Tubeless in a spoked wheel?

[John Schmidt]

Is it possible to run a tubeless tire on a spoked wheel? I've always heard "no" due to leakage at the spokes but I have a project in mind and can't find a solid wheel that fits the need. Needs to be either a 10" or 12" wheel.

[sandy]

I have heard it can be done. It has to do with sealing the inside of the rim.

[mello dude]

http://www.daytonwirewheels.com/

Dayton Wire Wheels has been doing it for decades. And yeah, its about sealing all the spoked areas.
- Worse case, can you find a tube to fit?

[gordonv]

Sure, put an inner tube into it.

My 2nd bike, a Honda 450, had those stamped steel mag wheels. Had a flat, used the plug, and it wouldn't work. Took the rear wheel off, and took it to the shop, and they found an inner tube in it.

[Leathel]

Ive seen it done with sealing the spoke area.. but if you break a spoke it makes the repair job a whole lot more difficult... but it worked for them



Just found this, the one I saw done sealed the whole way around not each spoke, 2 pot etch primed first, sealed then taped when dry with tape not as wide as this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPzoqi_4X7o

[Hook#3287]

Reminds me of a funny story.

Buddy and I were out riding on a hot Sunday up in NH.

We're sitting in a adult beverage facility and a guy comes in and asked if we had a plug kit.

Said he had a flat.

I had one, so I go out and get it, hand it to him and look over at his HD with spoked wheels.

"I don't think this will work, dude, ya got spoked wheels." said I.

He said "It's got too, I'm 50 miles from home"

I shrugged my shoulders and gave him the kit and went back inside.  There was another guy helping him that had a compressor, so I wasn't any additional help, and besides, it was hot out.

About 15 min later, he comes back in the bar, not looking happy, gives me my kit back and said he was calling home for a ride.

Said he tried 3 times.  ???

He bought us beers, so 3 plugs for 2 beers, not bad.


John, I'd go with a tube.

[Jess from VA]

I've also read spoked wheels for tubeless tires are sold (but probably only for Harleys), and that some, but not all, spoked wheels can be sealed/protected for use with a tubeless tires.  My quick look shows that there are multiple types of spoked wheels for motorcycles, and some may be safely converted for tubeless tire use, and others may not be safe to do this on.

This is for use on bicycles.  (just for an idea of what must be done)

https://www.amazon.com/Stans-NoTubes-Freeride-Strip-Schrader/dp/B004KZZM6S/ref=asc_df_B004KZZM6S/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312144750238&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5437622925093620985&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008188&hvtargid=pla-627995185579&psc=1

For Harley:  

https://www.ebay.com/i/291502584775?chn=ps

Articles

https://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/seal-motorcycle-wire-wheels-to-use-tubeless-tires

https://www.motorcycleclassics.com/tech-corner/tubeless-tires-spoked-rims-zm0z13ndzbea

[John Schmidt]

Think I'll keep looking for a solid wheel, kinda hard to find in 10" or 12"....at least so far. If not, then I'll go with a tubed set up, not the end of the world. 

[WintrSol]

I've run tubeless tires for years on my old CB450, with tubes inside. It is hard to find tube-only tires anymore. Some have sealed their spoked wheels so they don't need tubes, but the rims can be iffy, so I just add a tube.

[F6Dave]

My '88 BMW has tubeless tires on spoked wheels.  They solved the leakage issue by running the spokes through the edge of the rim.

[..]

Think I'll keep looking for a solid wheel, kinda hard to find in 10" or 12"....at least so far. If not, then I'll go with a tubed set up, not the end of the world. 

What will the wheel/wheels be used for?

[indybobm]

I remember reading about problems when putting a tube in a tubeless tire. A quick search brought up the following:

"If we put a tube into a tubeless tire, there will be huge amounts of friction between the side of the tube and the inner liner of the tire. With every rotation, the sidewall will flex and rub against the tube. Friction equals heat. Heat is the ultimate enemy of tires, especially sidewalls. They are the weakest point of construction. Eventually the result will be BANG!"

"You can fit tubeless tyres with tubes, but there are caveats. The first is that the rim has to be an MT-type rim. If it is marked as a WM-type rim you can only fit tubedtyres. If the inside of the tyre is ribbed, that can chafe against the tube, generating heat and wear."

"What happens if we put tube in tubeless TYRE?
As a result, tubes can chafe and puncture in a tubeless tyre due to the roughness of the tyre and wheel. ... When a tube is fitted to any tyre, it is important that the inside of the tyre is carefully examined to ensure that there is no feature which could cause premature tube failure due to cuts or chafing."

I guess it really depends on what the tires on going on, how fast will it go and the load.

[WintrSol]

I remember reading about problems when putting a tube in a tubeless tire. A quick search brought up the following:

"If we put a tube into a tubeless tire, there will be huge amounts of friction between the side of the tube and the inner liner of the tire. With every rotation, the sidewall will flex and rub against the tube. Friction equals heat. Heat is the ultimate enemy of tires, especially sidewalls. They are the weakest point of construction. Eventually the result will be BANG!"

"You can fit tubeless tyres with tubes, but there are caveats. The first is that the rim has to be an MT-type rim. If it is marked as a WM-type rim you can only fit tubedtyres. If the inside of the tyre is ribbed, that can chafe against the tube, generating heat and wear."

"What happens if we put tube in tubeless TYRE?
As a result, tubes can chafe and puncture in a tubeless tyre due to the roughness of the tyre and wheel. ... When a tube is fitted to any tyre, it is important that the inside of the tyre is carefully examined to ensure that there is no feature which could cause premature tube failure due to cuts or chafing."

I guess it really depends on what the tires on going on, how fast will it go and the load.

And how much pressure you keep in the tire. Too little pressure, and all that chafing happens, along with excess heat build up. I always keep mine on the high side, both for better handling, and for tire life. BTW, using the original OEM rims on my old CB, before they thought up the MT designation.

[RWhitehouse]

It's a somewhat popular mod on the forum for my little trail donkey, a TW200. People like to put ATV tires on the back and eliminate the tube for easier flat repairs. They just get a high quality silicone non-shrinking sealer, paint the inside of the rim with it (after a thorough cleaning/sanding/prep), and supposedly it holds air perfectly fine tubeless. Just put a bolt-thru valve stem in the hole and use a snippet of drinking straw to keep it open when applying the silicone.

Now that's for tires run at like 5-10psi on a bike that tops out around 60 (and most people that do the ATV tire mod use them hardly if at all on pavement), so for a street bike results could certainly vary.

[John Schmidt]

Think I'll keep looking for a solid wheel, kinda hard to find in 10" or 12"....at least so far. If not, then I'll go with a tubed set up, not the end of the world. 

What will the wheel/wheels be used for?

I'm in the process of gathering not only info, but also parts for a one-wheel trailer for the bike. I might have found what I'm looking for on Ebay but haven't had a response to a couple questions yet. Check out the link and let me know what y'all think.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-10MM-Fit-Hole-Dia-Front-Tyre-Tire-Wheel-Rim-for-Motorbike-Motorcycle/352313328859?epid=707140457&hash=item520782c4db:g:jQUAAOSw3epataFm:rk:17:pf:0