inner tube in tires

[Smithgall]

My question is this. Where do you go to get inner tubes, the flap and do you know if your normal tire  shops will do this?

I recently purchased a 1980 Allison. It came with wire knock off wheels made by a company called zenit. i understand this company is out of business. The tires are 2002 so they need replaced. However the tires are 165/15/86t from Kuhmo.

i went to get a stem replaced and the guy said “you do know these have tubes” um..no. So I guess even though the tires are tubeless they still have tubes. The store wouldnt even touch this.

i have never owned a car with inner tubes. The wheel I took up has leaks around some of the spokes so that explains the need for the innertubes. But apparently their is supposed to be a flap (that covers the inside of the spoke ends) mine has some duck tape covering that.

I can find the flap at coker, I can find tubes at some of the normal automotive parts places. And i can find similar tires. (found 165/15/80 rather than the 86)

Its eaither that or replace the wheels all together and get either very expense new wire wheels or switch to the more traditional MG TD wheels although i suspect my wife would rather keep the wire look even though they are not in the prettiest shape.

thanks for any help you may provide. included a picture of the wheels

[billnparts]

When I ran wires on mine, I ended up using tubes for the same reason. It kept losing air at the spokes. Tubes can be found (ordered) at tire stores. If the tire store won’t touch your wheels with tubes you need to find another tire store.

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[Royal]

Bill is spot on.  I have almost always had wire wheels on my sporty cars.  It is not uncommon to find duct tape used on the rim on top of the spokes to protect the tube.  Rimmer Brothers sells a rubber band like protector for this purpose which is a bit more elegant solution than tape.  Tubes are not hard to find.  You may hear some say that the new tires are tubeless design and not intended for tubes and they will overheat if you put tubes in them.  At the speeds that we TDrs typically run, I have never found that to be a problem.  Keep her less than 150mph and you should be ok. 😆

VERY IMPORTANT:  You need to find someone who has tire changing equipment that grabs on the outer edge of the rim when breaking the bead and NOT on the center hub.  You can break spokes if you use one of the older changers with center hub “nuts”.  The damage usually occurs when trying to break the bead of old tire free from the rim.  Most of the tire shops use the equipment that does not put sideways stress on the spokes, but be sure.  Ask.  If your tire changer guy doesn’t know what I am talking about, go somewhere else.  

[KentT]

Make sure the tubes you purchase are compatible with radial tires, also.  

They may all be that way now, but it didn’t use to be that way.  Radials are designed to have more flexible sidewalls and the tubes have to be able to handle that, without “chafing” inside the tire.

Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...

[billnparts]

Do not let them balance them using the center cone as mounting on the tire balancer. There are adaptor plates to mount the wheel to and then that adaptor is mounted to the balancer. Find someone with experience with wires.

Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"

[Smithgall]

Thanks so much for your answers. Thats great information

[Author]

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