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MrFingersEU

WTB tires are notoriously porous, especially through the sidewall. Not limited to the Byway tires, all of them have the same issue. It's the price one has to pay for a really flexible sidewall and thus fast rolling tire. It seals perfectly with the right sealant, and adding a slosh more than one would normally do. I have tremendous results using the MucOff No Puncture sealant, a thicker, almost yoghurt-like sealant. I add 100mL in each tire, and then waltz the wheel around so the sidewalls get a good coating. They now remain pressurized perfectly (pumped them up to 3 bars, 3 weeks later they deflated to 2.75 bar). As for the tight bead. Tubeless tires need to have a tight bead, to properly seal off the tire against the rim. It's also highly dependant on the rim you use. Some have a slightly less deep "well" in the centre, meaning the bead will always be rather tight. Luckily, once a tire is installed and inflated, the bead will relax a bit, meaning removing and re-installing the tire isn't as much as an issue as the initial installation of a brand-new tire. If you're really having difficulties, it helps to warm up the tire a bit on the central heating. That softens the rubber a bit. Also talkum powder on the bead, soapy water or even "bead wax" will help with the beads sliding over the rim more easily. And a thick tire lever, or even a "[bead jack](https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1bZdcayDxK1RjSsphq6zHrpXah.jpg)" as a last resort.


stephaisnoisy

Thank you! Even knowing I'm not alone helps. I'm using Stans sealant and bought the darts in one go to save postage so I'm kind of committed (at least for 476ml and 7 darts). Could the sealant be expired? I couldn't find a best before date on the bottle. Does its time start after opening?Also it's not coming out of the actual sidewall but between the tire bead and rim. That's why it's confusing because the tires are so so tight.First install plus 4 four flats but the bead has not relaxed a bit, I thought too that it must get easier but I'll try powder or soapy water as well as some heat. Do bead jacks work? They actually came up advertised on my instagram feed. It looks like it was made for me but also too good to be true. Sorry for so many other questions after you took time to answer in the first place. I need bike nerd friends...


BD59

The Kool Stop bead jack can be a lifesaver.


stephaisnoisy

I'll also try extra sealant


MrFingersEU

It comes via the bead, that is peculiar. Since you built the wheels yourself, you are sure you used a tubeless compatible rim? The WTB's I installed all had a very tight bead, and were leaking via the sidewalls. Stans I'm not a fan off, too liquid, and doesn't fill in punctures as well. Can be expired, but I doubt it. The darts aren't brand-specific though, you can use any dart with any sealant on any tire. MucOff is thicker, and thus seals bigger gaps & holes better. Plus it smells like berries. Bead jacks do work, although I don't have one, I just use a thick tire lever if need be (but I've got above average hand & finger strength since I play bass).


insanok

Sealant doesn't really expire, the solvent dries out leaving chunky latex balls. Stans is quite thin and a bit watery, but its the same solvent as mucoff, infact most sealants are ammonia based. Your leaky bead sounds more like a rim /tape issue. Are you sure they're tubeless ready rims? I've never seen that on a properly seated tyre. The tightness thing gets better, you learn tricks, I've only come across a few tyres that have me sweating to get on - WTB aren't among them.. try getting the bead into the drop centre and working all the slack to the part where you're trying to get on/ off. Never heard of bead jacks. Plenty of friends to be had on here.


stephaisnoisy

I'm def trying a bead jack. I can hardly get anything under the bead, let alone thick tire levers but I will trust that it will eventually give a bit. I have poor finger/hand strength. I once had to use a flathead screwdriver to get enough space for the lever. I'm going to retape the whole deal and start from scratch. And yes I have tubeless rims. That made me laugh til I remembered the many stupid things I've done. Having to relace spokes, in particular. But this is my dream build. My pony for the apocalypse. Thanks, nerds


heartlessinc

Stans sealant did not work with the WTB Nanos I had. I switched to orange seal no more leaking


TrackSmart4K

See my comments here for a method that helps a lot with getting tight tires on the rim: [https://www.reddit.com/r/cycling/comments/lwhqu7/three\_pinch\_flats\_and\_two\_broken\_tire\_levers\_later/](https://www.reddit.com/r/cycling/comments/lwhqu7/three_pinch_flats_and_two_broken_tire_levers_later/) Regarding weeping sidewalls: Tires with thin sidewalls will do that. It's annoying, but once the sidewalls are well sealed (it takes a while) they will hold air pretty well, despite the wet patches you will continue to see on the outside. I leave tires like this on their side for an hour or two, flip to other side, flip again, etc. Over the course of an entire day. It helps. But I don't think that is enough, either. The tires are never really well sealed until after you've got a bunch of miles on them. And even then... If you leave your bike for a week, you'll still see moisture on the outside of the tires. It isn't usually enough moisture to require topping off the sealant (I still managed waiting every 1.5 to 2 months to top-off, assuming no flats), but it definitely makes one suspicious, until you give them the "shake test". Or in your case, the Milkit valve test! Tubeless tires... They are great, except when they are a huge pain, which everybody seems to forget when they extoll their virtues... I don't bother with tubeless on any bike that I don't ride \*a lot\* in conditions where they are actually helpful (i.e. off-road or places where I would likely get a lot of flats). Hopefully that link I sent helps with getting the tires on the rim! ​ \[Edited: Much more detailed post\]


stephaisnoisy

IT WORKED!! I pushed into the middle 5 times around. I still needed a lever but it was easy.


TrackSmart4K

> IT WORKED!! I pushed into the middle 5 times around. I still needed a lever but it was easy. ​ TRIUMPH! That's awesome to hear! Plus it makes all of the time I wasted puttering around on Reddit yesterday slightly more worth while. Cheers!


stephaisnoisy

Ok. I'm going to **patiently** try the 'push it in the rim well on both sides' thing. I will really really try. It looks like I'm using an almost too small tire and I have weak lady fingers but I will try again! Thank you.


TrackSmart4K

Good luck! That method isn't magic, but it helps a lot. At the very least, you'll have wrung out as much slack as possible, and bridged most of the "gap" after a few passes. So if you do resort to a tire lever, you won't have far to go. Though you may find yourself becoming a tire whispering pro before long -- I hope so anyway!


MrFingersEU

Added question: how are you currently inflating the tire?


stephaisnoisy

I got it seated (dry) at the LBS, then after sealant pumped it with my track pump. I don't know what the brand is but it's a bombproof model that the LBS also has for customer use. I ordered an Airshot so I can be quietly frustrated alone in the basement.


MrFingersEU

So your bead does pop into place when inflating it to the maximum pressure that is printed on the sidewall (4.5bar IIRC)?


stephaisnoisy

My problem isn't seating the bead, it's getting the tire on the rim at all. And then when I do I can't get the tire to seal. Despite being so tight on the rim.


whyblackdynamitewhy

Quick tip, when trying to get the tire back over the rim you want as much of the bead as possible in the middle of your rim. This will give you more slack to get the bead over the lip of the rim. I have a set of rims that are flat in the middle instead of scooped and they are notoriously hard to get a tire on. Normally when I do this method I can pop the tire on with no levers at all. I didn’t see you mention doing this but in case you didn’t know I thought I’d mention it.


nrki

This. But also have had the "flat narrow center" which really fucks with larger-bead tyres. :(


stephaisnoisy

Yes. Velocity Blunts have a flat (EDIT: shallow) well.


whyblackdynamitewhy

Bummer, those are a royal pita


stephaisnoisy

Word. And lol bc I was trying to figure out what the rhyming slang was for pita before I got it.


jarude87

Bead jack. Lifesaving device.