More and more manufacturers are offering products directly in a kit to convert bicycle wheels with tubes into a tubeless system. With the tubeless wheel, a bicycle tube is omitted, the tire is sealed with a special rim 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, make sure you have prepared all the necessary tools and products. Nothing is worse than realizing during a conversion that a specific part is missing.
Here's the list:
- Tire lever to remove the tire from the rim (at least 2 pieces are advisable)
- A pump with a pressure cartridge or a compressor, because inflating a tubeless system should happen suddenly 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 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 are particularly tight on the rim or difficult to mount, a little soapy water can help them slide over the rim flange better.
|
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 rim tape and can hold air even without a bicycle tube. Tires and rims that are not marked as “tubeless ready” simply lose air again, they 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 required depends on the type of bicycle, tire size, and width. Products from different manufacturers 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)
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 the conversion is effortless, even if you haven't worked much on bicycles before.
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 everything is removed, you should inspect your rim for any damage and dirt.
First, remove the wheel from the bicycle.
Next, pull the tire off the rim.
Remove the tube and completely remove the tire from the rim.
Remove the rim tape.
It's best to use a clean cloth and brake cleaner. 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. Installing 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 will hold itself, and you no longer need to hold the beginning.
- Stick the rim tape all around and make sure the ends overlap by about 10-15 centimeters. You can simply trim the excess 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 stick the rim tape nice and 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. Installing 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 in the center of the valve hole from the top towards the hub.
- Remove the cap and O-ring from the valve and thread the valve from above through the rim.
- Next, first put the O-ring and then the cap back on the valve.
- Be careful 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. Be careful not to tighten the cap too much, as the O-ring could be damaged.
4. Mount the tire back onto the rim
Since the rim is now prepared, the tire can be mounted back Be careful 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 edge, a little water with detergent can help. Once both sides of the tire have been pulled over the rim edges on the left and right, you can already pump up the tire for the first time. Ideally, you will hear a slight popping sound, which signals to you that the tire carcasses have been pressed into the rims, a prerequisite for your tubeless setup to remain airtight!
Afterwards, 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 to you that the tire has pressed into the rim edges.
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 place the tubeless sealant with its cap on 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 the wheel back up and remove the sealant pouch.
Turn the valve upward and attach the sealant pouch.
Then turn the valve back down and gently squeeze the sealant out so it flows into the tire.
In the last step, you pull the empty sealant packaging off the valve again. If you turn 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. Again, you should hear a pop, indicating that the tire has correctly seated on the rim. Finally, you can spin and shake the wheel several times 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's best to inflate it with a bit more pressure than you would normally ride with. This ensures that the tire presses well into the rim bed. Then you can release as much air as needed until your desired tire pressure is reached.
If you spin the wheel a few times around its axis, the sealant is well distributed in the tire.
Your BMO team wishes you lots of fun with screwing and tubeless riding!
The Advantages of a (MTB) Wheel with Tubeless Tires
With a tubeless system for your bike tires, you benefit from numerous advantages. Here are a few of them:
- You can ride with less air pressure with a tubeless tire than with a tire with a tube. This means: More grip for you!
- Tubeless tires are less prone to punctures due to the lower tire pressure.
- The tubeless sealant immediately seals small holes in the tire – not every puncture 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 pinch flats.
- Tubeless wheels can be lighter than wheels with tubes. Ultimately, it depends on the individual bike parts you combine.
Which Tubeless Conversion Kit Do You Need?
Muc Off offers different conversion kits for various types of bikes, 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 sets, there is also a suitable kit for road bike, gravel bike, 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
Order Tires & Accessories Online at BMO
You can find many more details in the other parts of our tire series:
