How do I mount a tubeless tyre on my road or mountain bike?

Tubeless bicycle tyres are a trend in the world of road cycling, gravel and mountain biking. There are many benefits to riding tubeless, but the biggest and most obvious one is of course punctures. When a hole appears in the tubeless tyre, the sealant ensures that the hole - size of the holes that can be sealed depends on the sealant - is refilled with the latex, so you can continue riding without any worries and don't have to repair your tyre along the road.

Joe's no Flats is the brand on sealants and offers the right sealant for every discipline. If you are ready to make the switch to tubeless riding, follow this step-by-step guide to install your new tyres and enjoy a smooth and worry-free ride. To give you more information and explanations on how to make your wheels tubeless, Joe's no Flats has two videos ready for you for even more explanations and tricks!

How to make your tyres Tubeless:

1. Clean your rims
2. Apply rim tape
3. Make a hole for the valve
4. Install the tubeless valve
5. Install the tyre
6. Check that the tyre is properly seated on the rim
7. Apply the sealant
8. Inflate the tyre to the correct pressure

What you need:

1. Wheel set
2. Tubeless tyres
3. Tubeless valve
4. Rim Tape
5. Sealat
6. Tubeless Cycle Pump
7. Scissors
8. Awl or Screwdriver
   

Step 1: Make sure the rim is clean

A good start is half the battle and this, of course, also applies to tubeless wheels. The last thing you want is for air or even sealant to escape from your wheel because it is not sealed properly. Therefore, it is important to clean your rim well and if there is old sealant in the tyre, remove it completely. You can do this, for example, with the Sealant Remover. This remover takes out the old residue in the wheel set. Moreover, this is also a handy remover when you have had a puncture and there is a bit of sealant on your frame or other parts. Dry your rim and you have a perfect base to make your wheels tubeless.

Step 2: Apply the rim tape

It is important that no air or sealant leaks out of the tyre through the spoke holes or valve. Therefore, after your wheel is completely clean, apply a rim tape. Make sure you have a good tape that covers the holes well. You twist the rim tape all the way around and make sure you stick it over the valve hole for at least 5 cm.

Step 3: Make a hole for the valve

Make a hole for the valve so you can easily fit it. You can do this, for example, by using a lighter to heat the tip of a screwdriver. This makes it easy to prick in front of the rim tape and make a perfectly round hole (see video).

Step 4: Fitting the tubeless valve

A tubeless valve is different from a standard valve fitted to your inner tube. This is because tubeless valves allow you to apply the sealant to the tyre through the valve. You can therefore unscrew a tubeless valve completely with a valve core remover so that you can easily use a bottle or injector to spray the sealant into your tyre. Insert the valve from the inside and tighten it firmly by hand.

Step 5: Install the tyre

It's time to attach the tyre and check that everything is properly and airtight. Before putting the tyre on, check the direction of rotation of the tyre - this is indicated by small letters and an arrow on the outer tyre. Start by installing the tyre on the opposite side of the valve. If necessary, use a set of tyre levers to get it on.

Step 6: Check the tyre

Once the tyre is in place, check that everything is properly sealed by inflating it. Check both sides to make sure everything is airtight and that no air is escaping. When these are in place, you can let the air out of the tyre.

Two ways to apply the sealant

It is time to apply the sealant. Good to know is that there are two ways to add the sealant, namely (1) through a special tubeless valve or (2) by opening the tyre slightly and adding the sealant directly into the tyre. The video from Joe's no Flats explains both ways. We chose to apply through the valve.

Step 7: Apply the sealant through the valve

Apply the sealant through the valve by removing the top of the valve with the valve core remover that comes with the Tubeless valve. With the top off, you have a good opening to apply the tubeless into the tyre. If you have a bottle with a fine closure, you can apply it directly by putting the bottle against the valve and squeezing the bottle empty. Should you have a larger bottle, it is wise to use an injector. Of course, the question is, how much sealant should you put in a tyre? For this it is best to check the packaging. Joe's no flats has the special Road Leader Sealant for road bike tyres and recommends 60mm (1 bottle) per tyre. For mountain bike or other tyres, this amount varies.

Step 8: Pump the tyre to the right pressure

Now that the sealant has been applied, you are almost done. Pump the tyre to the correct pressure and check again that everything is properly sealed and no fluid or air can escape. With a tubeless tyre, you do this with a special Tubeless bicycle pump. This allows you to fill the reservoir with air and pump the tyre in one go. You can do this for example with the Trivio Super Cell bicycle pump. Always rotate the tyre a few times to spread the sealant well and you're done!