Tubeless and sealant

Injector voor tubeless sealant

This is an injector for tubeless sealant, a syringe you use to put sealant into a tyre. The title lists it without a brand.

What you get

Tubeless sealant injector
For tyre sealant
Unbranded

Why ride tubeless?

Without an inner tube there is no pinch flat, a common cause of punctures. Sealant fills small holes up to roughly 3 to 6 mm, often without you noticing. You are far less likely to have to stop during a ride.

Tubeless allows lower pressures. With no tube, nothing gets pinched on an impact, so you can ride the tyre softer. That brings more grip, more comfort and often lower rolling resistance on rough surfaces. On gravel and MTB it is now the standard.

There are downsides. Fitting is messier and takes patience, sealant must be topped up every few months and a big cut will not seal. You need a tubeless-ready rim and tyre, tape and valves. For a large leak you carry a plug kit or a spare tube.

Tubeless suits people who ride regularly, take on the maintenance and want the benefits. If you ride rarely, a tube is simpler.

Tubeless or inner tube

The two ways to run a clincher tyre.

System	Punctures	Pressure	Maintenance	Fitting
Inner tube	Pinch flats possible	Higher, to avoid pinching	Little. Pressure only	Quick and clean
Tubeless with sealant	Small holes often seal	Lower possible, more grip	Sealant every 2 to 6 months	Messier and more precise
Tubeless tyre without sealant	No puncture protection	As with sealant	Higher leak risk	Not recommended

Always use a tubeless-ready rim and tyre of the same standard.

Choose it if

You ride tubeless and want to top up sealant without taking the tyre off the rim
You top up through the valve with the core removed
You ride gravel or MTB and want to use lower pressures.
You want fewer punctures and more uninterrupted riding.

Choose something else if

You use inner tubes: you will not need this tool
You ride little and want a setup that needs no upkeep.
Your rims are not tubeless-ready.

How to set up tyres tubeless

Apply the tape
Clean the rim and apply tubeless tape over the valve hole. Use two layers and press it down well, with no air bubbles beneath.
Fit the valve
Pierce the tape, push the tubeless valve through and tighten the nut firmly by hand.
Fit the tyre
Fit one side of the tyre first and keep both beads in the central well of the rim.
Add sealant
Pour the recommended amount of sealant into the tyre, or inject it through the valve after seating the tyre.
Inflate hard
Use a compressor or tubeless booster until the beads pop. Spin and shake the wheel to spread the sealant, then set your riding pressure.

Good to know

Capacity and the fitting (Presta or Schrader) are not in the title, so check them
The sealant itself is not included and is sold separately
Check the sealant after 2 to 6 months. Dried sealant no longer seals a leak.
Use valves and tape suited to your rim width.
High temperatures make sealant dry out faster.
Carry a plug kit or a spare tube for large leaks.

What you get

Why ride tubeless?

Tubeless or inner tube

Choose it if

Choose something else if

How to set up tyres tubeless

Apply the tape

Fit the valve

Fit the tyre

Add sealant

Inflate hard

Good to know

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