Hitchcocks Forum

I was getting the tyre sizes on my 2008 Electra X prior to replacing them with road riders, when I noticed both existing tyres were marked as tubeless. Is this true or are they tubeless with tubes fitted. Any ideas?


Steve M 

Hi Steve-------this is an old chestnut and has been kcked around a few times. As Official Importers Watsonian fit those tubeless tyres WITH a tube as standard. Please do contact Watsonians and they will put your mind at ease. 

Hi Steve - I worked for Dunlop tyres years ago and a lot of water has passed under the bridge etc.. but my understanding is that you cannot fit tubeless tyres to spoked rims unless special measures are taken to make them air tight. All those spokes sticking through the rims make this a nightmare.


Tony R.

 A tubeless valve stem would not have  a locknut on it.


Think about it.

To answer your question Steve,


Yes, they will have tubes in.

Hello Leon ---- Not quite sure what your point is, matey ?? A valve for a tubeless rim ( and tyre ) is fitted into the rim itself and doesn't need a locknut because there is NO TUBE  for a locknut to be on. These valves are usually of the "Mushroom" type and I change mine each time I change the tyre---followed by a dynamic balance.  Steve's problem is that old perennial question "Can I use a tube in a tubeless tyre ?? "  On this forum we kicked this one around only a few months ago--- hence my advice to contact Watsonians. Please do phone them and have a chat---I did and it's worth the time. After all, how do you think those tubes got in there in the first place ?? Best regards to all------------

Hi Alan: Steve `s query was. 'I noticed both EXISTING tyres were marked as tubeless.' I surmised that he wanted to know how to tell if they had a tube in them or not; my point was that looking for a locknut on the valve stem was the easiest way to find out.

Hi Guys,


Thanks for the replies. Leon, I was confused as to why "tubeless" tyres were in use on an obviously spoked wheel and realise that they should have been tubed. However having read previous posts regarding special tubeless rims being necessary, this just added to my confusion.


Regards,


Steve M  


 

Hi Leon---sorry, I do see what you were getting at now.  Steve M, just to confuse the issue even more there are a few bikes around with special, tubeless rims that are actually spoked.  I saw some last year on a BMW. Go onto the ALPINA web site. An Italian firm that do a "DOT approved" convertion kit. Good but ££££costly££££ 

I have an Avon Venom on the rear which has moulded into it


'Tubeless - When fitting on a tubed type wheel fit a tube'


 Which of course it has, the air would quickly leak out otherwise.