Author Topic: D'oh! Don't forget to reseat those (old) tubeless tires! (Read 3845 times)

needswork · « **on:** September 10, 2005, 05:13:44 PM »

I've had my bike on the road for 2 weeks now! I (and my mechanic) did a stupid thing. We never thought to check the seal on the rear tire that's been on the bike for god knows how long. The other day I noticed a lot of rust on my rear tire (I really should have thought about this) and I cleaned it up this morning without thinking anything of it.

This afternoon my daughter and I were coming home with a back-pack full of groceries for supper when I noticed the back-end was all over the place..you guessed it, a flat tire. I pushed the bike to a nearby gas station and broke out a good sweat. The tire wouldn't take air so we walked home and I commandeered a neighbour's trailer to pick up the bike.

Fortunately, I was close to home and since I'll be removing the rear wheel, I'll try to find out why the rear brake is sticking.

I fixed that turn signal issue that was bugging me this morning.

Einyodeler · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2005, 05:37:59 PM »

:oTime to get a new mechanic

. From what I see you have spoked rims which means you`re running inner tubes,if you don`t know how old the tires are or have any dry rot on the tires then most likely your tubes will be shot too.Buiy a couple of new tires with rim strips and tubes.

needswork · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2005, 05:48:23 PM »

Einyodeler,

I replaced the front tire because it was cracked. The rear tire looked pretty good so that's why I kept it. Spoked wheels yes but the tires say tubeless on them. That rear tire is pretty skinny so now I have an excuse to get a new (fatter) rear tire.

Einyodeler · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2005, 06:06:02 PM »

You can mount tubeless tires on spoked rims but you`ll still have a tube in it to hold the air.

Dennis · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2005, 07:51:44 PM »

Quote from: needswork on September 10, 2005, 05:48:23 PM

That rear tire is pretty skinny so now I have an excuse to get a new (fatter) rear tire.

There is a little more involved in selecting a tire size than just picking a fat one that you think looks right. These bikes in basically stock trim may not handle as well as they can with tires substantially larger than the equivalant of the OEM size.
I would suggest that you search the site for many previous posts on this subject before you make your selection.

needswork · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2005, 08:23:44 PM »

Quote from: Einyodeler on September 10, 2005, 06:06:02 PM

You can mount tubeless tires on spoked rims but you`ll still have a tube in it to hold the air.

I didn't know that. I assumed the glue at the bead let go.

Dennis, I don't want to go with a really fat tire. It just seems that the one I have is pretty skinny (I think it's smaller than stock). Does anyone one know what the stock size is for the rear tire on a '78 CB550K?

Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8" · « **Reply #6 on:** September 10, 2005, 08:53:27 PM »

If your in the USA... That Fat tire your dreaming of is the ticket. Australia or europa... That knobby skinny boring tire your mom would buy.

. I am running a 160-60-17 on my k8 and it is is fine with just me but if i have over 100 lb on with me it wanders the road. 50 lb on the rear rack (yes I use that ugly rack) and the bike hops at 60+. The right tire is the right fit. But a fat tire looks cooooool. Oh yea Yes you do use a tube with a tubless tire, the right tube- a new tube.

The other Terry

Dennis · « **Reply #7 on:** September 10, 2005, 09:06:38 PM »

Needswork,
I do not know what the standard size is for the rear tire for your CB550.
The CB500 was equipped with a 3.50-18 rear. My 75 CB750F came with a 4.00-18 rear tire.
I now have a 120/90-18 on the rear of my 750. I am probably going to use a 110/90-18 on my 500 when I finish it. The closest available tire (to the OEM size) in metric sizing is probably 100/90-18 but there are few manufacturers producing this size.
One of the things I always look at is the recommended rim width (found in the manufacturers specs) for the tire I am considering. The rims on these bikes are so narrow that many times you cannot find a tire that has that rim width listed. In that case I will accept one size under.

BTW: Quail's bike is a 750 that came with a 17" rear wheel. so what he is commenting on will not apply to your 550.
You do have an 18" rear wheel, don't you?

kghost · « **Reply #8 on:** September 10, 2005, 09:08:08 PM »

Quick hint: Its usually stamped on the rim. If the rim is stock.

chippyfive50 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2005, 06:21:50 PM »

My brother spent about $10,000 restoring his 1965 BMW R69/S, and didn't bother spending the extra 200 replacing the vintage pirelli's that were as hard as a woodpeckers lips(genius).. It took TWO catastrophic rear tube blowouts (somehow he maintained both times) before he realized it was low tire pressure and the resulting bead slip causing the valve to tear out. The tires were so hard they "felt" like they had decent pressure. They were not dry rotted, and had decent tread. I have followed suit and have since invested in new rubber and in a GOOD pressure guage...

needswork · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2005, 09:16:52 AM »

Thanks everybody for your input.
I decided that I'll just install a new tire (and tube) and that will give me peace of mind. I'm very limited here in choices of tires, mechanics etc... as there is only one motorcycle dealer in town and 1 independent (whom I've been dealing with). Anyway, the tire on the bike was a 110/90-18 and I'll be replacing it with what my guy's got in stock (another 110) because I'd rather be riding and the season's end is coming

.

dpen · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2005, 09:20:30 AM »

Make sure you tape the inside of the rim before fitting tube & tyre. Spokes make nice holes in tubes.

needswork · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2005, 09:29:22 AM »

Quote from: dpen on September 13, 2005, 09:20:30 AM

Make sure you tape the inside of the rim before fitting tube & tyre. Spokes make nice holes in tubes.

For sure. Especially since the old one got wrecked pretty good (part of it is hanging out between the tire and rim!).

dpen · « **Reply #13 on:** September 13, 2005, 09:35:07 AM »

Go to the FAQ & you'll find heaps about tyres, types of tyres, fitting etc.
Never shortchange yourself where rubber is concerned, ther's only a small patch between fun and disaster.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #14 on:** September 13, 2005, 09:48:36 AM »

I don't know about your 550 but my 75 750 K came stock with a 110-90-18.I put a 120-90-18 on as suggested by other members and have no problems.I did notice a small increase in ground clearance.I am running lowered rear shocks and I gained a bit of header clearance with the 120. I believe someone in here said that the 120 is as high as you can safely go on the stock rim.

jotor · « **Reply #15 on:** September 13, 2005, 10:25:03 AM »

Quote from: needswork on September 13, 2005, 09:16:52 AM

I'm very limited here in choices of tires, mechanics etc... as there is only one motorcycle dealer in town and 1 independent

You might consider mail order. I get most of my stuff by ordering from the internet. Usually get things in less than a week. If you do, get a good set of tire irons too. Then you can install the tire yourself--for peace of mind and money savings.

My mantra......"Good tires, good brakes, good chain, good seat."

Chris Liston · « **Reply #16 on:** September 13, 2005, 11:22:02 AM »

I just got Bridgestone BT45's on my 550. Went with a 120/90/18 rear and 100/90/19 front. I had them mounted with new tubes and they are the best tire for the bike. I had Cheng Shins before and these tires are just amazing, they fly through corners like a rail.

needswork · « **Reply #17 on:** September 14, 2005, 08:05:26 PM »

I took the bike to the shop. The mech installed a new tube and tire. It turns out that there wasn't a tube and the band thing that covers the spokes was rotten. The new tire is a cheapie called Duro and it's the same dimensions 110/90-18 but it looks much bigger!?

It has a different X-sectional profile I guess because it's the same dimensions as the old tire but looks so different (in a good way). I'm not sure about this tire though witt the way it feels though.

Dennis · « **Reply #18 on:** September 14, 2005, 09:56:42 PM »

Quote from: needswork on September 14, 2005, 08:05:26 PM

It turns out that there wasn't a tube and the band thing that covers the spokes was rotten.

Who did that install? Scary stuff!!!!!

Quote from: needswork on September 14, 2005, 08:05:26 PM

I took the bike to the shop. The mech installed a new tube and tire. ....... The new tire is a cheapie called Duro and it's the same dimensions 110/90-18 but it looks much bigger!? .....I'm not sure about this tire though witt the way it feels though.

This is scary too!!
Is the rear wheel aligned? I would expect a new tire to have a better feel regardless of how cheap it is! Spoles loose? I dunno, something to explain this! Have you scrubbed the tires? Are they still coated with a mold release agent (silicone)?

Anyway found this website .....
http://www.durotire.com/

not impressed!!

PLEASE ..... go buy some decent tires ... a matched pair....
Bridgestone, Dunlops, Metzlers, Pirelli ..................... anything decent .........
please
you have your little girl on the back

needswork · « **Reply #19 on:** September 15, 2005, 06:18:36 AM »

Quote from: Dennis on September 14, 2005, 09:56:42 PM

Quote from: needswork on September 14, 2005, 08:05:26 PM
It turns out that there wasn't a tube and the band thing that covers the spokes was rotten.

Who did that install? Scary stuff!!!!!

Your guess is as good as mine.

Quote from: needswork on September 14, 2005, 08:05:26 PM
I took the bike to the shop. The mech installed a new tube and tire. ....... The new tire is a cheapie called Duro and it's the same dimensions 110/90-18 but it looks much bigger!? .....I'm not sure about this tire though witt the way it feels though.

This is scary too!!
Is the rear wheel aligned? I would expect a new tire to have a better feel regardless of how cheap it is! Spoles loose? I dunno, something to explain this! Have you scrubbed the tires? Are they still coated with a mold release agent (silicone)?

Anyway found this website .....
http://www.durotire.com/

not impressed!!

PLEASE ..... go buy some decent tires ... a matched pair....
Bridgestone, Dunlops, Metzlers, Pirelli ..................... anything decent .........
please
you have your little girl on the back

I don't know if the wheel is aligned, I'll have to check that. No loose spokes and no I haven't scrubbed the tires (how do I do that?). I had seen the web site too, china's finest.

Dennis · « **Reply #20 on:** September 15, 2005, 06:42:36 AM »

Quote from: needswork on September 15, 2005, 06:18:36 AM

I had seen the web site too, china's finest.

"china's finest" ......... LOL

New tires usually have some kind of residue on the surface from manufacturing and/or storage.
It is normally recommended to ride at moderate speeds without sharp maneuvering or sudden stops for about 100 miles to wear (or scrub) these substances off the tread area of the tire.

I would definitely check the rear wheel alignment.
I understand that you have limited service facilities in your area (actually we all do, not many people want to work on 30 year old bikes) but I would have second thoughts about a shop that stocks and sells such a cheap tire.

I think there may be additional information on new tires in the FAQ. All I can say is check your alignment, scrub the tire and give it a try.
BTW: How are the wheel bearings, and swing arm pivot?

needswork · « **Reply #21 on:** September 15, 2005, 08:43:15 AM »

Thanks Dennis.
I was told to take it easy on the tires for a little while and that's makes me think there is still some residue on them. I was also thinking of running the pressure maybe a pound or 2 lower and trying that. I think the pressure maybe a little high. I was told the wheel and swingarm bearings were fine. Everything felt fine on the old tire (until it went flat that is). I'll check the alignment, i remember seeing something on the internet about checking it with a string line.

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Author Topic: D'oh! Don't forget to reseat those (old) tubeless tires! (Read 3845 times)