Ghetto Tubeless Tires

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Ghetto Tubeless Tires

Page Type: Article

Activities: Cross Country, Downhill, Mountain, Cyclocross

Page By: Freak-a-zoid

Created/Edited: Nov 25, 2007 / Dec 12, 2007

Object ID: 264737

Hits: 3012

Page Score: 88.63% - 11 Votes

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Go Tubeless Ghetto Tubeless

Go Tubeless Ghetto Tubeless

An easy mod to lighten up those wheels, free up some rotational mass. All with out sacrificing any reliability and also no more worries of pinch flats. You will also be able to run lower tire pressures for better traction. In Sedona this is the set up that almost every rider I ride with uses. Most of us use Maxxis 2ply tires usually Minions or Marzzochi tires..........Did I mention it will cost way less than any other tubless set up.

Items Needed

• Tire preferably one with a smooth bead (kenda tires do not work well) UST work well but actually so do most non UST as long as the bead is fairly smooth.
• 20” tube preferably with fully threaded schrader valve stem. (yes 20”)

• Fiber tape.

• Electrical tape.
• Stan’s solution

Tools Needed

• Utility knife
• Wheel Stand
• Air Compressor
• Scissors
• Valve removal tool
• Allen wrenches to remove wheel
• Spray Bottle with soapy water

Instructions

1. Remove wheel from bike
2. Remove tire & tube from wheel.
3. Remove rim strip.
4. Clean inside of rim thoroughly.
5. Take fiber tape and make at least two wraps around the inside of the rim each wrap offset from the other for good coverage, making sure to cover all holes inside the rim. We will later cut out the hole for the valve stem. This will replace the rim strip.
6. Now make at least two wraps with the electrical tape on top of the fiber tape, again offset for good coverage.
7. Find the valve stem hole and cut a hole through the tape.
8. Take the 20” tube inflate it slightly to give it structure. Now stretch the tube over the rim inserting the valve through the rim.
9. With the tube now appearing as a slick tire on the wheel take the scissors and cut the tube down the middle all the way around. When done you will have a flap hanging over either side of the rim.
10. Clean off the powder inside the tube.
11. Generously coat the tube with soapy water and mount the tire on the rim over the tube, making sure the flap of tube is still hanging over the rim and to not cut the tube in the process.
12. Now remove the valve core and take the air hose and fill up the tire with air to seat the bead. The tire should inflate and hold air bubbling lightly from the bead. (Intense 4ply tires require extremely high pressure to seat the bead, I was unsuccessful with my local bike shops compressor had to use tire shops compressor.)
13. Take the Stan’s solution and fill the tire according to directions from Stan’s. (2oz for 2.35 and smaller 4oz for 2.5 and larger)
14. Reinstall the valve core and fill tire with 35psi. Spin & shake tire to distribute Stan’s solution.
15. Tire should not leak or continue to spin and leaks should disappear.
16. Flap of 20” tube should be uniformly sticking out of tire bead seam. Place wheel on stand and carefully trim the flap at the bead edge, careful to not cut your tire.
17. Reinstall your wheel and set your tire pressure.

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Treetrimmer

Tubless

Voted 8/10

Have you had any burping problems with this set up? Or any other issues? How often do you service the tire/sealant? I have never run tubeless and like what I see.

Posted Dec 23, 2008 12:17 am

BeDrinkable

Thanks!

Voted 10/10

That is an excellent solution for going tubeless without an investment of too much cash! I'm definitely going to give this a shot when the snow finally melts.

Posted Dec 26, 2008 12:47 pm

rustybike

Heaven for tubeless freaks !

Hasn't voted

Recently I added a tubeless "Michelin" tire that was given to me as the stuff to take along in case all else fails. The only problem was trying to creat the proper hook-up so it would actually be a real tubeless tire !

Thank God you came along to help !

By the way, I tend to ride on hot pavement more than on gravel and I had remarked that a burning rubber smell sets in after a good day of riding in hot sunny weather. I was wondering if there are some true high quality rubber tires that can withstand the summer heat to last more than a month !

Mind you with the proper pressure such a problem should not really exist.

Unfortunately I overstuff my bike with luggage which bring up the weight to way over the limit at least once it comes down to putting the right pressure...

I thought that considering the nominal increase in cost of having refractory rubber (which I presume also contains an abrasive)some companies would adopt such a formulation for longer lasting tires...

Are there any affordable tires that really last longer ?

Posted Oct 1, 2009 4:36 pm

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