For the tubeless tyre experts out there

[taxidriver50005]

Recently fitted tubeless michelin wild am tyres to my bike, one week later spotted tyre sealent coming out of sidewalls of tyres... Surely this can't be normal on new tyres

 

[KeithR]

Wouldn't expect it on tubeless-ready tires, but on non TR tires, this is just what you might see. It's the sealant doing its job.

Are your Michelins definitely tubeless ready?

 

[taxidriver50005]

Wouldn't expect it on tubeless-ready tires, but on non TR tires, this is just what you might see. It's the sealant doing its job.

Are your Michelins definitely tubeless ready?

2 bikes 4 tyres all doing the same and yup tubeless ready.... All holding air that's why I was surprised

 

[steve_sordy]

This is why you need a latex based sealant. I can remember being laughed at on another Forum (several years ago now) when I told of seeing 1000nds of mini-volcanoes of white foam erupting from a sidewall that was covered in soapy water. "It's a rubber tyre, how can it possibly be porous?" was a typical if more polite than usual reply.

That was a Maxxis Igniter, probably not TR. I don't believe that TR was a thing then as Maxxis had their own version of Mavic's UST tyre. Maxxis called it the LUST.

Mavic UST = Universal System Tubeless
Maxxis LUST = Lightweight Ultimate Sidewall Technology

 

[FSEngineer]

I've had this with Maxxis and Schwalbe tyres using Stans sealant, but not had any issues with Muc Off sealant with any brands (including Michelin Wild Enduro/E-Wild). Didn't seem to cause any issues, more of a slight annoyance than anything else

 

[MrPeaski]

The Mavic UST system needed specially shaped UST rim beds, but you didn't need tape and were designed to be run without the need for sealant. Most users did though for when the inevitable puncture did happen.

For the OP, I had that happen on a set of 3.8" Bontrager Hodag fatbike tyres with Stans sealant, but it was after about 12 months and was from running them at 2-3psi. The actual threads could be seen on the outer walls, used to get quite a bit of weeping, but the tyres still held air ok, just needed a bit of monitoring

 

[p3eps]

I had this on the stock Specialized tyres on my Stumpjumper a couple of years ago. The LBS claimed for them under warranty (I think they were Butchers?), and they gave me 2 brand new ones - and had to cut up the leaky ones as part of Spesh’s warranty!

They were advised by Spesh to use Stan's Racing Sealant, and it has much bigger particles and won’t bleed through the walls. I’ve used it since.

Funnily enough, my Stumpy had a broken spoke in lockdown, and I took it to a different LBS (also a Spesh agent), and their wheel specialist repaired It and gave me it back. Within a couple of days, the sealant was bleeding through the walls. On my visit the following week, I asked what sealant they use - and it was MucOff.

I swapped it back over to Stan’s Racing... and it hasn’t bled since.

I’ve got Stan’s Racing in my Wild Enduro Gum tyres, and have no bleeding.

 

[ebnash]

This is totally normal for tubeless setup. I've been running tubeless for over 10 years now and still see this, even months later after I've done an aggressive ride and ran lower than normal pressures.

Tubeless Ready just means that there is a layer to help with sealing and that the bead is meant for tubeless use. I've run loads of tires tubeless (even tires that were not rated tubeless in the early days). Some tires will have absolutely no seepage and some bleed like a stuck hog and take weeks and multiple rides to seal up. Tires are built in batches and have a wildly wide range of acceptable specifications. 2 exact same tires purchased at the same time will sometimes be visibly different in width.

I have only used Stans and Orange sealant. I prefer Stans...

My only suggestion is that if your bike is going to go through long terms of no riding, that you go spin up the wheels a couple times a week to keep the sealant moving. Otherwise, is clumps and dries...

 

[Jamze]

Had this too with WTB tyres and Stans sealant (normal). Seemed to be more noticeable when the weather was good and it got really hot in the workshop. Tyres still held pressure though.

Now trying Orange Seal on the new bike, be interested to see if it does the same.

 

[dochabanero]

Had this on Maxxis 120tpi tires. Sealant leaking out the sidewalls. Switching sealant to Milkit solved the issue.

 

[OldBean]

Quite normal.....mine look like that after riding farm trails after hedge cutting.......Riding in stubble gave me quite a large cut in the sidewall.....that stuff is sharp ..beware. Tyre plug fixed it but tyre now sports quite a number of them.
Another vote for Stans race ...only one that works for me.
Tyre inserts now seem to be a necessity as a "get you home" insurance .......any recommendations for trail riding?

 

[Fuellerr]

I've had some tires bleed like this and some don't but in all cases just ride the bike it will stop

 

[urastus]

Maxxis exo on the front has does this; my own latex mix. No pressure loss, all is good . I'd only ever run exo on the front tubeless, and then with 1psi more than I do with a tube; they're useless on the rear tubeless.

 

[taxidriver50005]

Well as long as it's considered normal I will leave alone, was worried I had got a bad batch.....considering tubeless is the no hassle tyre recommendation for embts I've never used the track pump as much in my life ????

 

[Mikerb]

Strange...I have just fitted Michelin Wild Enduros on my bike ( front and rear specific) and no sidewall seepage on them ( using Stans).

 

[willeco]

Very strange to read that it is considered 'normal'. I ride tubeless for many years (mostly Schwalbe and lately Maxxis).
I have never seen this...completely new to me.

 

[urastus]

Very strange to read that it is considered 'normal'. I ride tubeless for many years (mostly Schwalbe and lately Maxxis).
I have never seen this...completely new to me.

I think it would depend on the tyre construction. Eg, what type of maxxis tyres do you run tubeless? I have exo; very light weight and no good on the rear tubeless. I'd go exo+ on the front next time - the exo seems to be doing OK; + isn't a huge step up. On the rear I think I'll stay with tannus insert and exo.

 

[RazorBlade]

its what id expect to see on a TL compatible not a TL ready tire. it will seal up eventually though.

 

[KeithR]

Very strange to read that it is considered 'normal'. I ride tubeless for many years (mostly Schwalbe and lately Maxxis).
I have never seen this...completely new to me.

Yeah, same here. Off the top of my head I've had Maxxis, Schwalbe, Specialized, Continental and Hutchinson on my bikes over the years, and I've never had sealant seepage from the sidewall of a TR tire.

 

[KeithR]

its what id expect to see on a TL compatible not a TL ready tire. it will seal up eventually though.

This.

 

[KeithR]

I think it would depend on the tyre construction. Eg, what type of maxxis tyres do you run tubeless? I have exo; very light weight and no good on the rear tubeless.

I've got EXO front and rear on my Cube Stereo - Minion SS on the back, High Roller on the front - and no seepage, using Joe's eco sealant on this bike.

 

[taxidriver50005]

I wouldn't have thought type or brand of sealent would make any difference, its just the fact it's leaking to start with had me concerned the tyres were faulty.... Incidentally I'm using slime sealent.

 

[KeithR]

I wouldn't have thought type or brand of sealent would make any difference,

Might do - some are a lot less viscous, and so more likely to work through the micropores of a sidewall.

 

[steve_sordy]

I wouldn't have thought type or brand of sealent would make any difference, its just the fact it's leaking to start with had me concerned the tyres were faulty.... Incidentally I'm using slime sealent.

I know from personal experience that although Slime sealant is good and does not go off like latex sealants can do, it is not as good as latex at sealing the sidewalls.