This is my first nail removal. Had a few thorns already and they sealed fine also.
Before I converted to tubeless i read a lot here and other places and many people seemed to just be having a shit time with tubeless. Enough good reviews I tried it out anyway.
Has the quality improved over the years?
And in my case here should I consider anything now the nail is out.
I haven't bought plugs or tool yet either and they all seem to look the same but with different style handles.
Thanks
Is this a typical experience with modern sealant and tyres or just luck?
byu/MacTally inbikewrench
by MacTally
6 Comments
I’d say so. I have 5700km on my current tires. The rear has cuts and gashes all over it. The only time I’ve had a so much as slow leak was last week when the sealant dried up. Put more sealant in and it’s been holding air for days.
I don’t even get the complaints of it being messy. It’s as simple as filling a syringe with the amount you want, removing the presta valve, putting a hose over the open valve stem and letting it all drain into the tire. Reverse order, fill with air and a couple min later you’re done.
IMO the plugs are all pretty similar, and frankly none of them are much more sophisticated than the plugs you can buy at auto parts stores. I will say that using rubber cement on the plugs makes for an essentially permanent fix because it vulcanizes the rubber and makes a permanent bond. There’s also a chance the sealant in the tire will just plug holes like this but that’s a pretty large puncture and it may continue to open up periodically while you ride. I’d probably plug it personally. You can also patch the tire from the inside but it’s more work since you need to pull the tire.
I removed a thorn last year and it wouldn’t seal till I found another thorn nearby and stuck it in the hole. Carried on, all ok.
Luck
Sealant works incredibly well, especially in high-volume, low pressure situations. If the hole won’t seal, then you plug it and the tire is still useful. Every thorn would likely have been a punctured inner tube. Lower psi enhances tire performance with no pinch flat risk.
Those are all legitimate benefits. Some people just can’t handle it.
This video is oddly satisfying to watch.