Vintage tires on mag wheels?

baclay9 · Full Member Joined: Jul 30, 2009 Posts: 88

All of the vintage looking tires I find require tubes. I am guessing because most people run them on spoke wheels. I am going to keep my aluminum wheels on my 79 and was wondering if I can run tubes with mag wheels or am I out of luck.

sure · Full Member Joined: May 07, 2008 Posts: 195

you can run them on mags...

xsleo · Posted: August 14, 2009, 4:13 am Post subject: Re: Vintage tires on mag wheels?

Some of the mags used tubes. The wheel will have for tubeless tire stamped into one of the spokes of the wheel. If it doesn't say it's a tubeless wheel you should run a tube.

baclay9 · Full Member Joined: Jul 30, 2009 Posts: 88

It does say tubeless tires. I just want to run tube tires because nobody seems to make vintage looking tires that are tubeless. Just wanted to make sure it was ok to run tubes on mag wheels.

oldbikenut · Posted: August 14, 2009, 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage tires on mag wheels?

On my 78 my mags did not say tubeless so I put tubes in even though I used tubeless tires(bias), I've heard of people not liking that but so far so good.

jerseyjew · Full Member Joined: Mar 28, 2008 Posts: 48

My 78 mags are not stamped "tubeless" so I am running tubes. It is always safe to run a tube or no tube in a tubeless rim, but never should you not run a tube in tubed rim.

Tubeless rim ='s tube or no tube

Tubed rim ='s tube

baclay9 · Full Member Joined: Jul 30, 2009 Posts: 88

Cool! Thats what I needed to know

gordo · Posted: August 14, 2009, 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage tires on mag wheels?

baclay, the only problem with running a tube in a tubeless wheel is that air can get trapped between the tire and tube.
This is prevented by filling the tube without the valve core installed ( inside the tire & mounted, of course,)several time's, pushing the stem of the tube in to allow the trapped air to come out.
Then, you'll have to check the pressure for a couple of ride's, to be sure all the air came out.
We do this allot ,esp. with trailer tire's.
The air will eventually work it's way out, but you could end up with a really soft tire & not know about it until it's too late.

yamaman · Posted: August 14, 2009, 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: Vintage tires on mag wheels?

I see what your saying there Gordo, wouldn't that also be the case with the tube type mags?

baclay9 · Full Member Joined: Jul 30, 2009 Posts: 88

Good point. Does anyone know of any vintage looking tires that are tubeless? I am wanting to run a WW on the back and a BW on the front.

Teebs · Full Member Joined: Aug 26, 2008 Posts: 255

Avon makes the Gangster which has a more traditional tread, not totally vintage looking, but not a completely modern tread either. Pricey though.

There aren't that many vintage tread tires to choose from, and I doubt you're going to find one with a vintage tread that is tubeless, since most vintage style tires end up on old spokers that require tubes.

With that said, there are plenty of guys running tubed tires on tubeless rims. Yes, you have to work the air out, but it doesn't take that long before you're good to go, and carrying a bicycle pump for a while solves the soft tire problem.

yamaman · Posted: August 15, 2009, 6:53 am Post subject: Re: Vintage tires on mag wheels?

Was trying to find a bit more info on this & found this site, doesn't go in to the questions asked here, but some good info all the same!

www.dunlopmotorcycle.c...retips.asp

www.dunlopmotorcycle.c...yreSafety/

www.totalmotorcycle.co...-tyres.htm

A lot of good reading in these sites! Interesting to note, while between these 3 sites, pretty much every eventuality is covered, the phenomenon of air being trapped between the tube & tyre is not mentioned at all!

I would think that most of this air would be expelled prior to the bead seating! Happy to see any evidence otherwise though, cheers.

gordonscott · Full Member Joined: May 06, 2009 Posts: 304

I use them all the time no problem.

gordonscott · Full Member Joined: May 06, 2009 Posts: 304

I use them all the time no problem.

baclay9 · Full Member Joined: Jul 30, 2009 Posts: 88

Now what tires are those gordonscott? Is that a shinko rear and firestone front? Who has the best prices?

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650