How to determine if a rim is tubeless compatible?

[slambers3]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

The need for distinct bead seat shoulders and a depressed center channel between limits the minimum internal width of tubeless rims to about 17mm or there-abouts, so narrow rims won't be tubeless ready. The presence of the shoulders and center channel aren't a guarantee of being tubeless either, as the Roval Rapide CLX & Alpinist CLX rims have these features but are not tubeless ready.

While those two examples are technically not TL-ready according to the manufacturer, the waters are a little muddy.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/roadbik...-gone-wrong-2/

[tellyho]

You certainly *can* make any rim tubeless with enough tape and patience. We did this in the bad old days of tubeless MTB. A super tight fit is the main characteristic, I would argue. Having the bead retention ridge has been important in my experience. I recently set up a set of Rhynolites tubeless and got things to stay sealed fine, but I always had burping trouble in corners.

All this said, experimentation may be how you find out. I'm not convinced the down side is worth it if we're talking high pressure and high speeds.

[AngryScientist]

Here are the rims in question

[kppolich]

My guess is Easton rim.

[jtbadge]

How wide externally? Kind of looks like an R460.

[lavi]

Originally Posted by MikeD

My exact sentiments. Sorry Angry, I know, not helping. I'm just too fat to not constantly worry about blowing the front.

Originally Posted by jtbadge

How wide externally? Kind of looks like an R460.

Concur. Having owned a few sets of DT wheels, this looks like a DT rim to me. DT hubs too (ftw).

[spoonrobot]

ISO 5775 would have measurements you could reference, unfortunately it is not a free document, nor are holders free to share information from it.

The only actual measurement I was able to find online was for the BSD of 621.95 +- 0.5mm. Which is not helpful

It also appears a G Height measurements based on inner rim would could be a factor used to rule out tubless compatibility

Rim Width 19-21mm G-Height 6.0mm +/- 0.5mm
Rim Width 22-29mm G-Height 6.5mm +/- 0.5mm



That rim does not look like a rim designed for tubeless use, to my eyes

But if it's a rear rim, I'd YOLO

[crownjewelwl]

Back in the day I set up ksyriums tubeless with the first Hutchinson tires. You don’t need a bead hook just some tape. All the new carbon rims are hookless.

[AngryScientist]

Thanks guys, just went and measured, these are 23mm external. I believe the R460 is a good guess. I'll tape them up, pump them up and see how they perform.

I really love the ride of Veloflex tires, but I've recently had a string of flats generally related to tiny sharp flint type stones that puncture the tube that surely would be sealed in a tubeless scenario, so i'm hoping to be on veloflex tubeless tires soon. just waiting on some parts.

[yinzerniner]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Here are the rims in question

Those sure do look like tubeless as they have the bead seat/shelf and a vestigal shoulder for retention.

I would say the best test would be to tape them and then do a test with inflating/seating a tubeless tire, then deflating the tire. If the bead stays seated and takes a concerted effort to unseat then I would say the rim is tubeless ready.

Good luck.

[Nooch]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

Here are the rims in question

I'm looking at the wall at a velocity a23 and a dt r460 next to each other, and honestly i can't tell the difference.. so maybe an a23, which had both varieties if i'm remembering correctly...

[unterhausen]

you don't lose anything by using tubeless tape even if you end up going to tubes. I'm slowly getting rid of the cloth stuff, it just doesn't work as well.

[slambers3]

My bet ia 460 as well. I’ve built a handful of those, and owned a few others I didn’t build. 460/350 hub is a common combination and came oem on a lot of specialized bikes a few years back.

[unterhausen]

I thought DT anodizes the whole rim and then machines the sidewall.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by unterhausen

I thought DT anodizes the whole rim and then machines the sidewall.

Good call. The ones I have built were black all over, no silver except for brake track.