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How-to guide

Set up tubeless tires and keep the sealant fresh

How to tape a rim, mount a tubeless tire, add sealant, keep it topped up and fix a puncture with a plug.

Last edited Nov 9, 2026 by Pedalwise team Edit History Add a subpage

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Difficulty
Moderate

Tools

Parts

Tubeless tires run without an inner tube. Liquid sealant inside the tire plugs most small punctures as you ride, and you can run a little less pressure (Schwalbe). This is popular on e-mountain bikes to cut down on flats (Canyon). This guide covers setting up tubeless, keeping the sealant fresh, and fixing a puncture. Your tire and rim makers' instructions win where they differ.

Tubeless takes more upkeep than tubes, so riders who want low maintenance may prefer tubes (Schwalbe).

Before you start

  • Only use a tire and rim that are both marked tubeless ready or tubeless compatible (Park Tool, Schwalbe).
  • Very cheap rims, narrow rims and rims with eyelets in the center channel usually can't be made airtight (Schwalbe).
  • To take out a hub motor rear wheel, follow fix a flat on a rear hub motor wheel first.

Step-by-step setup

1Clean the rim

Take off any old rim strip and clean the rim channel with alcohol or another solvent that leaves no oily film (Park Tool).

2Tape the rim

Use tubeless tape that covers every spoke hole and is a little wider than the inside of the rim. Aim for 2 to 4 mm wider (Schwalbe). Start at least one spoke hole away from the valve hole, press the tape down firmly and overlap the ends (Park Tool).

Photo needed: Tubeless tape being pressed into the rim channel, overlapping past the valve hole. Add one

3Fit the valve

Make a round hole in the tape at the valve hole, push the tubeless valve through, check it sits right inside the rim, and tighten the valve nut (Park Tool).

4Mount the tire and add sealant

Use the amount of sealant on the tire or sealant label (Park Tool). As examples, Schwalbe sealant takes 60 to 90 ml for tires 23 to 60 mm wide and 90 to 120 ml for 62 to 100 mm (Schwalbe). Shake the bottle first (Stan's). There are two ways (Park Tool):

  • Pour: mount one bead and most of the second, pour sealant into the gap, then finish the bead.
  • Inject: mount both beads, seat them with air, take out the valve core and inject sealant through the valve with a syringe.

Photo needed: Sealant being poured into the gap of a partly mounted tire with the wheel held level. Add one

5Seat the beads

Use soapy water on tight beads. Inflate until both beads pop into place. A floor pump works with some rims and tires. Others need a compressor (Park Tool). Overinflating to seat a bead stresses the rim tape (Park Tool). Never go above the lower of the tire and rim limits (Schwalbe).

6Check the bead line

The molded line just above the rim should be even all the way round. If one spot sits low, let the air out, break the bead there, add soapy water and inflate again (Park Tool).

Photo needed: Bead line running evenly just above the rim edge. Add one

7Spread the sealant

Spin the wheel, then hold it flat and rock it so sealant coats the bead. Flip it and repeat (Park Tool).

8Let it seal, then set pressure

Sealing can take hours or even days on some setups. Top up the air and spin the wheel every few hours. Once it holds air, set your riding pressure (Park Tool). See set tire pressure.

Keeping the sealant fresh

  • Sealant dries out. Check it every three months; it typically lasts 2 to 6 months (Stan's), or with Schwalbe sealant around 2000 km or 2 to 7 months, depending on temperature (Schwalbe).
  • Check before a long tour (Schwalbe).
  • Use CO2 only in an emergency, then swap it for air, since long contact with CO2 can make sealant separate (Stan's).
  • Rinse spills with cold water before they dry (Stan's).

Fixing a puncture

  1. Keep rolling, or turn the wheel so the hole is at the bottom, and wait a few minutes for the sealant to work (Schwalbe, Aventon).
  2. If it won't seal, push a tubeless plug into the hole with a plug tool. The plug shrinks the hole so the sealant can finish the job (Park Tool). Don't push too far, which can damage the rim tape (Aventon).
  3. For big cuts or pinch cuts, fit a tube. Take out the tubeless valve and wipe out as much sealant as you can first (Schwalbe).

Most tubeless tires can't be patched from the inside, apart from UST tires and tires with a butyl inner lining, which can take a vulcanizing patch (Park Tool).

Videos

How to Install Tubeless Tires from Park Tool: taping, sealant and bead seating.
Tubeless Tire Mounting from Stan's NoTubes: mounting a tire and adding sealant.
TPT-1 Tubeless Tire Plug Tool from Park Tool: plugging a puncture.

When to get a pro

  • The bead won't seat or the tire won't hold air after a day or two.
  • The sidewall is cut or the rim is dented.
  • More on what to leave to a shop: when to call a pro.

Sources

Stuck after these checks? Find a shop near you.

Need a pro?

If these steps didn't fix it, find a shop near you in our partner network of shops that work on electric rides.

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