Hot Rods Go To Tubes For 5.00/6.00 X 16” Tires

Some are better than others…Thicker, or thinner…what is the recommendation for front runner skinny tire, tubes? Any advice?

 

Also, I’m reading that radial tubes are thicker/better than bias tubes…are way more reliable. Can run radial tubes in a bias ply tire but not a bias tube in a radial tire. Seems like a while back, I read about some of the available bias tubes are really thin/light duty.
Any tire guys have an opinion?

Interesting info below…I deleted the author’s name.

 

@A ***** -I've had really good luck with radial tubes from an outfit called tireinnertube.com down in Slater, MO. Pricier than regular tubes, but three different sets and many thousands of miles. not a single failure. I'm running them in 5.50's, 6.00's and 7.50-16's.

 

Thanks!

 

I buy tubes at motorcycle shops to get the metal stem where I need it. My 15” rims get 16” tubes and my 16” get 17’s. I’ve never had a fold in one or a problem.

 

Don't forget the baby powder and rim lube!

 

@rusty valley great recommendation for @A *****
No pun intended.

 

That’s some good info. Thanks for sharing.

 

@A ***** I’m a retired (after 30 years with Goodyear) tire guy, so FWIW

Definitely use radial tubes!
Unfortunately most all of the major tire manufacturers got out of the tube biz years ago, as the auto tube market was non-existent. Any tubes manufactured were out sourced to Pacific Rim countries, with the exception of Dunlop (UK) and Michelin (FR)

Here are the advantages over bias tubes, which are primarily made now for slow moving farm and industrial tires.
1. Heavier gauge rubber in the body segments for added flex strength and wear resistance.
2. Stronger splices of the body segments.
3. Larger and thicker valve stem base.

In other words, they are made stronger to cope with the body flex and roll of the radial tire.

Age can be an issue in the areas where the tube is folded up for packaging. Checking or cracking can occur at the fold. Potential for failure there.

Also double inflate tube after mounting. Inflate to desired PSI, deflate, and re-inflate again.
Keeps the tube from creasing or pinching which leads to failure.

Always use a metal valve cap with internal rubber sealing grommet
The valve core is only designed to make inflation and pressure checks easy.

Can’t help you with a source. I managed to find some NOS Firestone and Michelins from friends in the biz..

 

I just received some two days ago from Snyder’s. Their catalog stated “Not for use in radial tires” but the tubes they sent all say they are tubes for radial tires. Made in India. Will be going in to bias ply’s.

 

Would like to use these tubes, BUT my tires are 5:00/5.25-16”tires. I punched in 5.00/5.25-16”tire inner tubes tubes and their website said none available! Was hoping the 5.50/6.00 tubes would have been suggested…but they weren’t. The numbers don’t seem that far off, but…I’ll hold off buying the 5.50/6.00 tubes unless someone/a few guys say they are close enough and good to go.

 

Try Motorcycles for 4.00 17”

 

You might see if they show tubes for 4.50-16, I've always heard you can smaller tubes in bigger tires but not the other way around.

 

You can use a smaller tube in the NEXT LARGER size tire if it’s a quality tube and is strong enough to stretch, but double inflate it.
Replace it as soon as you can.

Definitely do not use the opposite, a larger size tube than the tire size. The excess tube has to go somewhere and it will likely fold and crease and fail at the crease.

Remember that the tube is the air container, NOT the tire. The slightest penetration, chafe, or tear means an INSTANT FLAT with the resultant safety and control issues.