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Olllrite! Spent a few hours this weekend to install a new rear tire, and seal the rims so I can ride tubeless. been wanting this for a long time. I never liked the idea of spooning these tires off in the middle of nowhere if I ever had a flat, and boy was I right! These are tough mf's!
I used a tire stand/bead breaker like this, and a few tire spoons. One of which 2' long, the rest were shorties. I used 3M 4412N tape to seal the rims, and a few 90 degree valve stems from Amazon (the 8.3mm ones, so I didn't have to drill the holes). Sealing the rear rim was a straight forward job. Clean the rim with brake cleaner, install the tape. Roll/rub the tape down everywhere -this activates the sticky layer-, and use a small piece to bond the ends together. After I was done I installed the valve stem, and as a final protection layer I put the rim band back on. I know how tight the STR sits on the rim, and I didn't want the tire to mess up the tape.
Front was a bit harder because of the well in the rim, and the spoke holes that are close to the rim wall. I used the same 2" tape which is actually too wide to sit in the deep section of the rim. I knew this in advance and masked off the part of the rim where the tire sit once installed with electrical tape, so I could cut off the 3M tape right where the electrical tape ends. So all I had to do was peel off the electrical tape instead of the 3M sealant tape, because once activated this sticks like hell.
Again, after I was done I reinstalled the rim band as a protective layer.
I did not seal the spokes with some silicone first, just the tape. And actually when you think about it, once inflated, the pressure difference at the non-sealed spoke nipples will actually press the tape against the spoke nipple, sealing it off.
Reinstalled the front, aired it up and it stand for a few hours. No Leaks.
Max is a happy biker!
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![IMG_4970.jpg]()
Does it ride any different? I can't judge that. I didn't change the front tire, but the rear is new. I run both at 30psi (as I've done since I got the bike and experimented with tire pressures initially). It feels smoother but it could also be the added placebos, which I made sure to add too. I'm just happy to be able to easily fix a puncture from now on, and tire changes without a tube are much easier also.
I'll keep an eye on the pressures. I totally trust the rear, but the front has to prove itself in the next few weeks.
(update, it has been a few days, and both wheels have so far been air tight.)
Protip: use an old racing bicycle tube around you tire spoons to avoid scratching the rims. Dam I wish Ducati had anodized them or just left them aluminium color.
I used a tire stand/bead breaker like this, and a few tire spoons. One of which 2' long, the rest were shorties. I used 3M 4412N tape to seal the rims, and a few 90 degree valve stems from Amazon (the 8.3mm ones, so I didn't have to drill the holes). Sealing the rear rim was a straight forward job. Clean the rim with brake cleaner, install the tape. Roll/rub the tape down everywhere -this activates the sticky layer-, and use a small piece to bond the ends together. After I was done I installed the valve stem, and as a final protection layer I put the rim band back on. I know how tight the STR sits on the rim, and I didn't want the tire to mess up the tape.
Front was a bit harder because of the well in the rim, and the spoke holes that are close to the rim wall. I used the same 2" tape which is actually too wide to sit in the deep section of the rim. I knew this in advance and masked off the part of the rim where the tire sit once installed with electrical tape, so I could cut off the 3M tape right where the electrical tape ends. So all I had to do was peel off the electrical tape instead of the 3M sealant tape, because once activated this sticks like hell.
Again, after I was done I reinstalled the rim band as a protective layer.
I did not seal the spokes with some silicone first, just the tape. And actually when you think about it, once inflated, the pressure difference at the non-sealed spoke nipples will actually press the tape against the spoke nipple, sealing it off.
Reinstalled the front, aired it up and it stand for a few hours. No Leaks.
Max is a happy biker!
Does it ride any different? I can't judge that. I didn't change the front tire, but the rear is new. I run both at 30psi (as I've done since I got the bike and experimented with tire pressures initially). It feels smoother but it could also be the added placebos, which I made sure to add too. I'm just happy to be able to easily fix a puncture from now on, and tire changes without a tube are much easier also.
I'll keep an eye on the pressures. I totally trust the rear, but the front has to prove itself in the next few weeks.
(update, it has been a few days, and both wheels have so far been air tight.)
Protip: use an old racing bicycle tube around you tire spoons to avoid scratching the rims. Dam I wish Ducati had anodized them or just left them aluminium color.
