Tire Talk: Tips and Tricks ...

by Tracy Hug

While we were on the Coast Range Gravel Adventure, there was a lot of talk about tires: width of tire, tire pressure and tubed versus tubeless. With the ride being a mixed terrain ride, the majority of riders were riding bikes with tubeless tires.

For a 101 on tubeless tires and the pros and cons, see the article by MVBC's David Lerman from the September 2021 newsletter Tubeless 101.

Apparently I'm known for getting flat tires (tubed and tubeless!) and I can change them, but I'm slow at it. Fortunately, I often ride with ride leader Betty Tucker and she can change a tire in no time flat! (Pun intended.) Now, I've been riding tubeless about two years and I'm still learning the tips and tricks so decided it would be good to share some things I've learned. 

Silly terminology!

Not all tires are tubeless compatible, but many are. There are different notations on the tire depending on manufacturer. 

I won't go into all of them here but I'll tell you an embarrassing story: I had a set of tires and they didn't say "TR" on them (what I had seen on my other tires to indicate they are "tubeless ready." The words printed on the tire were 2Bliss. Apparently, my brain did not see the connection until it was pointed out to me (hint: read 2Bliss aloud if you are still having trouble!) This link has a long FAQ about tubeless tires, including Tubeless abbreviations. 

Plugs, bacon, darts, dynaplugs: these are all things to help fill the puncture if the sealant alone isn't enough.  This is a whole other topic to explore! Google away! Yes, they look like bacon!

Let the sealant do it's job!

The sealant is in the tube for a reason. In the past, if sealant was spurting out, I would stop and use a plug to fix it: I have bacon, I have Stans Darts but I finally realized the hole I was creating to put in the plug was sometimes bigger than the original hole. Some wise-person, aka: Robert Williams (long-term MVBC-member and my first loop tour SAG), rode by my leaky tire and said, "just ride it." It wasn't a big leak and it quickly sealed. Aha! That's what this sealant is supposed to do! Also putting the puncture down, when stopped helps the sealant pool to the spot that it's needed. 

Another ride friend told me, "Every time I have a sealant leak, I just think, 'Oh, that's a flat tire that I didn't have to stop and fix.'" I like that mindset!

I picked up another tip that if you rub some dirt on the hole, that can also help seal it. This has worked for me but I've also read you should clean the dirt off, so maybe it was just a coincidence! 

Choose your air pressure

Part of the allure of tubeless is being able to decrease your air pressure for rocky surfaces to get a smoother ride and improve your contact with the surface. All tires will have a pressure range listed on them and you can check the manufactures website for exact details of your tire. Within the recommended range, there are multitude of factors that go into your choice of pressure. A simple, easy place I found to start is at tire pressure calculator on the Rene Herse website.   A more detailed guide is at GrvlBicycle. 

Check your sealant level

Sealant does dry out over time and should be checked every 3-6 months (depending on climate, etc.). While we were in camp on the CRGA, Peter Wendell had a clever way of checking sealant level: using a cut-off zip tie as a dip-stick. Yes, this requires a valve core remover (which I do carry) and extra sealant in case you need it (yes, I have that too!) I found this helpful video from Park Tools about tubeless tire installation and checking your sealant level with the zip tire method.

Sometimes new tires will weep along the tire or sidewall. This can also be true of older tires. This means you need to add sealant more often. 

What about the sealant mess?

There was someone with a latex allergy on the trip and when my tire was leaking, this rider backed off. At the time, I didn't know if my sealant was natural latex or a synthetic. Turns out, Stans NoTubes is natural latex. Not a problem for me, but now I feel more informed if I have a leak and someone with a latex allergy is riding behind me in the sealant vapor trail!

I've heard concerns about having to put a tube into a tire with the mess of sealant. In two years of riding tubeless, I've (knock on wood) never had a flat that didn't seal itself or I used bacon or a Stans Dart on. 

This video shows the way to put a tube in a tubeless tire: is there a bit of mess from the sealant? Yes. The suggestion from the video is if you're on the trail, use leaves or a clump of grass to help get the sealant out of the tire (if it's eco-friendly sealant). After removing the sealant, putting the tube is the same as if you're riding a tubed tire. Putting a tube in a tubeless tire.

What can I do to help if my tubeless friend has a tubeless leak?

If you see a leak, mention it. Sometimes I can hear a leak happening but sometimes there's too much noise around to hear it. Sometimes I can feel the back of my knee getting sticky (think Elastigirl!)

If you don't have a latex allergy, offer to put a finger on the leaking spot. The goal is to not lose too much air while the rider looks for their plug of choice. 

Whatever you choose to use, tubes, tubeless or the next great thing that comes along, a little knowledge, an inflation method, a few tools and a willingness to learn can help you enjoy the roll!