I have successfully installed both Maxxis and Michelin tires via floor pump before, but I'm ready to throw the whole thing out after trying to get these Goodyear Newtons on my bike.
I have a co2 pump (Air Rush Road) that seems to be a better hunk of metal than a pump…
the rear took 3 carts before I gave up and was finally able to get seated via floor pump but this front has stumped me for hours and I even tried this am to get it done. I got blisters from pumping like a horny Chihuahua (thanks past Reddit post for that imagery).
Please help a gal out who is physically and mentally exhausted. I'm dreading returning home to see this in my kitchen still.
ps also have removed core to try and get more volume in.
by jobruski
25 Comments
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/installing-tubeless-tires-without-air-compressors-secrets-hacks-and-tips.1212443/
I always used to use ratchet straps around the tires to try and force the beads to the rim and reduce the places air volume can go. Dont tighten them too much but its worked for me.
I’ve never had an issue seating tires before but a little soapy water on the beads should help them seat easier.
When I cant seat a tire I install a tube, and use that to seat the bead. Then unseat 1 bead to remove the tube and install the tubeless valve. I usually can seat the second bead without too much trouble at that point.
Sometimes i spray the bead with soapy water.
Co2 is not recommended with Stan’s
Instead, while the tire is installed in the middle channel of the rim, get a small amount of sealant around both the inside bottoms of the rim, kind of like a lube for the bead to glide across before hitting the inside wall/lip of the rim. Then slowly work the tire beads out of the rim channel towards the walls of the rim. I usually push my thumbs down onto the rolling tread, while fingertips pull the sidewalls outward to get the bead closer and closer. Then a floor pump should get just enough air to finish the seal
Soapy water on a sponge run around the rim and bead to work as a lube. Used a couple of co2 cans and removed the valve core and was able to inflate with just floor pump
When I get to this point I used to go to my local petrol station and use their compressor. I now have my own mini compressor and seats them first time everytime.
My best tips are schwalbe or Maxxis tires.
Blasting CO2 and putting soapy water on the sidewall (bead) is how I usually seat difficult beads. From what I can tell, the CO2 mechanism on the air rush road isn’t great.
Recommendation: buy a cheap CO2 blaster and get a few bigger capacity CO2 cart (20~25g) so you can reseat the bead in the future. For now, take it to a bike shop and they can use compressed air to get it done within 2 min. They probably won’t even charge you.
Just stopped in to say remove the core (which you have done), and soapy water…even if its just a bottle of window cleaner.
I’ve never had an issue doing this with just a normal floor pump.
If you can swing $100 you can get a 3 gallon pancake air compressor, air tool starter kit and presta adapter from harbor freight. You’ll find plenty of other uses for it. Just a warning, they cheapest ones are VERY loud and take a while to fill up, but if you go up to the ultra quite model they are well worth it. I just upgraded to the 6 gallon fortress ultra quiet and I can run it in my garage without plugging my ears.
First off Goodyears….Woof. The Conti DH are hard to load as well fwiw.
My go to is soapy water in a sprayer, spray the whole bead and to the rim down so the tire can slide a bit. I have a Joe Blow booster pump that packs a 160psi blast to seat tires, you may need something like this or even an air compressor.
If the bead doesn’t seat right away i pinch everything into the middle of the wheel, make sure the valve is properly positioned and give’er from there.
I’ve always just used an air compressor with 100psi with a blower bit and leave the valve core out of the stem and just kinda press it up to it and spray it. Until I hear 2 pops.
find a way to turn that SodaStream into a mega Co2 Cannister, start a company for it, retire early and have fun riding bikes.
Use a compressor get a portable air tank about $40 for a portable tank, you can fill it with your pump. I also use a presta to schrader valve adapter with my compressor.
There are several valid ways to do it, but just skip to the endgame and go get a compressor.
Half seat (or more depending) the tire on both side 180° from each other.
I’ve had good luck with my Lezyne floor pump with attached air canister. Pump the canister up to 10-20psi more the tire needs and release into the tire all at once. Had seated Maxxis tires no problem. https://a.co/d/02QAbt9d
I bought an airshot, pump that up to 150 psi then let it rip. Seats everything that I haven’t been able to seat with the hand pump alone.
I used to use a Specialized Air Blaster which did the trick for most rim and tyre combos when I was still on 27.5” or smaller.
When I moved to 29” it struggled with anything over about 2.4” width.
I ended up getting a compressor which seats anything and everything first try. I recommend this just for ease of use but there are a few things you can try first.
1. Remove the valve core, this will let the maximum amount of air in as quick as possible. But when you take the pump off because there is no valve all the air will come rushing out which can cause the beads to get sucked back off the rim. So as you take the pump off block the hole off with a rag and let the air out slowly.
2. Use 3-4 toe straps evenly placed around the tyre. This will help reduce the volume of air needed to inflate it. Once it’s pushed the beads out then slacken the toe straps and inflate the rest of the way.
Lil baby compressor
https://preview.redd.it/531jg705j8sg1.jpeg?width=926&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a38d2394298bcf239075be868a9c81ec7cf5a7e
£110 from Amazon. Cheaper than many floor pumps with the built in chambers and not much more than an Airshot.
Works like a charm for seating tyres.
Try another layer of rim tape to create a tighter seal – maybe the tire bead is 1mm looser than the other brands?
Why isn’t it seating? Is the tyre baggy on the rim, is it seated on top of the valve, is there a kink from shipping?
Tyres should go up with a track pump, maybe a little soapy water.
Then decide you don’t care, and buy a compressor, they’re cheap second hand and
.. just ..
.. so ..
.. much ..
.. easier ..
A lot of people are gonna say a lot of things but the only truth is that nothing beats an air compressor I was on the same ship few years ago at some point I was getting really frustrated whenever I had to change tires but then I pulled the trigger and I got myself a cheap small Pancake air compressor, best decision of my life now I’m even exited to change tires or replace sealant every year