There are a lot of tubeless rim and tire combos out there that can be seated with a floor pump, but more often then not, you’re gonna need some help. For years mechanics and riders have looked to air compressors to get the burst of air needed to seat stubborn tubeless tires, but not everyone wants to deal with a heavy, loud beast of a compressor that has to be plugged in. That gave rise to the more technically inclined to create their own tubeless inflation tanks, which like most things eventually turned into real products.
The ideal is pretty simple. Use a pump to inflate a secondary tank that is then released all at once to pop your tire into place. For their entry into the category, Zéfal has introduced a stand alone tubeless tank that can be used with any pump to get your tires rolling…
Looking more like the ghost trap from Ghostbusters than a bike pump, the Tubeless Tank is housed in a rectangular box with a foot switch. At one end you have a standard presta valve that any floor pump can connect to, so that you can inflate the 1 liter tank up to a recommended 145 psi (230 psi max).Underneath the tank is a hose that will connect to the presta valves on your wheels , and can be stowed when not in use. Once the tank is filled to the minimum 145 psi and the hose is connected to your valves, step on the lever and let ‘er rip. Sold with an included valve core tool to remove valves for easier inflating, the Tubeless Tank retails for €79.95.
