How to Change a Tubeless Tire on a Road Bike
Serious cyclists use tubeless tires on their bikes to have more control and tighten the response time when riding rough terrain. The tires generally are used by serious riders. Because of their construction, the tires can be expensive. However, installing tubeless tires is not too different from installing regular bike tires.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Universal System for Tubeless (UST) tire
- UST rim
- Tire sealant
- Air compressor
- Pliers
- Soap
- Water
Instructions
-
-
1
Slide one side of the tire onto the rim as you would a regular tire.
-
2
Press the other side of the tire onto the rim. Start pushing the lip on the side of the tire opposite to the valve. This process will be more difficult than the first side. Lubricate the tire and rim by lightly wetting it with soapy water. Try not to use tire levers to finish the installation, because tubeless tires are much more vulnerable to damage. Use tire levers as a last resort.
-
-
3
Fill the tire quickly with the air compressor. Tubeless tires require a quick jolt of air pressure, much more than what could be achieved with a regular bike pump. Fill the tire up to 40 psi to fit the bead seal on the tire within the rim seal.
-
4
Deflate the tire. Check whether the bead is locked into the seat. If it is not sealed, repeat this step.
-
5
Inflate the tire again up to normal pressure between 20 to 35 psi. Loosen the inner pin of the valve with a pair of piers and remove it. Trim the tip of the sealant tube to fit the valve securely.
-
6
Check the instructions for your UST tire and rim for information on the right amount of sealant. Push the tip of the sealant bottle into the valve. Squeeze the correct amount of sealant into the tire. Use the air compressor to push a small amount of air through the valve to clear any sealant.
-
7
Replace the valve core and tighten it with the pliers. Replace the valve cap and spin the wheel to distribute the sealant throughout.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Always carry a spare tubeless tire. Tubeless tires can't be patched like regular tube tires.
Use caution when operating air compressors. Use them according to the manufacturer's instructions.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit chambre à air mountain bike image by Lounatiq from Fotolia.com
