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Technical PUTTING TUBELESS TIRES ON TUBE TYPE RIMS???

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by ALLDONE, Jun 25, 2025.

  1. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    The way I was told...tube type rims don't have the tire lock bead, and have to have tubes to keep the tires on, with out them if the tire pressure is low they will come off the rim...

    So... I want to put tires on OG 46 ford 15'' rims, I was ordering the tubes.. the tires are tubeless design..A guy was at my house, says lets run over to the tire store and get them mounted... I say can't... don't have the tubes... he says... I do it with out tubes all the time...

    I think tubeless rims have to have the tubes.... who's right????
     
  2. LSGUN
    Joined: May 26, 2007
    Posts: 1,386

    LSGUN
    Member
    from TX

    You can run them without tubes, just make sure the rivets don’t leak. You can put silicone over them on the inside.
     
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  3. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    the rims don't have rivets.... and also don't have the rim lock bead to keep the tire on...???
     
  4. Oneball
    Joined: Jul 30, 2023
    Posts: 1,479

    Oneball
    Member

    I’ve always run tube type rims without the bead with tubes, irrespective of the tyre type.
     
  5. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    here's what I'm working on...I've always thought the front tires were too big....and the big white walls give too much preppy /collage boy look for me... I like the more hotrod outlaw look... IMG_4554.jpg
     
  6. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    I'm with you there, thanks...
     
  7. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    also I thought the set would look better on my 34 ford... so I swapped... IMG_5435.jpg
     
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  8. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    IMG_5452.jpg IMG_5453.jpg IMG_5454.jpg the 29 got the short end of the deal...total wrong IMO....I don't know if theres a name for this look...I'll just call it wrong....
     
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  9. lostn51
    Joined: Jan 24, 2008
    Posts: 2,852

    lostn51
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Tennessee

    I’ve never had issues with tires coming off the rims or leaking for that matter. I say put them on as is and enjoy!
     
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  10. I've ran them without tubes and never had an issue
     
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  11. Royalshifter
    Joined: May 29, 2005
    Posts: 15,744

    Royalshifter
    Moderator
    from California

    I only use tubes on wire wheels not solids.
    Tubes were also used as a bead lock.
    I am not drifting or doing burn outs so I am good.
     
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  12. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 59,123

    squirrel
    Member

    Tubeless tires were used by OEMs before safety rims.

    Like anything else on a hot rod, safety rims are a slight bit safer than the older design, so you just gotta use them, right? Or not.

    Up to you.
     
  13. Growing up we ran tires
    Had no clue what a safety bead was. We put tires on and aired em up.
    The big spilt rims got tubes
    Everything else got tires. If the tire required a tube it got one
    How did we survive
     
  14. LSGUN
    Joined: May 26, 2007
    Posts: 1,386

    LSGUN
    Member
    from TX

    They don’t have rivets holding the center to the hoop? All the original wheels were riveted. Also no 15” Ford wheels in '46, maybe you mean Mercury… those were 15”.
     
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  15. Tim
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 19,548

    Tim
    Member
    from KCMO

    ^ what he said about 15/16

    as far as tubes go plenty of people run them either way. Could always try them with out. If they hold they hold. If they don’t, put a tube in it.
     
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  16. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    you are correct... they have rivets... my lying eyes got me again
     
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  17. V8 Bob
    Joined: Feb 6, 2007
    Posts: 3,128

    V8 Bob
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Safety rim wheels were introduced by Dodge in 1940, for TUBE-TYPE tires, to keep tires on wheels during rapid air loss, and were not industry standard for many years, even after Packard made tubeless first available in '54.
    Tubes CANNOT keep a tire on a wheel-they ONLY hold air, period. I don't remember, or am aware of a "tubeless" wheel needing to replace stock wheels on older vehicles when switching to tubeless.
    The main problem is simply condition of old steel wheels (rust, damage, etc) that could allow loss of air, requiring a tube. Wire wheels are one exception that may require tubes because of their design.
     
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  18. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    here's been my experience... my tractor front tire doesn't have tubes... if one get low... they pop the bead.... then it's a bitch out on the ranch getting the bead to seat... you have to jack up the front and try to get air in it...

    just got back from getting them mounted... had the tubes so I used them... but as luck would have ot... I got 5 rims... and one of the ones I took was bent... so back to the tire store...guess I should have took all 5..
     
  19. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    so got her done...still haven't decided on caps... hope the pics are ok... the tires are date code 1024

    IMG_5468.jpg IMG_5469.jpg IMG_5470.jpg IMG_5471.jpg IMG_5472.jpg IMG_5474.jpg
     
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  20. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    did a little cleaning

    IMG_5462.jpg IMG_5463.jpg IMG_5464.jpg IMG_5465.jpg IMG_5466.jpg IMG_5467.jpg IMG_5473.jpg
     
  21. Look at all the 55-6-7 cars and trucks running radials on stock wheels.
     
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  22. CSPIDY
    Joined: Nov 15, 2020
    Posts: 883

    CSPIDY
    Member

    Running two sets of 35 ford wheels, no tubes and no issues
     
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  23. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    sorry, never owned a 5-6 or 7 with stock wheels... or any car as far as that goes...

    but like said, had the tubes so I used them... guess it's what ever floats your boat... sounds like it will work either way... but like said... sure is easy to get the bead to seat with the tube out on the road..my tractor is a bitch is it breaks the bead...

    that said... hows the tires look on the rpu??? I know you can't see the tubes in there
     
  24. Steve, I ran tube less on '49 Chevy rims no problems. I always worried because they weren't safety rims but it never bit me in the ass. Oh and for the rivets, just cleaned them down to bare metal and JB Weld'ed them up, no leaks ever. Good luck, Mitch
     
  25. Matt Dudley
    Joined: Jan 13, 2024
    Posts: 336

    Matt Dudley
    Member
    from New York

    Fwiw. Tubes hold pressure to the beads in a low pressure situation. That’s why some farmers are dead set on running tubes in tires even if the tire will hold tubeless. I don’t miss the tire shop and mounting tubed tires. Yes I’m good at it but getting those rims clean enough to not tear a tube is brutal sometimes. I have many hours under my belt with a needle scaler
     
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  26. blue 49
    Joined: Dec 24, 2006
    Posts: 2,070

    blue 49
    Member
    from Iowa

    001 (14).JPG
    These Sears Raders on the front didn't have safety bead bumps. Worked fine for the short time I ran them. I don't remember if I used sealer on the rivets.

    Gary
     
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  27. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    I got a good laugh at the tire shop when I handed the kid a big bottle of baby powder......
     
  28. ALLDONE
    Joined: May 16, 2023
    Posts: 3,066

    ALLDONE
    Member

    I've rolled the tire off my tractor more than once..bucket full of dirt.... one who can't remember the past is condemned to the future
     
  29. Yes you can run a tubeless tire on a tube type wheel .
    But in case you want know why, here it is.
    This is long-winded but accurate. It’s some of what I learned from Mother Goodyear over 35 years.
    Also, it’s more than you ever wanted to know, so if your eyes begin to glaze over don’t fret, as there will not be a quiz.

    Tires that are designated “tube type” (usually molded on the sidewall) are done so because of the rubber inner liner layer molded in to the tire. The liner’s rubber compound will slowly allow air molecule migration through it and into the body plies. There are very tiny vents in the casing sidewall that allow any trapped air to escape. The tube is the air container. Unfortunately the slightest penetration results in an almost instant flat. It doesn’t matter if it is from a nail, bone, wire, burr on the wheel surface, or simply a small stone or grain of sand left in the tire when the it is mounted.

    The tire designated “tubeless” has a liner compound that prevents the air molecule migration and also will seal itself around the object at the penetration point, depending on the size of the object, of course.
    The tire only gradually loses air pressure, if at all. No instant flat, no casing deformation, no tire bead running into the wheel drop center, no instant loss of stability.

    There is also a different bead seat taper angle where it meets the wheel, which helps lock the bead tighter to the wheel IF it has the corresponding angle. The OE tube type wheel has less of an angle, but the tubeless tire bead will twist to fit when inflated. That slightly changes the angle of the body ply wrap around the bead wire bundle. Not a big deal on our lightly loaded tires but important in heavy load applications.
    What does matter for us is the tube tire will build up more internal heat than the tubeless, which may cause issues more important than fast tread wear. BOOM!
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2025
    alanp561 likes this.

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