Tire Liners

[Gionnirocket]

Yeah, I hate to give up on the Tannus. 5 seasons, two bikes and 15K miles without a flat. It did save my bacon recently when I hit a rock and broke a chunk out of my mag wheel rim. If it weren't for the stiff sidewall on the Tannus Armor, the tube would have blown out.

View attachment 196643

Not sure why I wasn't able to get the Tannus on this time. It was the same bike, same tire, same rim, same size tube and the same size Tannus. I've installed four of them before, have the tools and know most of the tricks. I used an excessive amount of force trying to seat the tire bead this time. I was afraid I was going to snap the bead wire or damage the rim. It was like trying to install a 24" tire on a 26" rim.

I don't ride roads and most of my riding these days is on paved or packed gravel trails. I'm not sure I even need the extra protection offered by the TA's.
Instead, I'm going to try Slime filled, heavy duty Schwalbe 13D Downhill tubes with the Mr. Tuffy liners, inside my puncture resistant Marathon+ tires. If I do get a flat, at least I'll be able to repair it on the trail, which is something I wouldn't attempt with the TA's

I've used both and I prefer Flatout over Slime.
That said 7000 miles with Schwalbe flat guard and 1 flat when I picked up a big rusty nail on the grass shoulder of the MUPS. Imo it would have gone through any protection. We seem to ride similarly.. though I head off road occasionally.
I bought the tire liners and never installed them.
I think where you ride has much to do with it.

 

[PedalUma]

I will be sending a gravel bike to Mexico. It is getting these ones in 700 x 50.

You also can't get a Tannus while sitting; unless it is on a tanning bed

 

[stompandgo]

Any liner with sealant is a PITA for a mechanic. A total mess. But that's not your problem.

I've been getting by with the Schwalbe Green Guard and butyl tubes, but I'm changing to TPU tubes soon.

At the shop we use Orange Seal sealant.

 

[PedalUma]

Orange Seal

Orange Seal is good, the best is MucOff. It is highly viscous and forms polymer strings when it hits outside air. After a medium puncture, just repump the tube. It is funny to see a string coming out of a tire. I like the extra-protection of tubes, even though I cannot use rubber gloves. I need to feel what I am doing. There is one vital step this vid skips. Add silicone grease into the stem or it could and will eventually clog open at the core O-ring, giving a flat, and defeating the whole idea. We would charge $20 per wheel. It was a major profit item and provided a great customer service. We called it protection injection. Changing a rear flat on a hub motor was $40 plus the tube, so it was an easily justifiable sell. It cost us like $3 when buying in bulk. No complaints. I made a demo bottle on the front counter that had local thorns, roofing staples, and small nails attached. Cures 90% of flats.

 

[6zfshdb]

Orange Seal is good, the best is MucOff. It is highly viscous and forms polymer strings when it hits outside air. After a medium puncture, just repump the tube. It is funny to see a string coming out of a tire. I like the extra-protection of tubes, even though I cannot use rubber gloves. I need to feel what I am doing. There is one vital step this vid skips. Add silicone grease into the stem or it could and will eventually clog open at the core O-ring, giving a flat, and defeating the whole idea. We would charge $20 per wheel. It was a major profit item and provided a great customer service. We called it protection injection. Changing a rear flat on a hub motor was $40 plus the tube, so it was an easily justifiable sell. It cost us like $3 when buying in bulk. No complaints. I made a demo bottle on the front counter that had local thorns, roofing staples, and small nails attached. Cures 90% of flats.

I was planning on switching from Slime to Muc-Off. Thanks for the tip on using silicone grease. Can you just apply it to the valve core before installing, or does the grease need to be placed inside the valve stem?

The same problem would happen with Slime over time. I would just remove the core, wash it off with water and use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to clean out the valve stem.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I was planning on switching from Slime to Muc-Off. Thanks for the tip on using silicone grease. Can you just apply it to the valve core before installing, or does the grease need to be placed inside the valve stem?

The same problem would happen with Slime over time. I would just remove the core, wash it off with water and use a Q-tip dipped in alcohol to clean out the valve stem.

What I've been doing is putting a drop of water in the valve stem and blasting air in before checking and setting air pressure. Even with grease if you let air out first some sealant comes out. So far never a failed valve since implementing this practice the past few years.
I've been meaning to grease the valve core on my current tires but it's on the to_do list with the tire liners

 

[Gionnirocket]

Orange Seal is good, the best is MucOff. It is highly viscous and forms polymer strings when it hits outside air. After a medium puncture, just repump the tube. It is funny to see a string coming out of a tire. I like the extra-protection of tubes, even though I cannot use rubber gloves. I need to feel what I am doing. There is one vital step this vid skips. Add silicone grease into the stem or it could and will eventually clog open at the core O-ring, giving a flat, and defeating the whole idea. We would charge $20 per wheel. It was a major profit item and provided a great customer service. We called it protection injection. Changing a rear flat on a hub motor was $40 plus the tube, so it was an easily justifiable sell. It cost us like $3 when buying in bulk. No complaints. I made a demo bottle on the front counter that had local thorns, roofing staples, and small nails attached. Cures 90% of flats.

What makes Mucoff the best? Is it soy based?
Now using Flatout I can tell it's better than Slime for not drying out and being thicker. It does make it a little harder to get in but nothing ridiculous.
I'm not experiencing flats and I'm curious to pull the tire and check if there were any that just got sealed up. But that'll probably be a snowed in winter project along with the tire liners and valve core greasing.

 

[6zfshdb]

What makes Mucoff the best? Is it soy based?
Now using Flatout I can tell it's better than Slime for not drying out and being thicker. It does make it a little harder to get in but nothing ridiculous.
I'm not experiencing flats and I'm curious to pull the tire and check if there were any that just got sealed up. But that'll probably be a snowed in winter project along with the tire liners and valve core greasing.

Yeah, this would be a winter project for me as well if I hadn't busted that mag wheel.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Yeah, this would be a winter project for me as well if I hadn't busted that mag wheel.

As I get older my free time becomes more valuable. With my current responsibility load if I have a few free hours I'm going for a ride before fixing something that ain't broke.

 

[PedalUma]

does the grease need to be placed inside the valve stem

After injecting the MucOff sealant I use a Q-tip to clean the valve stem and something like a popsicle stick to put a small amount of the silicone grease directly into the stem. I did a side-by-side 3x5 card of Slime and the MucOff. The Slime stayed gooey for two weeks, The MucOff solidified in a couple of hours. As mentioned it makes solid strings. They must have bio-engineered it from spiders. The ear wax on the Q-tip probably doesn't hurt. Plumber's grease is fine but for quantity you can't beat brake parts grease. I told my kid at his first Jr. High dance it is better to meet the beat than to..

 

[PCeBiker]

What makes Mucoff the best?
Now using Flatout

How does Mucoff compare to Flatout ?

I remember reading that Mucoff owns Flatout now or something like that, and it's all the same stuff now ?

I've still got my $12 bottle of Slime on the shelf from 3 years ago then I found out about Flat-Out. (Sportsman Formula and Outdoor Power Equipment Formula)
It cost me $50 CAD

The Mucoff sealant is the same price as the Flat-Out,..

The Flat-Out comes in a bag now, and it works pretty slick.
You just squeeze the bag to inject the goo, so you don't have to invert a bottle.
It's easier to carry with you and takes up less space when it's half empty.
I use half a bag per tire.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Who knows what's better... I watched some videos and read some articles but they're mostly about tubeless setups so I'm not sure if it directly translates to the same results with tubes.
That said one video brought up a very interesting point. Time spent in the tire... So he tested after one month and was getting different results than just installed. But to me, how realistic is even that time frame? I'm riding mine now for almost a year.
Then add some did better/worse with different size tires and pressures.

I'm gonna get mine. . .

 

[PCeBiker]

,.. But to me, how realistic is even that time frame? I'm riding mine now for almost a year.

I've had the Flat-Out in my first ebike since Feb. 2023 and it's been in my new ebike since May 2024.

I can still feel it in sloshing around in my new ebike's tires (27.5 X 2.80) when I spin up the wheel in the air. (I don't feel it when I ride?)
There's half a quart in each tube.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Another song related to tubes...

 

[PedalUma]

I replaced a tire and tube on a bike yesterday with quality parts and after inspecting everything, such as the rim and liner. It is flat this morning according to the customer. The bike was not ridden. I suspect the valve core. It was a new Super 73 stainless stem heavy duty tube.

 

[PCeBiker]

Another song related to tubes...

We used to call Weiners Tube Steaks.

 

[PCeBiker]

,.. I suspect the valve core.

I put a gob of spit in the valve to check for leaks.
Even works for Presta valves, but you really gotta hork on it.

 

[Nvreloader]

I have had Flat Out in my tubes since 02/2021,
when I got my 1st E bike and you can tell it's still sloshing around
when the tire is spinning around, and I have never added any more to the 4" fat tire tube.

There was 10 oz injected via a 60cc flushing syringe with a piece of tubing attached (before they went to the squeeze able plastic bag), that just fit tightly over the outside of the valve stem, the valve core was removed before injecting the Flat Out.

You can also tell when FO is working, around here with a Blue Billion Goat heads, just look for the tiny wet spots on the outside of the tires, there is where the leak WAS, FO seals very fast after it hit the outside air.

I am ordering new tires for the Wart Hog, the OEM tires are getting down there with 2800+ miles on the very thin OEM tires.
I can't wait to see the number of GH stickers broke off in the tire. I'll add new tubes and check the tire balance before I add the FO to the new tubes. lol

Note to self.
Do not attempt to check the balance of the tire after Flat Out was injected inside the tube, you won't have enough time left....Lol
yrmv

 

[Gionnirocket]

I've had the Flat-Out in my first ebike since Feb. 2023 and it's been in my new ebike since May 2024.

I can still feel it in sloshing around in my new ebike's tires (27.5 X 2.80) when I spin up the wheel in the air. (I don't feel it when I ride?)
There's half a quart in each tube.

That's why I leaned towards FlatOut... Long shelf and service life.. Supposedly.

 

[Nvreloader]

As a backup to FO, I'll probably add the 4" wide Tuffy liners to each tire.
I read where a person added a several small strips of thin double side tape between the line/tire to hold it (liner) in place before the tube was installed, inflated the tube to riding pressure, then cut and feathered the edges after getting the approximate length needed, from the inflated tube pressure.

I am damn sure will not attempting to reinstall those useless Tannus liners that squeeze down to dime thickness from the tube pressure,
NO, I will NOT deflate and then refill the tube after every ride,
WHAT A JOKE...

I trust FLAT OUT and will try the 4" wide Tuffy liners instead, for another layer of protection against those )_(*^&%^$(& stickers.
yrmv