Hi there
I've been working on a neglected bike for a few days. I changed the tires 2 years ago but never used the bike since. They were new, but I don't know when they were made. They are Panaracer Gravelkings.
The issue is sealant keeps leaking from the sidewall of the rear tire, always around the same area. There's no visible puncture, only barely visible holes where bubbles come from. I've added fresh sealant (2 year old unopened bottle, shaken vigorously), spun the wheel to spread the sealant, let sealant dry overnight, but when I try reinflating the tire the sealant always fails around 45 PSI. I tried riding the bike but the tire is flat in under 3 minutes, so it's not really an option.
I've been at it for 5 days now, I can't find a solution. Looks like the sidewall is too porous or something. I can't find anything regarder that particular issue.
Is it a lost cause ? Is there something else I can try before I buy a new tire ?
by DianaRig
5 Comments
A tube!
Go for a ride.
I had trouble getting a tire to seal, went to a park and did a 5 mile loop, checked my pressure every mile or so but that did the trick for me.
Are you sure the tire is fully seated?
Not all models of Gravelkings were/are tubeless compatible.
Which *specific* model are these?
If it’s one particular spot, and there is no visible damage to the tyre, you could try an inner tube patch kit on the inside of the tyre, one of the proper ones with the glue. Clean the tyre thoroughly, gently rough it up, and put a few thin layers of the glue over the porous area. It might also be worth trying some new sealant, as I’m very surprised that it’s not sealing a porous sidewall, that doesn’t bode well for hoping it’ll seal a potentially much larger puncture on the trail.