Tubeless Conversion

[50 Mission Cap]

How difficult would it be to take a traditional tubed set of mtb rims, and make them tubeless?

[rockyrider]

Fairly easy...

Stan's Tubeless kit (http://www.notubes.com/tubeless_system.php)

DT Swiss kit (http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=4604&category=204)

[myron]

I cant link you to it from work,but a member of the AMTBC forum posted a nifty article about home built DIY tubeless conversions.

Cap, do you also race Clinton or just the River Trail. I've only had two flats at the river in prolly a couple hundred rides. Clinton is another story, couple hundred flats every few rides...

Be carefull on the banked roller coaster turns/dips at the river. On the high side of the bank there is a ton of burried glass in the dirt. I lost a pair of verticle pro's one day by taking a bit of a higher line than normal. I tried to dig the glass out of the ground,but the more I dug, the more I found. It's an old farm dumpsite. Lot's of old greenish glass along with a few broken Bromoseltzer bottles. That ride cost me $100 and ended after 100 yards...

[rockyrider]

some tire sealant might be in order...

[50 Mission Cap]

I cant link you to it from work,but a member of the AMTBC forum posted a nifty article about home built DIY tubeless conversions.

Cap, do you also race Clinton or just the River Trail. I've only had two flats at the river in prolly a couple hundred rides. Clinton is another story, couple hundred flats every few rides...

Be carefull on the banked roller coaster turns/dips at the river. On the high side of the bank there is a ton of burried glass in the dirt. I lost a pair of verticle pro's one day by taking a bit of a higher line than normal. I tried to dig the glass out of the ground,but the more I dug, the more I found. It's an old farm dumpsite. Lot's of old greenish glass along with a few broken Bromoseltzer bottles. That ride cost me $100 and ended after 100 yards...


Will for sure be careful next time out there. Was out there with a few buddies last thursday... hell of a little ride (the river). So quick and tight!!

Thanks for the tips guys!

Mick

[2dumb4gears]

I've done the DIY option myself (though not the way posted on MTBR).

My conclusion: Stan's works pretty well, and it's cheap enough taht it isn't worth the heart-ache to make your own rim strips. Just order the kit.

The best option seems to be UST rims w/normal tires and the sealant, but the rim strips in a normal rim work really well too (just a bit more hassle to set up).
Have fun!

[bitchslapmadman]

forget about converting a cincher.
Buy UST rims, tyres and Stan's and do the real tubeless. The other is a band aid solution.
If you are head strong on converting do it inexpensively:

madman's simple converts.....
parts needed:
lx tape
one 24" tube
one jug Stan's sealant
one box cutter
How to:
1-take off old tyre and tube
2-run lx tape over the spoke holes twice leaving the valve hole free from tape.
3-install 24" tube and screw on valve nut
4-cut the tube down the center all the way around and let it unfold over the rim edges
5-install new tyre just like you are mounting a UST leaving a gap for the sealant
6-pour a huge cup of Stans into the tyre
7-seal and inflate
8-cut off excess tyre that sticks out the sides

the entire job will cost under 30 bux/tyre and should be done in about a half an hour per tyre.
hope that is understandable.
madman

[bigpedaler]

call stan's kit a band-aid if you want, but it works for me, and saves rotating weight.

your home-brew method is astonishingly similar to an idea i tossed around before saying 'screw it! get the stan's!'

a bud used packaging tape w/ the nylon in it (a whole roll per wheel), a UST valve stem, and UST tires. he races that setup, has a year on it.

different strokes for different folks.

[plume_mtb]

call stan's kit a band-aid if you want, but it works for me, and saves rotating weight.

your home-brew method is astonishingly similar to an idea i tossed around before saying 'screw it! get the stan's!'

a bud used packaging tape w/ the nylon in it (a whole roll per wheel), a UST valve stem, and UST tires. he races that setup, has a year on it.

different strokes for different folks.

That's what I said until I coughed up the dough for a UST set up. The conversion works, but nothing like a UST rim + UST tire. I'm totally sold on it.

[LeeMcGough]

So, if I convert standard rims, should I purchase tubeless tires, or is that not compatible with a standard rim (obviously, I know nothing about tubeless tires). I got ssssssooooooo many flats in the last couple of years, and am excited by the prospect of getting back to back rides in without having to fix flats every ride (goddamned thorns!).

[LeeMcGough]

Never mind, I just checked Stan's site, and it says there I can use whatever tires I damned well please. Very good:)

[plume_mtb]

Um, not sure I would use a UST tire on a non-ust rim. Hm, not sure about that one. any one here done it?

[LeeMcGough]

Oh, I just meant I don't need to limit my choices to ust tires. I can run standard tires on standard rims, with the Stan's kit.

[rockyrider]

Some Kenda non-UST tires have had problems delaminating when exposed to Stan's fluid, it depended on rubber compound. There were quite a few posts on MTBR and I think www.mtbtires.com had some info on it.

[LeeMcGough]

I am going to give Schwalbe some of my money this year. Well, I already bought their Ice Spikers, so I guess that should read, "some more of my money". I like the Spikers so much, I am going to see what they have in the way of a mud tire next. That will do till around, oh, I dunno, June, then I will look for something fast rolling for July and August, before putting the mud tires back on.

[Joshua Pattersnap]

Um, not sure I would use a UST tire on a non-ust rim. Hm, not sure about that one. any one here done it?

UST tires on non-UST rims work fine, they just fit a little tighter.

I've had excellent luck with Stan's but think there's room for improvement.

[LeeMcGough]

Some Kenda non-UST tires have had problems delaminating when exposed to Stan's fluid, it depended on rubber compound. There were quite a few posts on MTBR and I think www.mtbtires.com had some info on it.

Having tried Kendas (only once , admittedly) , I am going to avoid them like the plague. Continentals and Schwalbes have treated me well, so that is where I plan to spend future tire $.

[Ripp]

Having tried Kendas (only once , admittedly) , I am going to avoid them like the plague. Continentals and Schwalbes have treated me well, so that is where I plan to spend future tire $.

WOW! That's the first completely negative comment I've heard about Kenda tires since getting into MTBing 3 years ago. Not sure if the media has snowed so many riders that the things I hear tend to be all positive, or if you had a somewhat unique experience for whatever reason, but I know that my StickE Nevegals are the best of the three MTB tires I've ridden personally.

I'd be interested to hear what tire you used in what conditions and what your experience was Lee. I'm in no way an all knowing source of MTB info (that would be RR:), but I like to gather all the info I can.

[funnytanlines]

i've seen Kenda UST tires develop blisters or "tumors" using Stan's, but not with the regular tires. i've converted Karma's and Short Trackers without any problems. a friend of mine had the same problem with Maxxis as well.

i'd also pay attention to Stan's recommended & not recommended lists.

http://www.notubes.com/support_tire.php

i've seen IRC tires strip off the rim (not recommended) and have heard the same story about Panaracer (not on either list)

[BMAC]

I've had good luck with Panaracer Fire pros and Cinders with Stans,tried to get some Kenda's DTC to seal up but the side walls had so many air holes that I gave up.I do run Stans in some tubes also.

[althegud1srtakn]

WOW! That's the first completely negative comment I've heard about Kenda tires since getting into MTBing 3 years ago. Not sure if the media has snowed so many riders that the things I hear tend to be all positive, or if you had a somewhat unique experience for whatever reason, but I know that my StickE Nevegals are the best of the three MTB tires I've ridden personally.

I'd be interested to hear what tire you used in what conditions and what your experience was Lee. I'm in no way an all knowing source of MTB info (that would be RR:), but I like to gather all the info I can.

i think it's just that he's converting them into tubeless tires, which they weren't made for.

with that said, i've had 2 kenda cyclocross tires' sidewalls blow out on me, and their road tires are complete crap. but for my mountain bike they're the only thing i ride