Wide White Radials on Original Wheels: Tubes or Not?

I did a search and could not find a thread.

I want to use the original wheels and wheel covers on my 48 Pontiac. I also want to run wide white radials.

My Dilema: One supplier says I need to run inner tubes if I am going to use the original wheels and the other says as long as my wheels are in decent shape there is no need for tubes. I want to be safe above and beyond all else. The supplier that says I need them is already $200 more than the other and if I add the tubes it will push it well over $300.

Would really like some opinions on this before I make a decision. As always any help is appreciated.

48 Poncho

 

I used 50 Mercury rims on my 40 Ford sedan with radial tires years ago and constantly had to add air until I finally installed tubes and my problem was solved.HRP

 

Good luck keeping on your hubcaps. I have radials on stock wheels and have lost two so far. I'm getting bias plys Friday. I have no tubes.

 

I switched over to Diamondback WWW radials on my '62 Rampside; original wheels powdercoated, no tubes, aftermarket flipper wheelcovers. No problems so far, including no air pressure loss, and it's been over a year.

 

I've had Diamondback 16" radial www's on my '37 Chevy's stock wheels for 4 or 5 years now. I've put 25k miles on them and they never seem to need air. Ride is wonderful!

 

Some leak,some don't. Mount them & bubble test.

 

I'm running radials on the rear with original 52 chevy wheels and tubed them just to be safe.No problems,no leaks to worry about.