fixing a flat in tubeless tires ?

[cnighbor1]

fixing a flat in tubeless tires ?
while in Trek Bicycle store in Sana Rosa CA I noticed in the display case a way to fix a flat __________________________ in a tubeless tire
Has any member fixed a flat using a tubeless flat repair device on the road
and did it work
would like to try a set but flats to me are the big problem
Thanks
Charles

[old fat man]

I fix tubeless flats by putting a tube in and finishing my ride. This has happened to me twice in 5 years of running road tubeless (25,000 miles?). I was able to patch one of the two tubeless flats with a tubeless tire patch kit once I got home. It held just fine. The other flat was too big and the tire was old anyway so it went into the garbage.

[batman1425]

^^^ This. One of the benefits of tubeless is reduced chances of flats, provided an appropriate sealant is used. In the event you get a missed plug, just pop in a regular tube, finish your ride, and boot it later.

If it wasn't a fluke miss by the sealant and the hole/cut is big enough that it wouldn't ever seal, it's probably bordering on unsafe to ride, tubleless or not.

[foo_fighter]

Dynaplug, Tire Bacon, or Blackburn tire plug.

[Mark McM]

It seems that the vast majority of people use sealant in their tubeless tires, and the use of sealant to reduce flats appears to be a big reason that many people use tubeless tires. But I've got ask - just how many flats were you getting before using sealant?

Maybe I'm just lucky, but with my regular tires with inner tubes I don't get many flat tires - maybe two or three a year. And that's among all my bikes/wheels (I probably have 7 or 8 pairs of wheels I use regularly). Fixing a flat is quick and easy - the inner tube can be replaced in just a few minutes. And initial tire installation is almost as fast. Some of my tires have gone years without a flat, in which case these tires are essentially maintenance free.

But with tubeless tires and sealant, there appears to be a substantial maintenance overhead. Installing the tire is a little bit more involved, as it sometimes requires a high pressure air source to seat the tire, and then there is the time to install the sealant. Maybe this is not a lot of extra time if you're already set up to do it. But the sealant appears to require periodic maintenance. According to this article on Bike Rumor (https://www.bikerumor.com/2014/02/19/tubeless-tire-sealant-tech-part-1-how-often-should-it-be-checked-replaced/), sealant requires periodic service every 2 to 7 months, and some require that old sealant be removed. If you have a lot of wheels, that seems like a lot of effort to prevent an event (flat tire) that may happen less frequently than the sealant service interval, and even when it does happen, only takes a few minutes to fix.

For those of you that use sealant, did you used to experience a lot of flat tires before using sealant?

[FlashUNC]

All it took was one ride through goathead country to see the value of tubeless.

[batman1425]

For those of you that use sealant, did you used to experience a lot of flat tires before using sealant?

It depends on the area and intended use. I used to get a lot of flats when I lived in the city. Lots of crappy roads (pinch flats) and debris would eat tubes like crazy. Tubeless is a good option in those places for the self healing ability. It's also helpful when the weather is crappy and you don't want to stop to change a flat.

The maintainence isn't bad. Check the levels and topp off a few times a season. In the off season, pull the tires, wipe out anything that remains, and remount with fresh stuff once you are ready to go outside again. The only time I see it as a pain is if you regularly change tires for different terrain. It's possible to transfer sealant from one tire to another, but it's messy and more trouble than it's worth IMO.

[joosttx]

Dynaplug. Google it and get it. It’s the greatest product for fixing tubeless flats. And it’s expensive but totally worth it.

https://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f2/tubeless-tires-you-need-dynaplug-48181.html

[Jaybee]

All it took was one ride through goathead country to see the value of tubeless.

This. I visit my parents in southern NM 2 or 3 times a year and I won't do a ride without some sort of sealant. My off-road rigs are already tubeless, and I put a couple ounces of Orange Seal in my regular road clinchers.

[Tony]

Dynaplug. Google it and get it. It’s the greatest product for fixing tubeless flats. And it’s expensive but totally worth it.

https://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f2/tubeless-tires-you-need-dynaplug-48181.html

That point looks scary, not sure if I want it pointing at my rim, could cause damage?

Plugs are available that look like smaller versions of auto plugs, work well.

[cow]

I put a couple ounces of Orange Seal in my regular road clinchers.
I've started putting sealant in my tubulars & my flats (I felt cursed; it felt I was having one almost weekly.) have gone to just about nill. I even used a couple tires till the casing was worn!

Now, please excuse my while I go knock on wood.

[chiasticon]

I agree with Mark McM when it comes to road riding. I get a few flats a year there and changing them isn't troubling enough to make me deal with the additional hassle of tubeless. off-road, tubeless is awesome.

[Mikej]

I was just thinking, what about those patches the TV guy just slaps on a pipe leaking water?

https://www.flexsealproducts.com/product/flex-tape/