How to fix a flat tubeless road bike tyre

Tubeless road bike tyres are a popular choice among racers or riders who prefer them over the traditional inner-tube and tyre set-up. Tubeless road tyres are comfortable on the roads, have less rolling resistance and, crucially, are less likely to puncture.

In this guide, we describe how to fix a flat tubeless road bike tyre and how to replace them. If you’re already rolling with tubeless road tyres or are interested in learning what’s involved in fixing a flat, then this guide is for you.

Why choose tubeless road tyres?

Tubeless road tyres are an innovation that has found a loyal fanbase. As well as a smooth and comfortable ride, tubeless tyres offer better puncture protection than the traditional tube and tyre set-up. If this sounds beneficial for you, make the switch now and shop tubeless here.

The sealant inside the tyre fills small holes that can be caused by shards of glass, stones, or general road debris. The tyre effectively protects itself from punctures. In fact, Tubeless tyres can cope with holes of up to 6mm!

Tubeless road tyres offer much higher resistance than road tyres with inner tubes. You also have greater control of tyre pressure.

However, the downside to tubeless tyres is that fixing flats s a slightly longer and more complicated process.

Let's break it down into simple steps.

Step-by-step guide to fixing a flat tubeless road tyre:

Here's what you will need:

• Tyre sealant
• A tubeless tyre
• A tubeless valve
• A pump or CO2 tyre inflator
• A tubeless repair kit

Before we start, we’ll assume that because you’re fixing a flat, you’re running undrilled tubeless-ready rims or have already sealed the rim with seal tape or a one-piece rubber seal.

We will also assume that you’ve already got a valve fitted too. Otherwise, for replacement bike tyre valves, take a look at our solid range here.

Locate the puncture

Firstly, you need to figure out where the damage is on your tubeless tyre. You should spin the wheel and look for signs of sealant bubbling, or you may notice a hissing sound. If the puncture hole is small, the sealant may automatically seal it but if not, you should proceed with the following steps to plug it.

Remove all debris

Free the tyre of any debris such as a nail, glass, grit or thorns. You should avoid using your bare hands and instead opt to use pliers.

Prepare the plug

You can now take your rubber plug (or worm) from the tubeless repair kit and thread it through the eye of the insertion tool, ensuring that it’s centred.

Insert the plug

Using the insertion tool, push the plug into the puncture hole but remember to leave approximately 1cm of the plug sticking out of the tyre. With a gentle twist, remove the tool from the tyre. Although unnecessary, you can trim the excess plug sticking out of the tyre now if you desire.

Reinflate the tyre

Now you can reinflate the tyre so that it sits at the correct pressure – you can do this using a pump or CO₂ inflator. Take the time to inspect around the plug for any signs of air leaking.

Add sealant

If the tyre has lost a considerable amount of sealant, you should remove the valve core and inject more sealant by using a syringe.

Spin and shake

Give your tyre a shake from side to side and spin the wheel to evenly distribute the sealant. This also helps the sealant to seal any micro-leaks.

However, if the puncture hole is too large or is located on the sidewall, you may need to replace the tyre completely.

Replacing a tubeless tyre:

If you need to completely replace the tyre, follow these steps:

Fit the tyre

Firstly, ensure that you’ve got the tyre facing in the right direction before you begin to fit it. Tubeless tyres snap on to rims in the same way as traditional clincher tyres do, but they can be much stiffer. That’s because the bead needs to be as tight as possible against the rim to ensure that no air escapes.

You can attempt to do this by hand, but in the end, you’re likely to need a set of tyre levers. We also recommend wearing gloves to avoid damaging your hands.

When using tyre levers, you can apply some force to the tyre without the risk of snagging or splitting the tube. Be careful not to damage or dent the wheel.

Once the tyre is on, ensure that it’s completely seated on both sides of the rim by giving it a gentle rub all the way round.

Apply sealant

Now that the tyre is in place and seated on the rim, it’s time to add the sealant.

There are various methods you can use, but the simplest and most effective is to apply sealant through the valve stem.

Tubeless valve stems have a removable core that you can take out to apply the sealant and replace once you’re done. You can purchase core-removers for this purpose, but a gentle hand and a set of pliers will work just as well.

Using a sealant syringe or applicator bottle, squeeze the recommended amount of sealant into the tyre. Rotate the wheel gently to ensure that sealant covers the inside evenly.

Pump it up!

With the sealant inside, you can inflate the tyre. Fit a track pump to the valve and with a few stiff pushes, your tubeless tyre should pop into place.

Keep pumping until the whole tyre pings into place and is seated correctly around the entire of the wheel.

Once it’s in place, remove the pump head and refit the core. Lift the wheel and give it a shake to ensure the sealant fully coats the inside of the tyre.

Now refit the track pump and inflate your tyre to the recommended pressure.

Fit the wheel and you’re ready to go!

Remember, you should always test out your new tyre before committing to a long journey. Shop our wide range of bike tyres and elevate your ride today!