Tubliss - install w/ new tire?

[Goat]

I have to swap my front over to KX rim, and am considering tubliss.
I heard recommendation is to install tubliss w/ new tire.
Any comment if this really matters?
I don’t need new tire yet.

[ericr]

With a used tire, there's a chance that the bead will be deformed from the rim lock so that it won't hold the low pressure air. You could try slime if it leaks, but that's kind of messy.

[SS109]

New tire preferred but not an absolute must. Like mentioned, add 8oz of Slime if it leaks and you'll be fine.

[Goat]

Gotcha. I could try it and get a new tire if it leaks. And get some extra tire changing practice just in case I enter the 6-day.
Any thoughts on using the 180-position for the bead lock, so no extra rim holes?
.... not sure why I think I know more than Nuetech.

[GATOROC]

I'm going to swap my way less than a year Shinko Fatty and Tubliss over to my KX rim here shortly. The hole is already in the recommended "4 spokes over" where your beadlock is. All you have to do is drill it out to the specifications for Tubliss and you're good to go! Your KX rim air/beadlock holes are 180 degrees out?

[Goat]

Duh! No. It’s in the right place. I was mixing it up with my other bike.
I swapped the tube & tire over to the KX rim to see if I could manage it without pinching the tube.
Seems ok, so looks like tubliss install may be delayed until new tire time.

[treelimb]

get a shinko fatty, 90/100 x 21, and you will LOVE IT. They can be bought online for around $65ish shipped. That will solve the new tire issue. I actually feel the difference as i am racing and riding over my head and my fork conversion is the KLX.

I just checked online and prices range from $49.95 to $60.88 shipped. That's a great deal on a fabulous tire imho.

I went and looked at mine and I have 8 races on it and about 5-6 extra rides on top of that. Still looks great. just throwing my two cents in.

[SS109]

Not a fan of the Shinko fatty even at the low price. At my riding speed, and in the terrain I ride, they blow outside knobs off like crazy. Literally, like the first ride I started noticing cracks and started shedding them by the third ride. I would be replacing them so much that it just isn't cost effective over the real deal Goldentyre. I don't have knob cracking/shedding problems with a genuine Goldentyre fatty, and I can normally get a solid year out of them, so they end up being way cheaper in the long run.

[doakley]

The torn outside knobs is a pretty common “feature” of the Shinko fatty. I may try a Golden next but at the moment I’m living with the torn knobs as I don’t see any immediate racing coming up.

[Goat]

I already have the Kenda equilibrium 4.5-18 hanging on the wall to try for next rear. It’s next to new, as I put the Avalons back on the XRL, once the KDX joined the family. This job was just a front swap and it has a while to go yet.

Must say I have been very happy so far with the Kenda Trackmasters that came with the bike. The rear is probably due anytime, but seems like quite a waste to dump a tire that still has way more tread than I am used to. But my race buddies have said it’s about time. But now no real rush.

[Goat]

Since I didn’t have the right stuff... I found wire pulling lube worked great as tire lube.

[KDXGarage]

You didn't have dish detergent?

[doakley]

I prefer Dawn but have even used Simple Green in a pinch. (pun intended)

[Goat]

I have used soap in past. I mostly just wanted to try it since it seems intended for similar job. It has consistency of GOOP hand cleaner cream. So rubs in/on pretty well.
IMO - Seemed better than soap.

[KDXGarage]

I prefer Dawn but have even used Simple Green in a pinch. (pun intended)

HA HA!!

I use Dawn. It sure is easy to take off tire that way. I use it undiluted an glob it on!

[Goat]

I get the about same feeling of excited hope / possible disaster when I put air in a changed tire, as when first starting up an engine rebuild.

[KDXGarage]

Wow. I just saw that you have some fancy tire powder.

You are ALMOST as bad as my friend who was sent to the grocery store to buy baby powder for our 1987 KDX200 tire change. He came back with J&J lavender and chamomile. This was 2003. I still have the bottle. I will die before I part with that bottle.

[GOT WOODS?]

Wow. I just saw that you have some fancy tire powder.

You are ALMOST as bad as my friend who was sent to the grocery store to buy baby powder for our 1987 KDX200 tire change. He came back with J&J lavender and chamomile. This was 2003. I still have the bottle. I will die before I part with that bottle.

BWAHAHAHA!!! I did the same! It was the only bottle on the shelf in the store. I sure smell purty after wrasslin' with a tire for a half an hour! Just ask my wiseassed friends.....

[henrys]

Having run tubliss for the last few years I can tell you it works great until it doesn't. I've never had much problem with the rear but the front is real hit/miss getting a seal. I'm really considering going back to heavy duty tubes or a mousse on the front. I will keep the rear tubliss though..

[SS109]

I actually don't understand the problem some have with Tubliss. I have been running them for 8+ years now with well over a 1000 hours on them. I've had only two failures of the inner bladder and both were due to old age. It is recommended to replace the bladder every year but I went 4 and 5 years on each one that failed so it was my own fault. The liner was still good on both and are still being used.

As to getting a good seal between the liner and a tire, the tire you use is important. Some tires just don't work well with Tubliss. However, even those that don't will seal just fine if you use standard Slime tire sealant in them. 8oz per tire is more than enough. I even ran the Goldentyre GT523KX where the manufacturer specifically stated it was not for use with Tubliss with no issues.

Sorry, I'm a diehard Tubliss fanboy!