How to fix a punctured tubeless tyre
Tubeless tyres are a popular choice throughout all cycling disciplines. They come with a host of benefits including additional comfort, less rolling resistance, and increased puncture protection.
While they reduce the risk of punctures, tubeless tyres don’t eliminate them completely, so you still need to be prepared!
In this guide, we’ll talk you through how to fix a puncture on a tubeless tyre. If you’re not yet running a tubeless set-up but want to convert, check out our guide here.
How do tubeless tyres work?
Unlike a standard tube set-up, tubeless tyres don’t require an inner tube. Instead, tubeless tyres have a bead that grips the inside of the rim to create an airtight seal.
You can then insert a sealant where the inner tube would usually be. This sealant fills most punctures you’d regularly encounter (usually punctures up to 6mm). While they significantly reduce the risk of punctures compared to an inner tube set-up, tubeless tyres can still puncture.
That’s why you need to be prepared and we’ve pulled together the below guide to help. While this will talk through how to repair a punctured tubeless tyre, it’s always worth carrying a spare inner tube with you on any ride. Most tubeless set-ups can still use an inner tube, and they’re good to have in case you can’t repair the puncture.
Let sealant seal the puncture
In a lot of cases, it’s possible to repair a punctured tubeless tyre with nothing more than a pump.
If you’ve punctured, it means the sealant has failed to seal the hole. However, if you turn your wheel so the puncture is facing the ground, this will allow more sealant to move to the area of the puncture.
Leave it there for a moment and pump up your tyre. Sometimes, this will clog the hole and solve the issue. It’s an easy fix and can save you routing through your saddle bag for any tools.
However, if this doesn’t work, it's time to try a plug…
How to fix a punctured tubeless tyre with a plug
This method fixes smaller punctures you’re likely to encounter and can easily be used while out riding.
You'll need:
- Tubeless plug tools like the Stans No Tube DART Tubeless Tyre Repair Tool
- Tubeless plugs
- Pump/CO2 inflator (JetValve C02 Inflator)
If you do encounter a puncture, it’s still likely to be relatively small meaning it can be plugged. The easiest way to do this is with a tubeless plug (plan b is using a standard repair patch which is covered below).
The first step is to find the puncture. It should be easy to locate as it’ll be the source of any leaking sealant. If there are any objects embedded in the puncture, remove them. For some stubborn punctures, you may need to use pliers (it’s worth carrying a small pair on rides).
Once removed, insert a plug into the hole using the tool. Twist the tool when you pull it out to ensure the plug doesn’t pull out too. Make sure the plug is big enough (there are various plug sizes available, and most plug tools come with a variety of sizes). You can then trim any excess plug which is sticking out, although this isn’t essential as it’ll wear down while riding.
And that should seal the hole! All that’s left to do is pump up your tyres. A hand pump will usually do the job if the tyre is still firmly seated to the rim. If it isn’t, you may need a C02 inflator like the JetValve C02 Inflator to provide the high pressure required to seat the tyre.
Before heading off, leave the plug side of the tyre near the ground for a moment. The sealant should then flow to the bottom of the tyre and help seal the hole.
If you lost a lot of sealant from the puncture, make sure you add more before your next ride.
How to fix a punctured tyre with a patch kit
If a plug isn’t working, your next step is to apply a puncture repair patch to the inside of the tyre. This can be messy work (don’t forget your tyres are full of sealant), so it can be easier to take a spare inner tube and do this when you get home.
You'll need:
- Tyre levers – Tubeless tyres are generally tougher to fit and remove, so a stronger set of levers like Halfords Tyre Levers are advisable.
- Puncture repair kit like the Halfords Puncture Repair Kit
- Pump/C02 inflator (JetValve C02 Inflator)
This method follows a similar process to patching a punctured inner tube.
Remove your wheel from your bike and take off the tyre using the tyre levers. Remember there’s sealant in your tyre so this will likely be messy (don’t do this in a nice room!).
Sand the area around the puncture, as this will make it easier to apply the patch. Then add glue to the area and apply the patch.
Firmly hold this down for a minute making sure it’s flat and there are no air bubbles.
You’ll then need to set the tyre up again with tubeless sealant. You can find a full guide to setting up tubeless tyres here.
Repairing larger punctures
While it is possible to sew larger punctures, this is a short-term, temporary fix. For any punctures a plug or puncture patch can’t repair, we’d recommend replacing your tyre.
Here at Halfords, we have a wide range of tubeless tyres, and you can find the full range here.
Follow this guide and you should have no problem fixing your punctured tubeless tyre. If the tyre is beyond repair, you can find a wide range of tubeless tyres over at Halfords.com.
You can also find all the puncture repair tools you need here.