Topic: inner tubes help

[crashmaster]

Looking to replace my ancient inner tubes. I understand natural rubber is good, and probably should get heavy duty as this will be my first try at mounting the tires myself. Anyone have a link to a good set? I can find the front 3.25-19, but not the rear size 4.00-18. Thanks

[bryanj]

You will have to buy the metric size

[crashmaster]

OK thanks

[Alan F.]

I recommend buying tubes and rim strips from local motorcycle shops if possible. You will find better prices and support local businesses at the same time. Choosing tube sizes is not an exact science, the idiom of horse shoes and hand grenades certainly applies here.

Heavy duty tubes are not required for street riding, those thicker tubes are best used for dirt riding where tires are 'aired down' to achieve better traction when terrain conditions warrant it. Thicker tubes prevent flats in this situation when a tire strikes a rock and the rim would press the tube against the inside of the tire sufficiently to cause a puncture. Heavy duty tubes don't protect better from nails, thorns or other pointed Road hazards, they just add extra weight.

[crashmaster]

Makes sense. I was protecting them from my errant tire irons 

[bryanj]

Quick google search got this chart

[crashmaster]

cool - thanks Bryan

[Ozzybud]

I use these on the rear with great results.
I partially inflate new tubes prior to working the tire on to the rim. Everytime I leave ot floppy I pinch the tube in multiple places..

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=motorcycle+tube

[Ozzybud]

Link was broken 350/400 -18

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=3.50-18

[Alan F.]

Plus one for adding enough air to your inner tubes for them to hold shape and avoid tire iron pinch punctures.

[crashmaster]

noted- thanks again

[HondaMan]

If you can [somehow] avoid the Chinese-made ones it may help stretch the intervals between low-PSI events in the tires. I had some Chinese-made ones (didn't know better) in my last tires and they needed air every stinkin' week, dropping from 38-40 down to 28-30 in 7-8 days, every week. I got some Michelin tubes (harder to find) on someone's experience here, and now I'm getting 3-5 weeks between air-ups. With the older 'synthetic' tubes I could ride for 2 months without losing any PSI, those seem to be gone now (except for one old spare 3.00-19 I have around). The natural rubber ones don't seem to be any better?

Just my observation with my own ride, and the CB550 in my last book (it has Michelins on both ends, now, too).

[MauiK3]

Be sure to use some nice, smooth, fairly large and long tire spoons (irons), makes it easier for you and the tubes.

[WhyNot2]

This is more of a rant from my own experience, as I just installed a new tube(s) and tire last week.

First one I installed leaked air just as fast as I aired it up.

Tire back off, and installed the second tube w/o the aide of the wifey.

Aired up the tube slightly with a hand pump.....easy peasy does it.

Aired up, cool, don't hear any air leaks, aired to standard 36psi. 3 days later, tire looks flat on the bottom.

Sure enough, must have pinched again. Aired it to 50psi and can hear air escaping........sh1t.

Just ordered another set of tubes from Amazon, just this minute.

Got the cheaper ones this time, a set for 18 bux.

Dayyyyum, inner tubes are killing my wallet.

Thanks for letting me release my idiocy.

[HondaMan]

Dayyyyum, inner tubes are killing my wallet.

Thanks for letting me release my idiocy.

I wish I had a dollar for every one I've pinched. I could probably buy another one as spare?

[crashmaster]

This is more of a rant from my own experience, as I just installed a new tube(s) and tire last week.

First one I installed leaked air just as fast as I aired it up.

Tire back off, and installed the second tube w/o the aide of the wifey.

Aired up the tube slightly with a hand pump.....easy peasy does it.

Aired up, cool, don't hear any air leaks, aired to standard 36psi. 3 days later, tire looks flat on the bottom.

My fear as well, my friend 

Sure enough, must have pinched again. Aired it to 50psi and can hear air escaping........sh1t.

Just ordered another set of tubes from Amazon, just this minute.

Got the cheaper ones this time, a set for 18 bux.

Dayyyyum, inner tubes are killing my wallet.

Thanks for letting me release my idiocy.

My fears exactly 

[MauiK3]

Patience, a little lube (soapy water or similar), and a great set of wide smooth spoons helps but I think luck also plays into this. I've been pretty lucky but not always.

[Alan F.]

I'm told that there is no substitute for actual tire mounting lube.
I'll be shopping for that soon.

[ofreen]

Putting talcum powder on the tube before installing it in the tire is very helpful. Tubes used to come already powdered, by it has been years since I've seen one that way in the box.  You can use corn starch if you can't find talcum powder, which seems to have become scarce.  I think the hazards associated with it are a little exaggerated unless you are snorting it.  I stocked up when I heard it was largely going away, so I have a lifetime supply.  Like the mercury in my carb-stix, it hasn't killed me yet.

[crashmaster]

I am keeping this topic for future reference. Thanks guys!

[low-side]

Get your tires good and warm before you try to install.  In summer, I leave them in the sun for an hour and they're probably over 100F.  I get the front on without levers about 1/3 of the time.  The less effort you have to put into each use of the lever and the less times you have to use your levers the less your chance of pinching the tubes.  I wouldn't worry too much about natural vs synthetic rubber inner tubes, I'd just be sure to use heavy duty tubes.

[denward17]

Putting talcum powder on the tube before installing it in the tire is very helpful. Tubes used to come already powdered, by it has been years since I've seen one that way in the box.  You can use corn starch if you can't find talcum powder, which seems to have become scarce.  I think the hazards associated with it are a little exaggerated unless you are snorting it.  I stocked up when I heard it was largely going away, so I have a lifetime supply.  Like the mercury in my carb-stix, it hasn't killed me yet.

+1
I actually use some talcum powder on the inside of tire as well.

[PeWe]

I had to improve the tire irons that had too sharp corners and rough surface.
Too easy to pinch the tube and scratch the rim.

I rounded the corners on a bench grinder and sanded the surface smoothly.

The curved side is used most.

Michelin type of iron. I have 3, all needed.

Very important that the tube is a little inflated making it rounder when using rhe irons. Iron WILL pinch the tube otherwise

[newday777]

I had to improve the tire irons that had too sharp corners and rough surface.
Too easy to pinch the tube and scratch the rim.

I rounded the corners on a bench grinder and sanded the surface smoothly.

The curved side is used most.

Michelin type of iron. I have 3, all needed.

Very important that the tube is a little inflated making it rounder when using rhe irons. Iron WILL pinch the tube otherwise

Very wise, Sage advise. I learned that with trial and error on bicycle tires before graduating to a motorcycle in the 1970s.