Topic: is there any way to run tubless tyres on spoked rims

[Scott]

Hello there
I know I can ask the bloke building my wheels but has anyone here run tubless tyres on spoked wheels
Thanks
Scott

[Stev-o]

I haven't done it but there has been this discussion before....


http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=119743.0

[swoardrider]

I believe it also has to do with what tire you use.  In the Continental tire brochure that I attached, it says all of their tires are tube compatible.  It just lowers the tire's speed rating.  So, if you have a specific tire you want to run, you may be able to use it with a tube. 
Now if you wanna actually run a tire without a tube, you need to seal the spokes like the Japanese kit in Stev-o's link.

[bryanj]

As long as you still fit a rim tape and tube there is no problem at all

[Scott]

I'm trying to avoid tubes only to make road side tyre repairs a bit easier.
About 3 weeks ago when I was away for the weekend I got a puncture to the rear tyre and then 200km later a puncture in the front tyre.
Probably a bit unlucky and may not happen again for a while, but just thought I'd investigate fitting tubless.
I don't have a preferance for a particular tyre and don't ride hard enough to notice much difference in tyre choice.
Scott

[martin99]

How does a tubeless tyre make for easier roadside repair? I'd rather carry a spare tube around than a spare tyre!

[70CB750]

I would think he wants to plug it.

Many people here run tubes in tubeless, than there are some who run just tubless - even that is not recommended since the wheel profile is different for tubes and the tire can come off in some situation.

[City Boy]

Hi.I would think tubless on spoke rim,epecially older rims would not be safe.Aside from the problem of keeping air in,most spoke rims will not have the safety bead that keeps the tire on the rim under deflation.

[LesterPiglet]

I've used tubeless tyres with tubes for as long as I can remember. There are no problems unless manufacturers are now producing them(problems).

[Bankerdanny]

He isn't asking about running a tubeless tire with a tube, he's asking about running a tubeless tire, without a tube, on a spoked rim.

Technically, yes, there are conversion kits that use a special rim tape to seal the center of the rim where the spoke nipple go through, and you would need to fit a proper tubeless valve. tubeless spoke wheels are becoming common on bicycles these days and there are kits to convert conventional rims to tubeless.

That said, I don't think I would do it. As City Boy says, our older rims don't include the special rib that helps keep the tire in place if air pressure falls too low and motorcycles are much heavier and go much faster than bicycles.

I get the appeal of tubeless as road repairs can be made without removing the wheel and tire. But I think the risk is too high.

[madmtnmotors]

Classic opportunity....

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=TUBELESS+BEAD+LOCK

check out first on the list 

 

[70CB750]

I believe the Nashua silicon tape would do instead of the conversion kit, cheap and a great product.

[puppytrax]

I'm trying to avoid tubes only to make road side tyre repairs a bit easier.

I'll tell you a story...   

45 years ago, my first bike, a Yamaha 250 2-stroke twin [YDS-3] had a rear flat about 50 miles from home...It was late afternoon, I managed to wobble into an auto repair shop, the mechanic/owner let me use his screwdrivers & wrenches to remove the wheel and tire, with the expectation of patching the tube...The tube was not just punctured, it had ripped...Auto supply stores were closed by then...

I had no other way to get home, but I spotted a pile of newspapers in the corner, and asked if I could have some of them...The owner said sure, so I rolled up newspapers into tight tubes and stuffed them into the tire, put the wheel on, thanked the owner, and rode off...Astonishingly enough, I could get up to 35mph with that newspapered tire...I rode the shoulder home, feet out like outriggers in case something catastrophic happened...Nothing did...It tracked very well, until about 2 miles from home, when the rear started swerving...I slowed down to ~5 - 7mph and made it home OK...

When I tore it down the next day, the tire was ruined, the newspapers were shredded, and the rim had rubbed gravel shoulder for at least the last two miles, but was still usable...

Point is, I no longer have any worry about blowing out a tube...I know I can ride my cycle if I have to, even if it is on the rim...   

Getting to a safe/secure location is more important to me than saving a tire...

...And I've pushed two different cycles five or more miles rather than leave them by the side of the road...   

[Lostboy Steve]

Classic opportunity....

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=TUBELESS+BEAD+LOCK

check out first on the list 

 

HAHA my thoughts exactly. That is a wonderful link!

[Scott]

Thanks for the replys
I think I will contact the rim supplier and see what their view is on the suitability of the  rim to run tubless tyres. I'm waiting on the rims to arrive any day now from U.K they are an alloy rim not genuine Honda.
If it is not recomended I definatly won't do it. Just thought I would consider it incase it is an option
Scott

[bryanj]

Having been working on bikes for over 40 years now my reaction is No Way, No how.

But its your neck you will break just stay away from the innocent pedestrians

[totty]

Thanks for the replys
I think I will contact the rim supplier and see what their view is on the suitability of the  rim to run tubless tyres. I'm waiting on the rims to arrive any day now from U.K they are an alloy rim not genuine Honda.
If it is not recomended I definatly won't do it. Just thought I would consider it incase it is an option
Scott

This post makes all the difference, I think everything that's gone before has assumed a standard rim. I'm aware of 3 different spoked tubeless rim systems (although I've never seen one on a CB) if you have a rim designed to use tubeless tyres then it's not a problem.

[PeWe]

No problem. I have used tires printed "tubeless". But I had tubes inside them :-)

[Bankerdanny]

Classic opportunity....

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=TUBELESS+BEAD+LOCK

check out first on the list 

 

That's pretty slick, but at $99 not cheap. It also requires you to drill a second hole in the rim, so there is something of a commitment involved.

I like it though. If you do a lot of touring, especially adventure touring, being able to fix a flat in the dark in the middle of nowhere without removing the rim and tire is very appealing.

[WrenchMonkey]

Classic opportunity....

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=TUBELESS+BEAD+LOCK

check out first on the list 

 

I wonder why this product is listed as "off road use only"?  Is it worded that way simply because it's not DOT approved, or is there some characteristic about it that makes it unsafe at highway speeds?

Just food for thought.

[IBleedHondaRed]

neutech tubliss

[Shane72]

Thanks for the replys
I think I will contact the rim supplier and see what their view is on the suitability of the  rim to run tubeless tyres...
If it is not recommended I definitely won't do it. Just thought I would consider it in case it is an option
Scott

Don't count on the supplier of the rim to give you any recommendation other than what it is expressly made for.  Spoked rims that are designed to be airtight (think BMW, Yamaha Super Tenere, etc...) that have every part of the spokes outside the sealing area of the tire are made to run tubeless.  Traditional spoked rims with the unsealed holes for the spoke ends in the middle of the rim surface are not going to get the same kind of recommendation.

That said, people run tubeless on traditional, specially prepped, sealed-up spoked rims all the time.

A picture of what you are getting would help inform this discussion.

All the best,

Shane

[TrackJunkie]

my Ducati sport classic runs tubeless tires with tubes from the factory. I have since sealed the rims and it was a huge improvement in many aspects. I would rather be able to plug the tire on the side of the road, than be stuck because who really carries tools to change out a tube when they go for a ride?

[78 k550]

I'm trying to avoid tubes only to make road side tyre repairs a bit easier.
About 3 weeks ago when I was away for the weekend I got a puncture to the rear tyre and then 200km later a puncture in the front tyre.
Probably a bit unlucky and may not happen again for a while, but just thought I'd investigate fitting tubless.
I don't have a preferance for a particular tyre and don't ride hard enough to notice much difference in tyre choice.
Scott

Been riding for 8 years and only had 1 puncture. It was on the 1200 so it was just a plug.

I think you had 2 strings of bad luck.

Paul

[Scott]

The rear was bad luck as a piece of metal went through the tyre.
The front was bad workman ship. I had new tyres and tubes fitted not long ago but the bloke who did it never bothered to clean the rust from the inside of the rim or put new rim tape. So the front went flat from rust flakes rubbing through the tube. Maybe I shouldn't go back there
Scott