Forum

[PeteF]

There can be an issue putting tubes in tyres that are intended to be used tubless. The inside of the casing is often not finished to the same standard and chafing can occur between the tube and tyre.

[Foz]

Thanks for the reply I'm off to the garage tomorrow afternoon as I don't have the correct tools to remove the tyre
But I will keep you updated thanks for the repays, but I don't think the garage has cake.


How do post photos?

[PeteF]

Foz, upload photo to Photobucket (you need to set up a free account)
Select photo you want to post and grab the HTML code (there's a box to allow this)
Paste the code in your post.

[jefrs]

Wot no cake! I don't think you'll need a tyre. It is common to put an inner tube inside a tubeless bike tyre, have to do that with spokes. The tyres should have ridges inside to grip the inner tube, unfortunately this is what rips the inner tube to shreds when the tyre slips on the rim. French chalk is used to stop the inner tube gluing itself to the tyre carcass (it should already be powdered over a new inner tube). Common cause of puncture is a 'snake bite' where the tyre is already running at low pressure and you hit a big bump, the rims pinch the tube, but do check inside the tyre for stray flints. A freshly knapped flint is sharper than the best razor, it can go clean through the Kevlar and whatnot belts in the tyre.

[Foz]

All sorted,

Just an inner tube fitted and replaced, I've just ordered
A spare from Mr H, cheers for the help.

[jefrs]

Avon's pressures for the Roadriders are 27psi front, 29psi rear - which are somewhat at odds with RE's numbers in the handbook. Personally I find Avon's numbers provide better road holding, braking and handling. Given inner tubes are thinner rubber than tyres, they're more porous than a tubeless tyre and need their pressures checking more often.

[Leon Novello]

For the record: Nitrogen has larger molecules, so it doesn`t leak through the porous rubber as easily as plain old air. It also runs cooler, not an issue with a road bike but is used in racing and aircraft tyres. Most tyre dealers do not charge for it on motorcycles, but there s a charge for cars such as taxis etc. It is usually supplied with Red valve caps as a reminder that nitrogen is in the tyre when checking pressure. Only benefit for a road bike, pressure doesn`t have to be checked as often.

[jefrs]

Small point - air is 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, nitrogen has atomic mass of 14 and oxygen a mass of 16, hence nitrogen forms a smaller molecule than oxygen. The advantage of nitrogen is it is practically inert and doesn't oxidise the rubber, less moisture too, hence less corrosion. That is is dry is important. A mole of ideal gas occupies 22.4 litres at STP. A mole of nitrogen (N2) is 28g, a mole of oxygen (O2) is 32g, there is a tiny, tiny weight advantage to nitrogen. The worst gas for escaping its containment by diffusion is the tiny hydrogen molecule. The main factor for gas escaping is the wall thickness of the container, an inner tube is much thinner than a tyre. Hence a tubed tyre should have its pressure checked more often than a tubeless one. A tyre that has been allowed to deflate is more likely to get a puncture. By all means use nitrogen if that's your thing but do know why you're using it and do check the tyre pressures regularly.

[Beezabryan]

Thank you Jeff, for nigh on 60 years I never knew why I regularly checked tyre pressures

[jefrs]

My point - using nitrogen is not a reason to check pressures less frequently. Safety critical item.