overlander
Expedition Leader
Great info! Validated my assumptions.
NATO Wolf Tubed vs Tubeless
- Thread starter craig
- Start date
Snagger
Explorer
There is some good information on this thread, but there are a few bizarre posts too.
LR may well have used tubed tyres on tubeless wheels, but there is no problem in doing that if tubes are fitted. Older LR wheels were riveted rather than welded, and the very early ones had split rims, so when LR state tubed, it may refer to their ability to hold the air rather than the tyre. Running the other way around (tubeless on tubed wheels) is where problems arise because of the bead and seat issues mentioned and the rivets leaking.
I also can't see why some think that fitting tubes inside radials will affect their side wall flexibility or curvature and the tyre's performance as a result - the tube is thin and flexible enough to have no effect whatsoever on the tyre's characteristics, and the tyre will perform exactly the same as another one of the same specification inflated to the same pressure.
I have run with both and without tubes. The only issues I found were that if the tyre has internal ribbing, this tends to wear the tube and puncture it, frequently, and that the tube can be dragged around the rim by the tyre, stretching or shearing the valve stemn off the tube, both as reported by other tubed users. Tubes are easier to repair, though, as you don't need an explosive force to seat and seal the beads before inflating the tyre, while a tubeless one will leak from the bead if you can't seat it well enough before inflation. As someone else also commented, spare tubes don't occupy much space or weight.
LR may well have used tubed tyres on tubeless wheels, but there is no problem in doing that if tubes are fitted. Older LR wheels were riveted rather than welded, and the very early ones had split rims, so when LR state tubed, it may refer to their ability to hold the air rather than the tyre. Running the other way around (tubeless on tubed wheels) is where problems arise because of the bead and seat issues mentioned and the rivets leaking.
I also can't see why some think that fitting tubes inside radials will affect their side wall flexibility or curvature and the tyre's performance as a result - the tube is thin and flexible enough to have no effect whatsoever on the tyre's characteristics, and the tyre will perform exactly the same as another one of the same specification inflated to the same pressure.
I have run with both and without tubes. The only issues I found were that if the tyre has internal ribbing, this tends to wear the tube and puncture it, frequently, and that the tube can be dragged around the rim by the tyre, stretching or shearing the valve stemn off the tube, both as reported by other tubed users. Tubes are easier to repair, though, as you don't need an explosive force to seat and seal the beads before inflating the tyre, while a tubeless one will leak from the bead if you can't seat it well enough before inflation. As someone else also commented, spare tubes don't occupy much space or weight.