I set up my tires as tubeless on Sunday, but over the course of the afternoon they were losing air fairly fast.  I set them up with a compressor, let out air until they were squishy and pumped back up to 20PSI with a floor pump.  By the time I was packing my car they were 16PSI.  Pumped up, drive to BYT (30 minutes), check and they're down to 17 or 18.  Pump, start riding.  3 miles into the ride I have to use my hand pump.  7 miles in, use hand pump again.  Get to car after 10.5 miles and check with floor pump and they're 18PSI again.  After I got home I checked one more time and they seemed to be finally holding air.  I assume that I didn't do enough shaking of the wheels to distribute the sealant and the bead wasn't completely sealed but I'm not really sure.

Fast forward to yesterday (Thursday) and I check the bike that's been hanging on the wall since Sunday afternoon and the front tire is only a few PSI, whereas the back tire is not only flat but the bead is completely off the rim on all sides (the bike hangs against the wall by the back wheel).

When I set up the tires it sounded like the bead had connected on each wheel although I don't remember what pressure it was at before I let out air to ride-able pressure.

Setup is:
Industry Nine Trail 24 wheels with factory tape
Industry Nine tubeless valve (one that comes with the wheelsets)
Specialized Ground Control (F) and Renegade (R), both 2.3" 2Bliss tires
Bontrager sealant, using two full cups for each tire.



Did I do something wrong in my setup?

I'll try that out tomorrow morning.

I definitely will keep at it. I thought low pressure with tubes was fine, but tubeless I felt like I was riding on pillows any time I cruised through a rooty or rocky section.

After riding 'em around the block..

Air 'em up to 50-60 psi, and let 'em sit overnight.

If it's the valve, you'll have to take them apart. Most people I know are now using a small piece of duct tape at the valve hole.

I probably used tire levers when I was using tubes (few hundred miles on each tire using tubes), but didn't need them without a tube as they went on pretty easy by hand.

DK wrote on 03/04/17 at 3:16am:

Stan's race sealant Friggin stops up anything, leaky side walls, funny tape, crooked valve. I mix race Stan's 1:1 with reg Stan's and it stops up really well and has a long dry out time.

Update at 12:20: Rear tire was sitting at about 38PSI, front tire at 46PSI.  I pumped both back up to 50PSI and shook them around again before I let them sit another few hours.  I just have them leaning against some cabinets in my garage.

This still seems like a very fast rate for air loss.  Is this normal due to high pressure or should I check something else out?

I have no experience with the Bontrager sealant.  A quick search netted a review stating that it takes longer to seal the carcass of the tire than Stans does. It sounds like this is your 'issue' and should go away after a few rides. Pressure  drop overnight is pretty normal when first set up. Spin your tires and make sure the tread rolls true- making sure the beads are fully seated.  Get a few rides in and you should be good from there. When you run out of the Bontrager sealant, I'd recommend trying the Stans. I think you'll be happier.

Ridefour15 wrote on 03/04/17 at 5:20pm:



You need to dial that pressure back, Keemosabi.  That's 10psi above max rated pressure on most tubeless rims.  I've had tires blow off at 60 psi and have the scars to prove it!!

IntheBush wrote on 03/05/17 at 12:18am:



This guy speaks the truth.

Its definitely a learning curve to go through, but once you get it, you'll never go back.  I had a similar experience the first time with a tubeless conversion.  Made it about half way through the tennis court side of Reni before I was walking.  
I have found that once you have the bead seated, sealant in, shaken around on both sides; put the wheel on the bike and ride it.  Just around your house/apt, up and down the street, etc.  Quit stressing about the pressures just sitting and ride it.  They will seal(with Stans, not familiar with other sealants).  Some tires (Kenda Small Block 8's, my choice) can be hard to seal.  Stick with it and after a couple of rides, the tires may lose 4 lbs, if that.  I do not carry a spare tube, pump or inflator of any kind now on the mtb.  I've had one flat in the past 10 years from a piece of steel that went through the tire.  Tubes work, but they also pinch flat.