New tires - tube type

[Chuckster]

In my continuing restoration saga I need to consider new tires for my '78 Std. I researched the threads here, but I'm a little confused. My rims are tube type, not tubeless. I called my local dealer for his recommendation and to get a price on mounting/balancing and he recommended two brands I'm not familiar with: IRC and Avalon. I was thinking more Bridgestone, Metzler, or Dunlop. He didn't show any match with those brands. What can I run on a tube type rim? Can I run a tubeless tire and just have them put in a tube? Is anybody running IRC or Avalon? I get confused on the threads here because it seems most people are running tubeless. Just call me clueless...

[newc4]

I've been using Dunlop Elite 2s on my bike. I had a dealer do the mounting - they provided the inner tubes. There was some recent discussion on not using tubes on these rims, do a search.

Darrell

[dbeardslee]

Chuckster - The issue is not whether or not you need tubes, it's whether or not the wheel has the appropriate bead surface. You can seal up your rims and a tubeless tire will hold air just fine on a tube-type rim. Evidently the angle of the rim is slightly different on the tubeless rims than the tube type. The problem, as I understand it, is what happens if you experience a flat on the front tire. A tubeless tire can come off a tube-type rim subsequently binding up between the wheel and fork sending you who knows where.

That having been said I've been running a Chicken Skin Marquis on my front wheel. It's a tubeless tire and a tube-type rim. It hasn't given me any trouble, but I'm still going to get rid of the tube-type rim. Also gonna get rid of the Chicken Skins in favor of Pirelli Sport Demons. It was a toss-up between them and a set of Bridgestone S11's. You can get a set of S11's at Motorcycle Superstore for $127.98 and they'll ship them free. The Pirelli's cost $200.98. They have Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 V's for $193.98 a set, and Dunlop Elite II's for $200.98. They are ALL tubeless tires.

Best advice is hit e-bay for a tubeless front wheel and put some good tires on it. TupperJ said it best when he said "I only have two points of contact with the earth. I don't take chances with them."

[hamjam]

ok my 2 cents
I rode for 20 years on tubeless tires, bridgestone S11 's , BTW, with tubes, on my 78e. Tubed tires became like hens teeth ,The sky did not fall , neither did I. I had one flat rear , it lost air slowly no problem with the tire coming off the rim , I had already thrown away the rimlocks and put round head bolts in the holes ,nut on the outside . ;-) so I suppose the answer is, that for me tubeless tires with tubes on a 78e were not a problem .of course YMMV and you decide what you want to do
Jim

[Chuckster]

Thanks for the responses, I now understand the issue much better. I somehow missed the whole tire coming off the rim issue, I thought it was more a mounting issue. I will check-out ebay and see what's available. Again, my thanks for the education.

[Chuckster]

Is there a way to tell when you're looking on ebay which wheels are tubeless vs. tube type? Is it strictly by year? Are newer wheeels, say '79 or '80 interchangeable with a '78?

[Crazcnuk]

You can run tubes in the tubless tires.

Tubes are still readily available at any bike tire shop. Think of them as 'safety tubes'.

Like anything else, it's all fun and games until someone wipes out a bike...

[hamjam]

Hi Chuckster
the rims will be labeled as to use tubes or not

[bikerphil]

rims

80 and 81's should all be tubeless. The early 79's I think were tube type and the late 79's were tubeless. When looking for a rim on eBay, stick with the 80-81 and you should have no problem. All the years will fit each other. BTW, the Standards use 17" rear wheel and the Specials use 16". Front wheels are all 19" HTH.

[dbeardslee]

Chuckster - if you look on the spokes one will be labeled "suitable for tubeless tires" on the inside of one of the spokes. Or, what Phil said - but they'll still be marked.

Crazcnuk (Crazy Kanuk, am I saying that right?) - You can put a tube in a tubeless tire, but it won't solve the rim-lock problem. Not bein' a smart-butt, just sayin'.

[Crazcnuk]

There isn't really a rim lock problem. The issue is that the lip that the sealing edge of the tire seals against is not as pronounced on a tube type rim, as it is not designed to actually hold air.

The worry is that you may hit a pothole and have the tire blow off and lose pressure very rapidly. A tube will prevent this from happening.

[petejw]

is it the case if the rims have rim locks
then they are a tube type rim?

my 81 is a tube type rim.

also theres nothing wrong with putting
a tube in a tubeless tyres, i did it 4 years on car tyres.

advantage of tubeless as i c it, if you
do get a puncture the tubeless tyre will
deflate slower than a tube tyre thus making it
that little bit safer.

im running the bridgestone battleaxe tyres
and im rapped with them.

[dbeardslee]

Crazy Kanuk - I see what you're saying about the potholes, in which case the tube will add a margin of safety. When I said rim-lock what I meant was bead-lock. Sorry for the confusion. Now you've got me thinking about throwing some tubes in there.

Pete - Just look at the outside of the wheel. On the inside of one of the spokes it will say "suitable for tubeless tires" if it's a tube-type rim.

[dbeardslee]

im running the bridgestone battleaxe tyres

Pete - Tell us more. I know the battlax's use a duel rubber compound on the rears that's supposed to keep them from flattening out - does it work? How are they in the rain? How much mileage are you getting out of them? Do they hold up well on hot roads? I'm really curious.

You said your 'rapped with them'. I'm guessing that's a good thing

[petejw]

hey dbeardslee,
im aware that the rims are marked tube/tubeless,
chuckster asked if there was a away to id them
from sight on ebay.

The battleaxe rear tyre is a dual compound tyre
harder compound in the middle softer on the sides,
sorry about the slang, :-)
ive no complaints at all about these
tyres and can throw the bike around in corners with much
more confidence, Ive got about 7000kms on both tyres, the rear slightly more worn than the front, the rears about half worn.
There both good in the wet and in the heat.