Dunlop 491 II 'tubeless tire' in rear, on stock 1500 Drifter wire rim?

[chief]

As you may know, retreads can't be used on the front wheels of semi's and buses which fall under DOT regs. I would think the same reasoning would apply to bikes. I also NEVER skimp on tires or brakes... or oil!

[CDNRatMan]

  on any vehicle tires and brakes I are parts I do not scimp or try to cheap buy......

[DC]

The odd thing is that we see big rigs using recaps and they blow apart.  They also do recaps for aircraft tires and you rarely hear of a failure.  Of course the aircraft tire is only seeing a small fraction of the mileage that a truck tire sees, but they do have to take greater instantaneous loads from landing.

[pcarrell]

Putting a retread on a bike sounds like a great way to end up in a hospital to me.

I wonder what fool hates his money so much that he invested in this idea?  Sounds like the perfect business plan to go broke fast!

[chief]

I'd never use a retread... on anything I drive! In my primary occupation I worked with tire manufacturers and recappers... Recaps are good for certain truck and industrial applications, but not good enough for me to use.

Every subject will be touched upon more than once... new folks, very old threads, etc. We have the "similar topic" facility now so when you look at a thread you will see similar topics at the bottom for more research, and if you start a new topic a list will appear as you type... it won't catch everything but may help keep things on topic.

AND, it will most likely mean some old threads will be resurrected... that's by design.

[DC]

Did I read a story the other day about a tire company doing bike tire retreads?

[John Hopkins]

For our Drifters, the OEM rims are designed to use TUBELESS TIRES, with tubes and rim strips.

That is the bit I needed to know..and for all of you who think this subject has been done to death, I appologise for ressurecting a three year old thread..

I would hate for someone to fit the wrong tire only to have it peel off on a fast dangerous curve..

John.

[CDNRatMan]

oh yes we did and it got to be a pretty hot topic.......

[Troll]

Didn't we go down this rabbit hole a couple of months ago?

[chief]

There is a difference between a tubeless RIM and tube RIM. There are a few different shapes out there designed to support one or the other.

This will only be a problem if you have older bikes... 80's and earlier because the rim shape may not adequately support the tire bead of a tubeless tire. There are almost no tubed only street bike tires being made... and haven't been for a couple of decades.

For our Drifters, the OEM rims are designed to use TUBELESS TIRES, with tubes and rim strips. Only BMW - as far as I know -  makes a spoked wheel that can go completely tubeless.

ALL brands of tubeless tires will work on these rims... but you MUST have a rim strip and tube because they are spoked.

[greenbarn]

That is true..but that doesn't mean you can always use a tubeless tire, even with a tube in it on a rim designed for a tubed tire.

John.

As far as I know, John, yes you can always use a tubeless tire, on a tube-type rim, with a tube.  I can't think of any reason why you couldn't???

[John Hopkins]

That is true..but that doesn't mean you can always use a tubeless tire, even with a tube in it on a rim designed for a tubed tire.

John.

[greenbarn]

However Avon have stated to me that their Cobra tires can be used with a tube..A statement that I have filed away for use if Michelin ever stop making the Commander II to fit the Drifter.

John.

To further that statement, any tubless tire should be OK to use with a tube.  NOT the other way around, though.

[John Hopkins]

Actually it is even worse than that..tubed tires have a different shaped bead to tubeless and the rims on tubeless wheels are shaped to accomodate this, so even if you buy a sealing kit to prevent the air from escaping through the spoke joints the stresses on cornering can cause the tire to dislodge from the rim..to sum up..

Spoke sealing kits are generally only made for pedal bicycles and you should not use a tubeless tire even with a tube in it on a spoked wheel..

However Avon have stated to me that their Cobra tires can be used with a tube..A statement that I have filed away for use if Michelin ever stop making the Commander II to fit the Drifter.

John.

[chief]

There are VERY few tube only tires for street bikes. Nearly all street bike tires are TUBELESS. For wire rims, we have tubeless tires with tubes in them...

The exception would be if someone had the rim modified to seal it up. If you had a tubeless without a tube on true wire rims, you'd have a flat tire!!

[ski.dive]

I just noticed I have a tubeless tire in the rear of my 1500 Drifter with stock wire rims?

The tire is a dunlop 491 II tubeless belted.

I purchsed the bike with this tire on it.

I thought all DRIFTERS had tubed tires?