To tube or not that is my question!!!
All of my recent punctures appear to be caused by the tube being pinched by the rim with no apparent damage or hole in the tyre. This is probably a result of only being able to get "cheap" imported tubes.
Has anybody tried running tubeless?
Pete
were the tubes the correct size, or just an "approximate" fit? I had some problems with some tubes which, I discovered, were for a larger wheel size...but the dealer stated they were ok for my wheels......expediency on his part, I assume. the sporting trials people are using tubes for dumpers, etc...as they are incredibly thick, and deemed puncture resistant. tubeless? Well, the Landrovers I teach with , on occasions, are all equipped with tubeless tyres, but any pressure dropping is subject to strict criteria.....I wouldn't like to risk cracking the bead on a rock or rut. rim design could play a part....also rotation of the tube inside the tyre...you could always use security bolts, etc? but I would first check that the tube wasn't, in fact, slightly too large for the wheel or tyre used....?
ReplyDeleteRe: Tubes. A friend of mine who runs a sporting trials car tells me that competition tubes are available that are are considerably thicker than standard tubes. This comment came about following recent discussions with him on puncturing of tubes. I had a puncture in a tube that I suspect was due to the ribbing on the inside of my tyre rubbing on the tube. I run Colway CMT's on my Skoda. I supose that a thicker tube would marginally restrict the tyre from distorting but not by much. Personally I would always run tubes for trialling and also PCT's and PCA's which I do often. I have seen tufts of grass trapped between the bead and the rim on occasions which must mean that without a tube the tyre would have gone flat. Myke Pocock.
ReplyDeleteI don't run with tubes in the Imp and I can't recall more than half a dozen punctures in the past 10 years or so. However I rarely drop below 12psi in order to retain ground clearance which is already minimal with 12" wheels, not to mention the 'grunt sapping' effect of single figure pressures on a 915cc engine. On PCTs with BTRDA pressures of 20psi punctures have never been a problem.
ReplyDeletePete, I can only give experience from my Troll which has wire wheels so tubes are essential. I use 165x15 tyres but I fit 145x14 tubes on the assumption that there will be less tube rubber flapping around when I am down to 5 or 6 p.s.i. I also get the standard tubes fitted with tractor valves which have a screw on ring to keep the tube in place when on low pressures, they look a bit like a bike tube. Most tyre places that deal with agricultural wheels will know what I am talking about. I also use security bolts, 6 of them on the inner rim bead and I have never had the inner bead come off the rim even when punctured and run flat. So what is the result, I still get punctures, some which look like tube pinches. Only once on a trial have I used the 2 spare wheels and had to resort to fitting a new tube. Stuart Harrold
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