I've always been happy with a pump but having picked up one of these...
...which has holders for a slug plug (got) and a C02 cannister (don't got), I'm curious.
I've read that you're best using them with the valve at the top of the wheel to avoid spraying the sealant, and to deflate the tyre when you get home and pump it up again with air, but is there anything else? Anyone use them regularly? Anyone stopped using them?
I've used CO2 cannisters on occasion, really just when the situation requires it - having a flat/loss of air out on the tops when it's blowing a hoolie isn't the time to mess about.
I rotate the wheel so that the valve is at either 1 o'clock or 11 o'clock (this lets any sealant in the valve drain which setting to 12 o'clock wouldn't), leave for a period to let the sealant drain away from the valve. Inflate and carry on. The reason to let the sealant move away from the valve is to reduce the cold shock you'll get when the expanding CO2 comes into contact with it. There are some claims that CO2 affects latex based sealants causing it to coagulate but those claims also state that the resulting coagulations are very small.
I've never bothered deflating and reinflating with air - supposedly tyre rubber is more porous to CO2 than air/O2 but it's just a matter of checking your tyres the next time you head out.
Generally work out what works for you and whatever sealant you use.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Like Whitestone I have them for rapid inflation when the weather is horrible else I'll use a normal pump. I did get a mini usb rechargeable for my birthday which will probably take the place of CO2 for me if it works well.
Valerio wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 9:33 pm
Is it possible to re-seat a tyre with a co2 cannister?
It did in my (rare) cases. I have one with me only for the gravel bike rides, where I take a tiny pump plus cartridge and a selfmade valve. I guess it would also work on my mtbs since the tyres have already already taken shape and only need to be re-seated.
I've been tubeless for about 7 or 8yrs and have used Co2 during that time. Some tyres need a big blast of pressure to seat on the rims and inflate. Definitely thinner latex sealant makes a mess if frozen by the Co2 within the tyre. I've some panaracer semi slicks I need to degunk somehow because I didn't inflate away from the sealant. For any normal tubeless puncture I use a normal pump. I only use the Co2 to reseat the tyre on the rim if it comes off when out riding. I've a jerry rigged fire extinguisher that I inflate with a track pump then use that to seat new tyres as Co2 doesn't always work. Occasionally use works compressor to get them seated if awkward. You need to top the sealant up every 3 to 6 months and I tend to replace the valve core when topping up as it can get clogged up and leak. As to Co2 inflators I've only found 1 decent one so far and it's a lezyne one with a screw valve.
The cheaper push type tend to be a one shot thing and some freeze the inflate valve open so you lose everything even if you've sorted your tyre out. I have seen someone blow the tyre off the rim and cover several people in Stans snot. I've used them on road, gravel and mtb tyres and to be honest use them as a last ditch thing nowadays.
Used to use them all the time. Since I went tubeless (years ago) I stopped. IIRC you need more than 1 cannister for a big tyre and I was on 29+ ... plus you have to cart the full (more than one), the empties, the inflator AND you still need to carry a pump anyway, I ditched it as a tool.
I stopped using CO2 when I switched to tubeless a few years back. Glad to hear I was probably being over cautious, as having a couple of large ones would certainly ease any anxiety about getting tyres back on properly following a bad puncture.
