More and more manufacturers are offering products directly in a kit to convert bicycle wheels with tubes to a tubeless system. In a tubeless wheel, a bicycle tube is omitted, and the tire is sealed with a special sealing tape and sealant.
The Muc-Off Ultimate Tubeless Setup Kit is one of these sets, making the conversion effortless. In this article, we show you step by step with many pictures how to perform the tubeless conversion.
These tools & products you need for the tubeless conversion of your wheel
Before you start converting your wheel, you should ensure that you have prepared all the necessary tools and products. Nothing is worse than realizing during a conversion that a specific part is missing.
Therefore, here is the list:
- Tire levers to remove the tire from the rim (at least 2 pieces are advisable)
- A air pump with pressure cartridge or a compressor, because inflating a tubeless system should happen abruptly with a lot of pressure. A classic bicycle pump cannot build up enough pressure, and the air escapes again during inflation.
- Scissors, to cut the rim sealing tape.
- Muc-Off Ultimate Tubeless Setup Kit (here for Enduro/DH)
- Cloth / rag
- Brake cleaner
- A needle (or a sharp object) to pierce the rim tape.
- If your tires sit particularly tight on the rim or are difficult to mount, a little soapy water can help them slide better over the rim flange.
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Attention! Basic requirement: The tubeless conversion only works if both your rims and your tires are “tubeless ready”. This means they are suitable for use with sealant and sealing tape and can hold air even without a bicycle tube. Tires and rims not marked as “tubeless ready” simply lose air again and are not suitable for a durable and successful tubeless conversion. |
How much sealant do you need for your tubeless project?
How much sealant do you need to buy? Good question, it depends on your tires. Usually, the product indicates how much you need for which tires. The actual amount needed depends on the type of bicycle, tire size, and width. Different manufacturers' products can also vary. Here is a rough guideline:
- Road bike tires 40 - 60 ml
- Gravel tires 70-80 ml
- MTB 27.5 inches: 60 - 80 ml
- MTB 29 inches & DH: 100 to 140 ml
(Quantity per tire)
The step-by-step guide for the tubeless conversion on the bicycle
Many cyclists shy away from a tubeless conversion, even though they would benefit from numerous advantages with this upgrade. The rumor that the tubeless conversion is complicated persists stubbornly, and with this guide, we prove the opposite. With the Muc-Off Ultimate Tubeless Setup Kit you can easily convert, even if you haven't done much work on bicycles yet.
1. Preparation for the tubeless conversion
In the first step, you prepare the conversion. First, remove the wheel from the bicycle. Then pull the tire off the rim. Next, remove the tube and the existing rim tape. Once you have removed everything, you should check your rim for any damage and dirt.
First, remove the wheel from the bicycle.
Next, pull the tire off the rim.
Take out the tube and completely remove the tire from the rim.
Remove the rim tape.
It is best to use a clean cloth and brake cleaner for this. This ensures that any grease residues or other lubricants are removed, which could otherwise impair the adhesion of the tubeless rim tape.
Clean the rim with brake cleaner and a cloth or rag.
2. Installation of the tubeless rim tape
Now your rim is ready for the installation of the tubeless rim tape. Take your wheel in hand and start applying the rim tape.
- You start on the opposite side of the valve hole in the rim.
- Press the rim tape into the center of the rim bed with your thumb. After a few centimeters, the rim tape holds itself, and you no longer need to hold the beginning.
- Stick the rim tape all the way around and make sure the ends overlap by about 10-15 centimeters. You can simply cut the remaining rim tape with scissors.
- Finally, a visual and pressure check of the sealing tape is performed. Run your thumb over the rim tape and check that no air bubbles have formed under the tape and that it is centered in the rim bed.
Start by gluing the rim tape on the opposite side of the valve. Carefully glue the tubeless rim tape into the rim bed and hold the beginning in place for now.
Make sure to glue the rim tape nicely centered and that no air bubbles form under the tape.
Overlap the two ends by 5 - 10 centimeters and cut the rim tape with scissors.
3. The installation of the tubeless valve
Now follows the tubeless valve installation. Find the valve hole in the rim and take a needle or a sharp object.
- Pierce the rim tape from the top in the center of the valve hole towards the hub.
- Now remove the cap and the O-ring of the valve and thread the valve from the top through the rim.
- Next, first put the O-ring and then the cap back on the valve.
- Make sure not to tighten the cap too much, as this could damage the O-ring that additionally seals the valve.
With a sharp object, pierce through the rim tape into the valve opening.
Insert the tubeless valve from above through the rim. This is how the valve setup should look. Make sure not to tighten the cap too much, as the O-ring could otherwise be damaged.
4. Put the tire back on the rim
Since the rim is now prepared, the tire can be put back on Pay attention not to damage the rim tape with your tire levers, as this can cause air to escape from your wheel. If you have trouble getting the tire over the rim flange, a little water with dish soap can help. Once both sides of the tire have been pulled over the left and right rim flanges, you can already inflate the tire for the first time. Ideally, you will hear a slight popping sound, signaling that the tire carcasses have been pressed into the rim, which is necessary for your tubeless setup to remain airtight!
Then, let the air out completely again, remove the valve core using the supplied Muc-Off valve tool, and proceed to the next step.
Carefully pull the tire back onto the rim. Inflate the tire until you hear a popping sound. This signals that the tire has been pressed into the rim flanges.
After inflating, let the air escape and remove the valve core again.
5. Filling the Tubeless Sealant
Now your tire will be sealed.
- Grab the Muc-Off sealant pouch and shake it vigorously.
- Position your wheel so that the valve is at the top. Now attach the tubeless sealant with its cap to the valve and then turn the wheel 180° so that the valve is at the bottom again and the sealant can flow into the tire.
- Once the sealant pouch is empty, you can turn the valve or wheel back upwards and remove the sealant pouch.
Turn the valve upwards and attach the sealant pouch onto it.
Then turn the valve back downwards and gently squeeze the sealant out so that it flows into the tire.
In the last step, you pull the empty sealant packaging off the valve again. If you rotate the tire beforehand, you won't spill anything.
6. Screwing in the Tubeless Valve Core
In the final step, screw the valve core back in. Next, inflate your tire again with pressure. And the pressure is important! A compressor or a pump with a pressure tank that can release air suddenly is best suited for this. You should also hear a popping sound now, signaling that the tire has seated correctly on the rim. Finally, you can rotate and shake the wheel multiple times around its axis to distribute the sealant as best as possible. After that, you can reinstall your wheel. If you have converted tire two, you are ready for your tubeless fun!
Now screw the valve core back in with the Muc-Off tool.
Inflate the tire again. It is best to pump a little more pressure than you would normally ride. This ensures that the tire presses well into the rim bed. Then you can release as much air as needed to reach your desired tire pressure.
When you rotate the wheel several times around its axis, the sealant spreads well inside the tire.
Your BMO team wishes you lots of fun screwing and riding tubeless!
The Advantages of a (MTB) Wheel with Tubeless Tires
With a tubeless system for your bicycle tires, you benefit from numerous advantages. Here are a few of them:
- You can ride with a tubeless tire at lower air pressure than with a tire with a tube. This means: more grip for you!
- Tubeless tires are less prone to punctures thanks to the lower tire pressure.
- The tubeless sealant immediately seals small holes in the tire - not every puncture automatically leads to a flat tire.
- Tubeless systems can be combined with additional systems. For example, you can insert tire foam rings to minimize the risk of impact damage.
- Tubeless wheels can be lighter than wheels with tubes. Ultimately, it depends on the individual bicycle parts you combine.
Which Tubeless Conversion Kit Do You Need?
Muc Off offers different conversion kits for various types of bicycles, and other manufacturers also offer tubeless kits. It's best to buy a set that fits your bike; besides the tubeless set for enduro and downhill shown here, there are also sets for XC mountain bikes or the tires of your Downhill Bike. But you can not only convert mountain bikes to tubeless with kits, there is also a suitable kit for road bikes, gravel bikes, and cyclocross .
➡️ Say hello to our Tubeless Conversion Kits
Tubeless Accessories in the Online Shop
Tubeless Sealant | Rim Tape | Tubeless Patches | Tubeless Booster | Tools | Tubeless Valves
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