Giant Tubeless Tyres - IMPOSSIBLE TO SEAT!

samfailed

I recently purchased a Giant Defy Advanced 2018 which came set-up as tubeless. I accidentally deflated my rear tyre the other day (don't ask) and now it's impossible to re-inflate! The tyre is very loose and comes off without tyre levers so you certainty can't use a floor pump.

After trying everything I could do at home I took the wheel to my local bike shop to get it sorted. They tried everything; C02 canisters, using zip ties, various different compressors. Still, they could not get it seated and commented on how ridiculously loose the tyre is.

I'm now completely stuck as to what to do! Surely it must be possible because it was set-up in the first place!?

joe_totale-2

Is the rim tape in good nick? Maybe another layer of tape may help as well to make things a bit more snug.

samfailed

Joe Totale wrote:

Is the rim tape in good nick? Maybe another layer of tape may help as well to make things a bit more snug.

The bike is only a few weeks old. Could it become a problem that quickly?

orlok

samfailed wrote:

I recently purchased a Giant Defy Advanced 2018 which came set-up as tubeless. I accidentally deflated my rear tyre the other day (don't ask) and now it's impossible to re-inflate! The tyre is very loose and comes off without tyre levers so you certainty can't use a floor pump.

After trying everything I could do at home I took the wheel to my local bike shop to get it sorted. They tried everything; C02 canisters, using zip ties, various different compressors. Still, they could not get it seated and commented on how ridiculously loose the tyre is.

I'm now completely stuck as to what to do! Surely it must be possible because it was set-up in the first place!?

Is your local bike store the store where you did buy your Giant, then he can re-inflate your tyre.? In the mean time you can read this article about tubeless tyres.

oxoman

I'm assuming your using the gavia tyres and possibly the carbon wheels. Can't say I've had issues with mine even when completely removed. Normally as long as the sealant is ok they will reseat. Can't see why someone suggested tape as tubeless don't normally have this and certainly not fitted on my bikes. Taped rims are normally for tubs not tubeless. Suggest you go back to bike retailer as possible rim or tyre issue.

samfailed

oxoman wrote:

I'm assuming your using the gavia tyres and possibly the carbon wheels. Can't say I've had issues with mine even when completely removed. Normally as long as the sealant is ok they will reseat. Can't see why someone suggested tape as tubeless don't normally have this and certainly not fitted on my bikes. Taped rims are normally for tubs not tubeless. Suggest you go back to bike retailer as possible rim or tyre issue.

Yes, the gavia tyres. How do you inflate them? Do you not find they seem impossibly loose?

zefs

If it doesn't seat with an air compressor the tire is probably defective so don't use it and try another. When deflated the tire should stay on the rim.

Did you hit a pothole or something?

samfailed

zefs wrote:

If it doesn't seat with an air compressor the tire is probably defective so don't use it and try another. When deflated the tire should stay on the rim.

Did you hit a pothole or something?

But the tyre was holding fine before I accidentally deflated it!? Could a defect suddenly be discovered simply by deflating it by the valve?

samfailed

zefs wrote:

If it doesn't seat with an air compressor the tire is probably defective so don't use it and try another. When deflated the tire should stay on the rim.

Did you hit a pothole or something?

But the tyre was holding fine before I accidentally deflated it!? Could a defect suddenly be discovered simply by deflating it by the valve?

oxoman

I found seating the gavia,s and also some IRC to be fairly easy. I found that by putting soapy liquid around the edge of the tyre bead it seats easily. If your struggling to get it to seat correctly try rotating the tyre and try and re-inflate. If your still struggling then I'd be going back to the supplier for assistance if you can. One website link I've found very handy is cycleclinic,s tech page, Malc the owner is very knowledgeable and also a fellow forumite.
https://thecycleclinic.co.uk/pages/tech-page

svetty

Ah the Joy's of tubeless......

Have you tried using a tube inside it? Might get one bead to seat properly with sealant to seal. Then deflate, remove tube from one side leaving the other bead in-situ. Reinflate using compressor.

Or just run with a tube?

zefs

samfailed wrote:

zefs wrote:

If it doesn't seat with an air compressor the tire is probably defective so don't use it and try another. When deflated the tire should stay on the rim.

Did you hit a pothole or something?

But the tyre was holding fine before I accidentally deflated it!? Could a defect suddenly be discovered simply by deflating it by the valve?

No, tubeless tires must stay seated and deflating it shouldn't create any issues. My guess is the sealant (which also helps with the seal) dried and now the tire does not seat or it is defective and the air leaks. Try to find if there is a puncture as well?

About initial setup, you first seat the tire with air compressor, deflate it (tire stays seated) then you add ~30ml of sealant through the valve.

rafletcher

oxoman wrote:

Can't see why someone suggested tape as tubeless don't normally have this and certainly not fitted on my bikes. Taped rims are normally for tubs not tubeless. Suggest you go back to bike retailer as possible rim or tyre issue.

Wrong. Any rim that has holes in the rim bed to access the head of the spokes will need to be taped to make them airtight. Just because your sample of one doesn't, doesn't make your right.

joe_totale-2

oxoman wrote:

I'm assuming your using the gavia tyres and possibly the carbon wheels. Can't say I've had issues with mine even when completely removed. Normally as long as the sealant is ok they will reseat. Can't see why someone suggested tape as tubeless don't normally have this and certainly not fitted on my bikes. Taped rims are normally for tubs not tubeless. Suggest you go back to bike retailer as possible rim or tyre issue.

What's this stuff then?

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/stans-no-tubes ... -rim-tape/

Most tubeless ready rims still have spoke holes, that's what the tape is for. In my personal experience many issues with tubeless is down to issues with the rim tape.

oxoman

Guess I'm wrong, pretty sure that the wheels I have are sealed without tape as certainly none installed. Whether tape is fitted or not though it's not going to help get the tyres holding air on the rims. Pretty sure if your wheels are the PR2,s they are sealed so tape not required. PR 2,s Fitted on adv 1/2 not sure about the adv3 though.

cycleclinic

sounds like the OP need to visit a shop familiar with tubeless.

The OP's tyres may have suffered bead stretch. without see the wheel and tyre we are all guessing.

Alejandrosdog

They’re a real leap forward these tubeless tyres.

oxoman

Running tubeless wether on road or mtb can be a bit of a marmite thing, you'll love it or hate it. I run both on my bikes purely because that's how they came, yes it's a big learning curve which I've been lucky to survive so far. Surprising how many bike shops still don't know how to deal with them. Have been running mine last 18 months or so with one minor hiccup easily sorted.

samfailed

Update: The bike shop managed it in the end with a bigger compressor. Everyone involved is still confused as to why the tyre is so lose, it comes off without tyre levers!

david7m

So...... how did you deflate it then in the first place

jontymo

Had the same issue with my 2018 Defy, had to use a decent compressor to get them reseated, I ended up swapping the tyres to IRC Roadlites which have been great and are still on the PR2’s after 3k Miles, now on GP5000 tubeless on some Mavic Ksyrium Pro ust’s.

cycleclinic

Bead stretch. It not a mystery.

Alejandrosdog

Bead stretch, seriously? I’ll add that to problems sealing at higher pressure, difficult to seat, congealed sealant, blocked valves, increased weight, higher cost,
More faff and at times a total pia to fix at the roadside.

lettingthedaysgoby

samfailed wrote:

Update: The bike shop managed it in the end with a bigger compressor. Everyone involved is still confused as to why the tyre is so lose, it comes off without tyre levers!

I’m not sure I’d be comfortable riding it if it’s as loose as you say. What if you get a puncture big enough for the sealant not to work? Rather than it deflating and you being able to ride it safely to a stop, you could be looking at a big crash as the tyre comes off the rim.