Road Bike Tubeless tires are a fantastic upgrade to any road bike. Benefits include increased grip, lower rolling resistance and increased puncture resistance. Our tubeless tire fitting service is a quick and easy introduction to the world of road bike tubeless tires however we often receive questions about tubeless tyre maintenance and puncture repair.

 

The aim of this blog is to answer some of the most common questions and give you a better understanding of the practicalities of running tubeless tires.

A huge advantage of road bike tubeless tires is the reduced risk of puncture. There are two reasons for this, firstly as there is no inner tube the risk of pinch punctures is totally eliminated. The second reason is the latex sealant used ensures that the tire remains airtight and is sealed to the wheel rim. The sealant contains tiny rubber particles that plug holes and repair punctures on the go. They are designed to seal holes up to approximately 2 mm wide so for most common punctures such as a small piece of glass, stone or a thorn the sealant will instantly block the hole sealing the puncture. Often you will be unaware that you have even had a puncture and it’s not until you finish your ride and spot a small damp patch on the tyre that you realise the sealant has sealed a hole.

 

Of course tubeless tires are not totally puncture resistant and the sealant will struggle to repair larger tire cuts. The high air pressure can force the sealant through rather than sealing larger holes. The pressure may drop slightly in the tire as some air is lost and thus also allow the sealant to seal the hole and it is still possible to ride home on tires with around 60 psi in them. However, there are a couple of quick and easy solutions to get you back up and running if you are unfortunate enough to suffer from a tire cut that won't seal.

Tubeless Plug kits are a quick and easy method of fixing a tubeless puncture. Essentially the tubeless plug kit is a piece of rubberised cord that you force into the tire cut. The plug fills the hole in and allows the latex sealant to work sealing the puncture. The tubeless plug kit is a very quick and easy way to fix a punctured tubeless tire on the road side and you can continue to use the tire for many miles after the repair.

The most common method of fixing a tubeless puncture is to simply fit an inner tube. This repair is a quick and easy way to get you home. You will have to remove the tubeless valve by undoing the lock ring and then fit a new inner tube as you would with a standard clincher wheel. Remember to check that there is nothing sharp on the inside of the tire such as glass or sharp stones as the sealant may well have sealed numerous other punctures with the sharp object still in place. Just make sure you have a spare tube with you out on your rides and make sure the valve is long enough if you are using deep section rims.

Once home (after fitting an inner tube &/or tire boot) it is possible to repair smaller cuts in a tubeless tire with tube patches. We will often secure the patch and reinforce the tyre by applying duct tape to the rear of the repair (inside tire) and even sometimes using superglue to seal the tread back together, however please check with your tire manufacturers advice on this before undertaking such a repair.