Andy Mink
Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
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After getting my first flat, I was carrying the requisite tube patches for my tube tires. After going to tubeless I looked around and saw the Stan's DART (Dual Action Repair for Tubeless) tool. Having used regular bacon strip plugs before on ATV tires, I knew I wanted something easier to use so I dove in and got the tool that comes with two plugs and the pack that supplies 5 additional plugs. Today I got to try it out in the real world.
The DART is supposed to be for holes in the tread of the tire but, of course, I put about a half inch cut in the sidewall. The rubber was cut and there was damage to the carcass but it wasn't cut as much. I put two of the DART plugs in, held the bike flat so some of the Stan's sealant could get where the cut was, waited a few minutes for the chemical reaction to take place, pumped the tire up, and rode home. Easy peasy! I did stop a few times to check on the tire and once to add some more air though I doubt I had it up to where I usually ride, around 20psi. It does take some time for the sealant to do its thing but it did stop coming out before I rode the 4 miles home.
The DART is made to react with the tubeless sealant in the tire but beware, not all sealants are compatible. Some people have mentioned they had problems sealing holes and the little floret pieces separated from the stem or the stem broke. Keep in mind these are for bigger holes. Trying to shove the plug into a tiny hole is not what it's made for; smaller holes should be sealed by the sealant alone and that might take a bit of time too.
STAN'S DART TOOL
Plusses:
--It works and I didn't have to take my wheel off the bike to repair the tire.
--It's super easy to use.
--Compact and lightweight.
--No rubber cement to dry out.
--No worries about jamming a bacon strip tool into your rim or rim tape.
--No need to cut the excess off, even on the tread. It will wear off and can't be felt when riding.
Minuses:
--It's not particularly inexpensive.
Two "florets" are on the tool
Ready for a ride
The bubbles are from the sealant coming through the plug. As the reaction took place the bubbling stopped and the hole sealed.
The two florets after the ride home.
The cut is easier to see here. I was going to get a new tire anyway...
The end result? I got the tire repaired in less than five minutes, including finding a fairly flat spot to work, getting the pack off, plugging the tire, pumping it up, and sloshing the sealant around to get it up on the sidewall. For me, totally worth the cost of admission!
The DART is supposed to be for holes in the tread of the tire but, of course, I put about a half inch cut in the sidewall. The rubber was cut and there was damage to the carcass but it wasn't cut as much. I put two of the DART plugs in, held the bike flat so some of the Stan's sealant could get where the cut was, waited a few minutes for the chemical reaction to take place, pumped the tire up, and rode home. Easy peasy! I did stop a few times to check on the tire and once to add some more air though I doubt I had it up to where I usually ride, around 20psi. It does take some time for the sealant to do its thing but it did stop coming out before I rode the 4 miles home.
The DART is made to react with the tubeless sealant in the tire but beware, not all sealants are compatible. Some people have mentioned they had problems sealing holes and the little floret pieces separated from the stem or the stem broke. Keep in mind these are for bigger holes. Trying to shove the plug into a tiny hole is not what it's made for; smaller holes should be sealed by the sealant alone and that might take a bit of time too.
STAN'S DART TOOL
Plusses:
--It works and I didn't have to take my wheel off the bike to repair the tire.
--It's super easy to use.
--Compact and lightweight.
--No rubber cement to dry out.
--No worries about jamming a bacon strip tool into your rim or rim tape.
--No need to cut the excess off, even on the tread. It will wear off and can't be felt when riding.
Minuses:
--It's not particularly inexpensive.
Two "florets" are on the tool
Ready for a ride
The bubbles are from the sealant coming through the plug. As the reaction took place the bubbling stopped and the hole sealed.
The two florets after the ride home.
The cut is easier to see here. I was going to get a new tire anyway...
The end result? I got the tire repaired in less than five minutes, including finding a fairly flat spot to work, getting the pack off, plugging the tire, pumping it up, and sloshing the sealant around to get it up on the sidewall. For me, totally worth the cost of admission!