Tubeless tires offer advantages over the old-style formats, but the term "tubeless" can be confusing. Tubeless tires still require air inflation and may become flat. BicycleTires.com points out that tubeless tires will be less likely to sustain trauma. They also require less air and will perform better with less pressure than a tube. Installation of a tubeless tire is similar to that of any bike tire.
Step 1
Remove the old tire and inspect the rim. Tubeless tires require compatible rims that are free from dents. Check the documentation for your bike to ensure it will hold a tubeless tire. Look for tubeless rim or UST in the paperwork.
Step 2
Wipe the rim down with soapy water. Do not dry it -- the water serves as a lubricant.
Step 3
Examine the tire for the manufacturer's logo and a rotation direction arrow. Install the tire with the arrow toward the front of the bike, or the direction of the tire rotation. Position the logo over the valve stem. Grasp the stem and move it manually. This allows you to monitor the location of the valve stem by watching the logo.
Step 4
Rotate the rim so the valve stem hole sits at the bottom. Turn the tire until the logo sits near the ground by the stem hole.
Step 5
Place the tire bead onto the top section of the rim. The bead is the edge of the tire that inserts into the rim. Push the bead toward the rim center.
Step 6
Slide your fingers around the bead moving from the top towards the valve. Move back to the top and run your fingers in the opposite direction. Now one side of the tire should be sitting inside the rim edge.
Step 7
Move to the other side of the bike and repeat this process. The valve stem, if properly positioned, should move into place.
Step 8
Inflate the tire to the proper air pressure with the air pump. You can determine the appropriate pressure by looking around the tire edge for the range or reviewing the tire documentation. For example, the tire may say 58 psi. This is the amount of air you need to put into the tire. The air inflation tool will have a gauge to read pressure or use a separate gauge. Press the gauge over the valve stem and read the number.
Tips and Warnings
- Watch the tire beads as you inflate. They should stay inside the rim. If any part of the bead pushes out, stop inflating and press the tire edge to move it back into place.
Things You'll Need
- Dish soap
- Water
- Sponge
- Air pump
- Tire gauge
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