How to Mount Tubeless Mountain Bike Tires

Tubeless mountain bike tires have several advantages over tires with tubes. They can help decrease the amount of weight in a wheel and the number of flats you may get while riding trails. The tubeless tire setup requires rim tape for the wheel, a special valve stem and some sort of tire sealant. Recent tubeless systems will have a special rim and tire that work together for a better tire-wheel bond. Installing a tubeless tire can be somewhat of a learned skill so be patient.

Things You'll Need

  • Tubeless rim tape
  • Spray bottle filled with soapy water
  • Tubeless tire sealant
  • Air compressor
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove any rim tape on the wheel that may be in place from the manufacturer. You will be replacing this rim tape with a tubeless system tape. If you have a wheel truing stand, place the wheel in the stand. Make sure the rim of the wheel is clean of debris.

    • 2

      Apply the rim tape on the opposite side of the valve stem hole using constant pressure by pulling the tape tight. You want to make sure to stretch the tape tight, which will make it airtight. There are a couple of different rim widths and rim tape to match those widths.

    • 3

      Hang the wheel so it is secure with the valve stem at a 45 degree angle from the bottom of the wheel. You don’t want the valve stem at the bottom when trying to install a tubeless tire.

    • 4

      Spray the tire with soaping water. This will allow it to set in the rim easier when inflating the tire. Install the tire over the wheel, leaving one edge of the tire un-beaded at the bottom.

    • 5

      Pour the proper amount of tubeless tire sealant into the bottom of the tire. Depending on the size of the tire, you will use more or less tire sealant. Use the instructions on the tire sealant bottle to determine proper amount of fluid.

    • 6

      Install the tire bead and make sure the walls of the tire are touching the rim.

    • 7

      Inflate the tire to the max inflation recommended on the side of the tire using an air compressor. You will want to use an air compressor because it inflates the tire almost instantly and will make the installation of a tubeless tire easier. Listen for a popping sound as the tire’s beads set into the wall of the rim.

    • 8

      Lift the wheel and, using both hands, work the tire sealant around inside the tire covering the entire surface of the tire. You may hear some air leaking from the tire.

    • 9

      Hold the wheel with your hands so the sealant washes over the area leaking air until you can’t hear it anymore. Install the wheel on the bike and spin the wheel multiple times to spread the sealant evenly.