve found is this stuff – great for lubing clipless pedals, and stubborn tire beads:

Wood For Good

And there’s no way to damage a tubeless tire that’s not fully seated if you’re running it at normal pressure, unless the tire is rubbing the frame or something.

[vvill]

I don’t have experience with mtb tubeless but for CX tires I just bring two spare tubes and hope for the best! Haven’t yet needed them, but as I only use a regular floor pump to seat my tires my hope is that I could use a tube to get them on fairly solidly should the need arise. I do pre-stretch my tubeless tires on rims with a tube before I do the soapy tubeless “ping-pop”. I also wear safety glasses and earmuffs as I have accidentally over-inflated and shredded a few tubes, and it’s never pleasant (although – hopefully I’ve learned my lessons now). I have specifically avoided say, WTB tires on Stan’s rims.

I have had a regular non-tubeless clincher not seat properly on a Stan’s rim after a flat during a ride but it was only a mile or two from the car, so I was fine just riding slightly more carefully for the rest of the way.

[Rootchopper]

I have a similar problem mounting tires on my Bike Friday. The worst is mounting Schwalbe tires. There is a trick. Once you get part of the tire on, pinch the “on” part down into the well of the rim. Work around the tire. Use straps from toe clips to hold the tire in place as you continue to work your way around.

There are videos on YouTube that show how this is done.

Of course, I try this. It doesn’t work. Then I swear a whole bunch and push the rim with my thumbs until the skin comes off. This is why I don’t ride my Bike Friday when it’s cold outside. Nothing says misery like freezing your butt off and removing the skin from you thumbs.

FWIW I am going to slip a small bar of soap into my saddle bag.

Also, if all else fails, use your cell phone to get a ride home.

[ian74]

@Tania 155522 wrote:

It doesn’t seem to be the tires – I’ve had the issue (on these rims) with old school Maxxis Wormdrives, Clement MXP and Strada LGG’s.

The rims are so pretty and match the bike so well, I really don’t want them to be race-only rims (or a race only bike). But I know my other rims are much easier to work with so maybe that’s the way to go. Plus with this bike it’s a crime to race it tubed, so the pretty rims can stay tubeless with cx tires.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]13904[/ATTACH]

Here’s me advice! Buy another bike with rims that aren’t as difficult!!!!! You crazy bike-hoarding lady you.

[Tania]

@ian74 155571 wrote:

Here’s me advice! Buy another bike with rims that aren’t as difficult!!!!! You crazy bike-hoarding lady you.

I have no idea what you’re talking about. :rolleyes:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]13909[/ATTACH]

[Birru]

@Tania 155522 wrote:

The rims are so pretty and match the bike so well, I really don’t want them to be race-only rims (or a race only bike). But I know my other rims are much easier to work with so maybe that’s the way to go. Plus with this bike it’s a crime to race it tubed, so the pretty rims can stay tubeless with cx tires.[ATTACH=CONFIG]13904[/ATTACH]

I’m a big fan of Jamis’ brash colors and graphics on the Supernova series and I think it would be criminal to ruin the look of the bike for something as silly as practicality. I think if you change wheelsets you’ll be required to get some custom decals.

[Raymo853]

@anomad 155526 wrote:

Have you tried warming up the tires and putting ~100psi in them? Would be a grunt to fill to that pressure with a hand pump, but it could be done on the trail.

A 32c tire at 100 PSI might damage the rim. Many tubeless rims have PSI limitations. Plus lots of CX tires have pressure limits below that.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

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