Topic: Do I need a tube in my tire?

[jdubb1977]

It's finally time to replace my rear tire (1st time since I bought the bike).  I've got Lesters, and the front wheel is marked "TL", which I understand means tubeless.  However, I can't find a stamp on the rear wheel, so the question is, do I need a tube?  Not sure if there's one in there now.  It's got Kenda tires on it at the moment.  I'll be replacing them with Bridgestone S11 Spitfires (100/90-19 front, 120/80-18 rear), which are tubeless.  Hoping for some clarification. 

[cameron]

If spokes, then yes.

If mags, maybe no.

[jdubb1977]

The Lesters are mags (see my avatar)

[seaweb11]

Put tubes in mine.

[Jon]

Tyres will run cooler tubeless.

I run tubeless where possible.


Cheers
jon

[madmtnmotors]

You can always mount the tire and dunk test, or just let it sit for a week. I've got an old cast aluminum rim with solid (cast) spokes (5 or 6) that I was hoping to run tubeless. After mounting it would loose air overnight. I was able to determine that the casting was porous and the air would leak right through the metal itself. Added a tube and all is well.

[70CB750]

Look at the valve - that's where you can decide if it has tube inside or not.

[phil71]

know what's cool about that? you can run tubeless, but keep a tube of the right size under the seat, and have a way out if you get a flat.

[armour]

That would suck to have to somehow install a tube in a tire , reinstall the wheel onto the bike in the middle of nowhere ( as in put the tube in the tire and ride in the first place, why complicate your life any further .... )

[scottly]

I have been running my Morris wheels tubeless for a couple of months now with no problems. (They were both marked TL.) I had to enlarge the valve stem hole to make room for the step in the rubber stem seals.
I saw an emergency flat repair kit for plugging tubeless tires that had small CO2 type cartridges to in-inflate the tire. Much easier to plug a leak on the road than to pull a tube.

[lone*X]

+1  I have owned a several bikes with tubeless tires and much prefer them to tube type.  I also carry a standard tubeless patch kit and small 12v air compressor when doing long rides.  Drops in the bottom of my saddle bags and takes up little space.   10 minute repairs and get on down the road are much better than pulling a tube out from under the seat, dismounting a wheel, breaking a tire down, installing said tube, and remounting the wheel.  Why get dirty, greasy, and sweaty when a plug and a little air gets you rolling. 

I normally replace a plugged tire on my bikes when I get a little down time.  I don't leave them on very long.  Never had a problem with a plugged tire but when you only have two under you, you play to the safe side.

[armour]

^ Sure , if you had a slow leak , and knew where it was..........puncture this, 55 MPH, lonely stretch.... pun intended....

[jdubb1977]

thanks for all the thoughts so far.  i took a closer look at my tubes/tires, and there's a nut around the base of the stem, which leads me to believe that there are tubes inside.  so, is this like a bicycle where you just replace the tire and leave the old tube inside, or should i replace both at the same time?  forgive my stupid questions!

[keiths]

Replace the tube for the few bucks it costs. The do get old and tend to split.

[scottly]

The tube-less valve stems also have a nut, with a washer and rubber seal.

[lone*X]

^ Sure , if you had a slow leak , and knew where it was..........puncture this, 55 MPH, lonely stretch.... pun intended....

Tube type tires will go flat much faster than a tubeless when punctured.  A hole in a tube tends to open up under pressure since it is relative thin and generally the rims are not air tight.  They loose air quick.   The tubeless tire will leak only at the puncture point and it does not open up any larger than what was caused by the object that punctured the tire.  I've had a lot of flats on bikes in the past 40 plus years and the only blowouts were due to the tubes.  You don't want a blowout if you can avoid it.   If tubes and tube type tires were better than tubeless then they would be the prevalent tire today.  That is not the case. 

All this said means nothing if you want to run spokes.  I like spokes and run spokes on my 550.  But I also know tubeless is a more modern design and is safer.