The Backstory
In 2009, I purchased my first (and only) full-suspension bike, a Specialized FSR XC Comp. Right out of the gate, I was getting flats. Every time I rode it, in the worst cases. After a couple years of patching and replacing, I discussed converting to tubeless with the bike shop from which I purchased the bike. At that time, there were tubeless conversions, but not if the bike had Schrader valves, which mine did. The conversions were only for wheels with Presta valves.
I'm not one to be thwarted by problems, so I designed and manufactured an insert that allowed a Presta valave to fit into a wheel designed for Schreuder valves. It worked great. So great, it became one of my first product lines. The bike shop was then able to complete the conversion, allowing me to run tubeless for several years, which completely solved my trouble with flat tires. What a relief not to have flats anymore, until one day....
Both tires were flat. I took the bike back to the original bike store, but they could not get the tires to seal properly, so the tires leaked. I took the bike to three local bikes shops. Not a single shop could fix the leaks. I found this strange, but that's the way it was, so I was back to innertubes. And flats. I hate flats.
Recently, I discovered tire liners, called Rhinodillos, so I tried a set that I purchased from REI. The liners were for tires every-so-slightly narrower than mine, but it was the only option, so I bought them. I rode them for three terrifying weeks. The liners changed the handling of the bike, to the point it was almost uncontrollable. The front end was particularly squirrely., with the front wheel would trying to dive into turns or the bike trying to lean way over when simply pedaling. With its stock 26" wheels, it has always been squirrely, but not like this. I had to remove the liners, thus restoring the bicycle back to its normal, predictable behavior.
Please note I did try to contact the company, but could not find any method for connecting with anyone. It almost seemed as though the company went out of business, but REI had old stock.
Enter the Tannus Armour Tire Insert
I liked what I saw on their website, so I had a couple conversations with a person in their customer support department. The person was very helpful. He or she went way beyond my expectations when answering my questions, so I was excited to purchase the suggested inserts and innertubes.
The installation is described below. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't all that hard. Interestingly, as I mention below, there were two sets of instructions, completely different, that came with the inserts. For the first tire, I chose the directions on the box but for the second tire, I chose the instructions printed on the insert. The first tire took about 40 minutes, in part because I was figuring it out. The second tire, the rear tire, took 23 minutes. The increase in speed was due to my experience changing the first tire and because (my opinion) the printed instructions on the insert are the better instructions.
Installing the Inserts
Below are the steps I photographed during my installation of the tire inserts. As previously mentioned, there are two instructions. On the Tannus Armour box, the instructions told me to remove the original tube, insert one wall of the Armour insert into the wheel, insert the new tube, then set the beads on the insert and tire.
Written on the insert directly, are instructions for first inserting the new tube into the insert, then stuff the insert with tube into the tire and install. I opted to follow the first set of instructions.
Let's start by removing the original innertube. I broke the bead on one side of the tire, then removed the tube.
Stuffing the insert into the tire worked really well for 3/4 of the installation. Then, I struggled to roll the insert within the tire to its proper position. For that last 1/4 of insert, it was somewhat sideways in the tire. I lifted and pulled to roll the tire over the insert, but it was not easy.
In this photo, I am still stuffing the insert into the tire, by pulling up on the hub with my right hand and pushing down with my left, while pushing in small increments of sidewall.
Just about there, but you can see how there is a large lump of insert sticking out of the tire. The problem is the insert is not centered in the tire, it is kind of rolled towards the camera.
Continuing on per the instructions, I am putting the new Tannus Armour innertube into the tire insert. You can really see how the insert is rolled outwards in this photo. My thinking at this point is assemble the tire per instructions, and maybe it will fix itself. :)
No surprise, but it didn't fix itself. :) So here is how I finished the installation. I broke the bead on the other side of the tire, so the tire was hanging loosely over the wheel. Then, I installed the insert like a tire, pumped it up slightly, so the compressed section of insert would take on a more rounded, "innertube shape," then installed the tire. This allowed the stiff insert to settle into place. I let the air mostly out of the tire, massaged the tire a couple rotations, then pumped it up again.
All finished. Pumping up the tire. Now to the rear tire.
Installing the Rear Tire Insert
Which sounds like there are a front and rear insert, which isn't the case. For the rear tire, I followed the instructions on the insert, which had me install the tube into the insert first, then both into the tire.
In this photo, I have just about finished stuffing the innertube into the insert.
Now I am stuffing the insert and tube into the tire. So far, so good. Much quicker than the first tire.
Same problem as before. The insert is rolling outwards from the rim and tire. It is so stiff that I had trouble getting it back in, but due to a car accident many years ago, my forearms are a bit on the weak side. So...
I did the same thing as on the first tire, where I broke the bead on the second side of the tire, let it float over the wheel and insert. I pumped a little air into the insert, to give it better shape, then began fitting it around the rim, followed by the tire.
And here they are, all installed, ready to ride!!! Please note that on the Tannus America website, their video shows them following the instructions printed on the insert. They also spray water into the tire, to help slide the insert around. Because I was following the directions exactly as printed on the insert or box, I did not spray any kind of water or lubricant into the tire.
(And yes, I carry bear spray everywhere.)
