Anyone converted their Turbo Vado to tubeless tires?

[fooferdoggie]

I'll never run tubes in a bike again. I've been on mtb's and now a emtb for 25 years and finally went tubeless two years ago. Why oh why did I wait? Carrying tire tools, tubes, patches, and all of that is for the birds. I averaged at least 2 flats a year on tubes, and I replaced them each year with the ultra HD ones and ran sealant. There is nothing more fun that pulling a tire, patching a tube and all of that on the trail.

sure there is try in the dark and rain and when it is really cold.

 

[rob feature]

+1 for tubeless. The only flats I've had with them, I neglected to top up the sealant. It might just be the single best innovation ever in the history of bikes.

 

[zbikeman]

I must be the outlier here. I've gone from tubeless back to tubes.

I live in goathead country, so when I got a bike already set up tubeless (Sirrus X 5.0), I thought, great! No more tubes, patching, etc.

Got a 1000ml bottle of Stan's original sealant, a couple of syringe fill kits with valve core removers, and I was all set.

I topped the sealant off every couple months and was doing great.

Then came the 1 yr mark where it came time to clean out all the old dried sealant and start over. That's where I started to question the whole process, at least for me.

I've done a lot of scut jobs with bicycles before, but this was one of the worst.

The dried sealant didn't want to budge. Eventually I got enough of it out of both tires to the point where I was ready to remount them.

Problem was, I don't have a compressor and couldn't get them to seat no matter what I did.

I thought maybe not having the compressor to seat the tires was the problem, so I took them to the local bike shop.

They tried using their compressor and couldn't get them to seat either. So how do you run tubeless if you can't get the tire to seat?

That's when I bought a couple tubes and went back for good.

I don't mind changing tubes with a flat, so I've resigned myself to having to do this a couple times a year. For me, it beats cleaning out old sealant and not being able to seat the tire.

 

[rob feature]

I must be the outlier here. I've gone from tubeless back to tubes.

I live in goathead country, so when I got a bike already set up tubeless (Sirrus X 5.0), I thought, great! No more tubes, patching, etc.

Got a 1000ml bottle of Stan's original sealant, a couple of syringe fill kits with valve core removers, and I was all set.

I topped the sealant off every couple months and was doing great.

Then came the 1 yr mark where it came time to clean out all the old dried sealant and start over. That's where I started to question the whole process, at least for me.

I've done a lot of scut jobs with bicycles before, but this was one of the worst.

The dried sealant didn't want to budge. Eventually I got enough of it out of both tires to the point where I was ready to remount them.

Problem was, I don't have a compressor and couldn't get them to seat no matter what I did.

I thought maybe not having the compressor to seat the tires was the problem, so I took them to the local bike shop.

They tried using their compressor and couldn't get them to seat either. So how do you run tubeless if you can't get the tire to seat?

That's when I bought a couple tubes and went back for good.

I don't mind changing tubes with a flat, so I've resigned myself to having to do this a couple times a year. For me, it beats cleaning out old sealant and not being able to seat the tire.

Tubes are actually a good trick for getting tubeless setups to seat. I've used this method with tricky tires before. Inflate them with a tube, then let them bake in the sun for a few hours on each side. Folding tires especially come with problem areas out of the packaging and getting them to seat can require some tomfoolery. Sun alone makes the tires more pliable.

I've also used straps down the center of the tire.

Removing the valve core lets more air in.

Probably lots more tips on the interwebs, but those are a few I've used over the years.

I also don't bother trying to get my wheels too clean - just the big stuff & contact surfaces. If I'm taking a tire off, I'm usually replacing it.

And man, I don't see how anyone gets by without a compressor. I use mine daily.

I will never go back to tubes though for my main rides. I still use them in a couple older bikes that hardly ever get ridden, but don't like it.

Goat's head country here as well. It's always fun to pull one out, spin the tire, and watch non-believers as the hole seals before their eyes.

 

[zbikeman]

Living without a compressor?

Welcome to my world.

I live in an apartment. Couldn't use a compressor here if I wanted to.

So yeah, nice if you have access to one. Some of us don't.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Most of my tires I can get seated with just my Makita inflator. You can also use co-2 or get one of those bottles you pump up and then use. Or a tube.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

My experience matches the one of @zbikeman. I tried a compressed air tank or CO2 inflator to no avail.

 

[fooferdoggie]

My experience matches the one of @zbikeman. I tried a compressed air tank or CO2 inflator to no avail.

was that before or after you tried to tape everything but the kitchen sink?? I swear you almost had the tape on the outside of the rim.
sometimes really are shaped wrong to seal easily. I have a couple I could do it with just my mouth I swear.

 

[rob feature]

Living without a compressor?

Welcome to my world.

I live in an apartment. Couldn't use a compressor here if I wanted to.

So yeah, nice if you have access to one. Some of us don't.

I have one of these in my condo. It's quieter than the HVAC & small enough to not get in the way. Easily strong enough to seat 2.5 MTB tires.

 

[rob feature]

Most of my tires I can get seated with just my Makita inflator. You can also use co-2 or get one of those bottles you pump up and then use. Or a tube.

You can also get just a portable air tank at a fraction of the price of a compressor. Then use an inflator if you have one (my inflators are all louder than my indoor compressor). Or charge it at the gas station or a buddy's place. Just use it to seat finicky tires.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You can also get just a portable air tank at a fraction of the price of a compressor. Then use an inflator if you have one (my inflators are all louder than my indoor compressor). Or charge it at the gas station or a buddy's place. Just use it to seat finicky tires.

It doesn't work for me.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I've been running totally tubeless here since 2023. And in that time I have had quite a few flats. But in no case did I need to remove the wheel from the bike or install a tube.

Sidewall tears with modern tires under most riding conditions are vanishingly rare in practice. The only one I ever witnessed in 2024 I watched the victim repair his tubeless tire on the spot with a beefy sewing awl (using 80lb test kite string as the thread) and super glue. I suspect that most people who run tubeless have never had to install the inner tube they carry in the field.

I think a lot of the trouble people run into with tubeless boils down to the messed up situation with compatibility between tires and rims. Not all tubeless tires will fit well with any random tubeless ready rim. Knowing which ones will and will not is mostly a function of trial and error. Having access to a bike shop with actual expertise on this topic is invaluable. Even better if they give classes on how to do tubeless installs.

Another thing is how you keep valve stems in place. I found that adding an extra locknut and a drop of thread locker makes a big difference. Sometimes different brands of valves fit better than others. I'd also note that the first time you install rim tape expect to need to do it three or more times before you get an adequate installation.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I have one of these in my condo. It's quieter than the HVAC & small enough to not get in the way. Easily strong enough to seat 2.5 MTB tires.

View attachment 209433

ya I bought that had to haul it home on my bike.

 

[fooferdoggie]

It doesn't work for me.

you need better tires.

 

[edobici_forza]

You can also get just a portable air tank at a fraction of the price of a compressor. Then use an inflator if you have one (my inflators are all louder than my indoor compressor). Or charge it at the gas station or a buddy's place. Just use it to seat finicky tires.

I had to look up "Portable Air Tank", as the only ones I know of are connected to a large floor compressor. Though, I do not own a compressor. It seems you mean something like an Airshot tank which you fill with a regular bike floor pump? https://a.co/d/0c0A9Yhm
I have been using a Lezyne Pressure Over Drive pump, for seating my tubeless 32mm road, 45mm gravel, and 2.4" MTB tires with ease. And gives you a bit of a workout to fill up the extra chamber !

 

[rob feature]

I had to look up "Portable Air Tank", as the only ones I know of are connected to a large floor compressor. Though, I do not own a compressor. It seems you mean something like an Airshot tank which you fill with a regular bike floor pump? https://a.co/d/0c0A9Yhm
I have been using a Lezyne Pressure Over Drive pump, for seating my tubeless 32mm road, 45mm gravel, and 2.4" MTB tires with ease. And gives you a bit of a workout to fill up the extra chamber !

I was thinking of something like this

No shortage of varieties & they may be more versatile than a bike-specific option. No compressor needed with these - you can use an inflator to charge it, which a lot of us already have. I have at least 5.

 

[rob feature]

you need better tires.

Technique and patience go a long way as well. Not to say these aren't being employed, but not everyone wants to take the time to figure it out. And, as highlighted above, not everyone has the tools. That's why bike shops stay in business. I've never had a tire / wheel combo I could not convert to tubeless, but some are way more work than others.

 

[rob feature]

ya I bought that had to haul it home on my bike.

Yikes! Seems like mine weighs about 30 pounds.

 

[edobici_forza]

I was thinking of something like this

View attachment 209454

No shortage of varieties & they may be more versatile than a bike-specific option. No compressor needed with these - you can use an inflator to charge it, which a lot of us already have. I have at least 5.

Ah, you did mean the shop-sized version, the Airshot is just a compact portable version. The key is the tire to rim combo as already mentioned above by others, and solved by the OP with a new rim....Hahah, not the solution I was expecting, but problem solved!

 

[rob feature]

Ah, you did mean the shop-sized version, the Airshot is just a compact portable version. The key is the tire to rim combo as already mentioned above by others, and solved by the OP with a new rim....Hahah, not the solution I was expecting, but problem solved!

No, they make them from a gallon or less all the way up to something you'd need a truck for. Just mentioned that as it might offer more versatility over something made specifically for a bike tire. They both do the same thing.