How To Go Tubeless
If you have never tried riding tubeless tires, you’re missing out. Tubeless tires allow riders to run lower pressures without fear of the dreaded “snakebite” flat, where the tire compresses against the rim, resulting in a two-hole shot to the inner tube that looks exactly like a snake leapt out from the side of the trail to ruin your ride.
We’d put tubeless tires right up there with the best innovations that improve ride quality, such as suspension forks, carbon frames, disc brakes and mid-ride chocolate chip cookies. The trouble is, tubeless tires can be finicky. They often refuse to seal. They leak, and the sealant dries up. Fortunately, with a bit of know-how and preventive maintenance, you can enjoy the awesome benefits of tubeless tires without the headaches. We’ll show you how.
1-The main reasons for running a tubeless setup are to reduce the number of flat tires and take advantage of lower pressures for improved traction. Be sure to check tire pressure before every ride with more than just a squeeze test. Even if you simply use a floor pump with a gauge, your tire pressure will be much more consistent. You get bonus points if you invest in a digital gauge like this one from SKS.
20-If you’re having trouble getting the tire beads to slide into place, it’s best to lubricate them. For this, we like to use diluted dish soap in a water bottle.
24-If you’re having leaking problems from the valve, it’s okay to tighten the valve nut. This will pull the valve in and could solve the leaking issue. However, don’t forget that if you do flat on the trail, you may still have to install a tube to get home. Don’t over-tighten any valve to the point where you can’t remove it for a trailside fix.