Tubeless tires are designed to seal to the wheel rim so that you don't need an inner tube to inflate them. This is especially useful for bikes with larger tires. When repairing a puncture in a tubeless bicycle tire, use a tire repair kit specifically formulated for tubeless tires. Patch kits for inner tubes will not work because they rely on the pressure between the inner tube and tire itself to keep the patch in place. With the right repair kit and equipment, you can repair your tubeless tire in less than an hour.
Step 1
Remove the wheel from the bicycle. Place the cargo strap around the tread of the tire and tighten it to re-establish the seal on the tire bead. Inflate the tire and then spray it with the soap solution in the spray bottle.
Step 2
Examine the tire for bubbling to locate the puncture. If the puncture is small, fix it with a patch. If too large to repair with a patch, replace the tire. Mark the puncture point in the tire. Deflate the tire completely.
Step 3
Break the tire bead away from the wheel rim on both sides with your hands. Lift the tire up and work one of the beads over the wheel rim. Work around the rim with your hands to remove the bead from the rim. Avoid using tire levers or other tools to remove the bead because they can damage the tire.
Step 4
Press the other bead over the same rim of the tire with your hands to remove the tire completely. Turn the tire inside out.
Step 5
Locate the puncture on the inside of the tire. Sand the area with the sandpaper in the repair kit to roughen the inner surface. Ensure that you sand an area large enough to allow a margin around the patch. Clean the area thoroughly with alcohol. Allow the alcohol to dry.
Step 6
Apply vulcanizing fluid from the patch kit liberally around the leak site. Spread the fluid evenly across the entire area, larger than the size of the patch itself. Let the fluid dry completely.
Step 7
Remove the backing from the patch material in the kit. Place the patch flatly and evenly over the hole. Press the patch down firmly and hold it in place to ensure it adheres to the tire properly. Allow the patch to bond completely.
Step 8
Turn the tire right side out. Push both beads back on the wheel rim, working around one bead, then the other with your thumbs. Press the beads of the tire into the rim channel in the center of the rim. Spray the tire again with soapy water. Place the cargo strap on the tire again and inflate the tire. Remove the cargo strap and reinstall the tire on the bike.
Things You'll Need
- Short cargo strap
- Spray bottle with soapy water
- Tubeless tire repair kit
- Alcohol swab
- Bicycle pump
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