A number of factors can impact how well your tubeless setup seals and retains air. It is normal for even the heaviest duty tires with large amounts of sealant to lose small amounts of air over the course of a 24 hour period. Lighter weight tires with thinner casings will lose air faster.
Critical Factors
The majority of issues we see with tubeless sealing come from the following:
- Rim tape - Tape must be fully seated in rim well with no creases or damage which would permit air to escape into the rim itself
- Valve stems - Valves should be properly seated and tightened per the manufacturer specification
- Inadequately mixed sealant - It's critical to mix/shake sealant before being installed in the tire. This distributes the critical particulate matter which has settled on the bottom of the bottle
Troubleshooting your tubeless setup
Here are some steps to follow if you are having issues getting your setup to retain air:
- Verify that your rim tape is correctly installed with no tears or seams which might allow air to seep into your rim.
- Verify that your valve is properly installed and tightened
- If sealant is emerging from one or more spoke holes, the valve may need to be better sealed
- Verify that you are using AT MINIMUM the volume of sealant recommended for your tire size by the sealant manufacture.
- Inflate your tire to the tire mfg's maximum recommended pressure and ride the bike for 10 min or spin the tire on the bike or in a stand for 10 minutes continuously to ensure the sealant is fully coating the inner surface.
- It is normal to see sealant emerge from pinholes in the tire sidewall as the sealant starts to do it's job. That's what it's for!
- Over the first days and weeks that the new tire is installed, it is possible that you will lose a bit of air overnight. This will improve as the wheel is ridden and the sealant creates a thicker coating.
- Remember, no matter how well your sealant is working, it is important to check your tire pressure before every ride with a digital pressure gauge.
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