Tubeless Tyre Question

[Jimmi]

Hi Guys, I have just removed my innertubes and gone tubeless for the first time. It was very easy to do with the Specialized 2Bliss tyres. My question is......Is it possible to use any tyre tubeless, or is there something I need to look out for when buying new tyres?
Sorry if this is a totally noob question!

 

[Japuserid]

Pretty much any tire can be installed tubeless, but generally non tubeless spec (cheap) tyres tend to be quite porous on the side walls and therefore need a lot more fluid and time installing to make them airtight.

 

[Jimmi]

Thanks??

 

[villho]

Also tubeless-ready Spec tires can become quite porous

 

[Jimmi]

What happened?

 

[villho]

A sharp rock happened.

 

[SteveVentoux]

To be honest, pretty much any tyre will succumb to a sharp rock, there is only so thick they can make the side walls, it's a pretty rare occurrence thankfully, but a complete git when it happens! I always carry £20 with me now since it happened to me a few years back and had to get the wife to drive out and collect me, total ride-ending situation, short of carrying a spare tyre. £20 for an UBER home!

 

[villho]

Instead of 20 £ (well, of course you need to carry money, so that you can buy a cup of coffee on a break), one should carry a spare tube. I had one today and I simply put that in and we were off again. I don't leave home without a tubeless patch kit, a spare tube + pump, chain tool + links, derailleur hanger and zip ties and some gorilla tape.

I’m patching today’s victim and trusting it still has some life left:

 

[SteveVentoux]

Wow, that's an epic repair! Thanks for the tips, I do carry all that other stuff, but if the split is too bad, a spare tube just bubbles through of course. I've never tried a tubeless repair kit though, didn't realise it was possible as surely the integrity of the tyre is ruined ? I'd be replacing the tyre after the ride, but as a get you home solution, I guess it's worth looking into. Which kit do you recommend for this please ?

 

[villho]

For trailside fix with a tube, just take an old tire and cut a "patch" out of it to carry in a backbag. You can put that patch between the cut and the tube and the tube will not bubble out. The actual tubeless fix kit is for those holes that are too big for the sealant to plug, but which are salvageable on the trail without putting a tube in. This time the cut was of course too wide for those as well, so in with a tube.

And reg. the actual repair, before I glued the real patch in, I did some stiching with strong string to add some strength. This was the first time I did this, but I asked experiences from my comrades and they all said that it will be good. I'm going to pop the tire back today, so we'll see.

 

[smokey_jo]

For Trailside tyre tear repairs I take a piece of old toothpaste tube cut and flattened out which can go between split in the tyre and tube if too big for the sealant to manage. The new £5 and £10 notes that are made of plastic would probably work ok too.

 

[SteveVentoux]

Thanks guys, some good tips right there