VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Radial tires

I’m considering putting Coker radials on my 41 coupe. Can I run these tubeless? Universal Tire, where I plan to buy, advises that I need tubes. I was able to mount similar tires on my 55 Belair without tubes. I presume there is a difference in the wheels on the 41. Your thoughts? Thanks, Sid

The wheels have little to do with it other than condition. Perhaps the 6.00X16 radials are not desiged to be tubless.


Not that it makes anydifference but your 1955 came with tubless tires. I have trubless (15 inch) on my 1950 and they work perfectly well.

I agree, I have tubeless on my '48 with no problems.

I'm running 600 x 16 Coker Radials with tubes. Suspect the tire is not designed to be used tubeless. Ed, what size are you using 15" or 16"

dick

Down here I was always told not to run tubeless tires on rims that didnt have the ridge just inside the tire bead to prevent the tire rolling sideways and suddenly deflating. The rims that are stamped with their designated size ending in "JJ" are suitable for tubeless tire and the unstamped or stamped without the JJ should have tubes fitted.
I m not sure if this comes under Australian regulations or only a recommendation.
Tony

I am running tubeless on my 48. I have the optional 15 inch wheels.

Dick, Sorry I didn't give the size. They are the optional 15" wheels on the '48 and the tires are radials. On my '37 with 600x16 bias ply tires I run tubes .

Okay, I gett it about the tubeless radials.

My question: Is the tube used on a 16 inch radial different than the tube used for a 16 inch bias tire?
Thanks,

Charlie

Yes. For one thing radial tubes are a lot thicker. Tubes intended for bias reputedly do not live long in radial tires.

Supposedly you can go the other way, using tubes intended for radials in bias tires.

Tubes of any kind add rotating mass to the wheels, limit the tire's ability to dissipate heat, and deflate suddenly when you get a puncture. I wouldn't use tubes If I could get tubeless tires to fit.

For what it's worth, Coker radials are typically tube type, while Diamondback radials are typically tubeless.

There are success stories on the HAMB of people running Coker tube-type radials tires without tubes. Coker themselves discourage it.

(1). I am looking at replacing my tires on a 38 roadster and have decided to go with cross plies and tubes because that is what it had. I like the idea of radials but there are some doubts..(1) You can run radials on any old rim but they can leak air which is why they had tubes in the first place. Some might leak, others not. Wheels like wire wheels are now tubeless because the rim is internally coated with a silicone band so no leaks. (2).Wheels that run tubeless have a safety bead or a tapered well to stop the tire collapsing on heavy cornering but this is rare. Risk it and drive carefully? (3).Old tires were finished smoothly internally because of rubbing on the tube. Modern tires have no tube and are unfinished internally. Some people need to fit a tube, say after a repair and toss in talcum powder to smooth things out. (4) Radial sizing is different to cross ply and you can e.g get a tire the right diameter and rim size and the width is marginal for an old Chev rim. Keep asking people who run these tires, form an opinion and run with it.

My 38 Master has 600x16 Coker radials with tubes fitted. The tires are made to run tubeless or with a tube, as per instructions. The only thing that looks a little odd is the bulge at the bottom because they are a tall skinny radial. With the wide whitewall the bulge is quite evident. I often have people tell me my tire is going flat!

that little bulge is what gives you a softer ride.

mike lynch

I talked with Diamond Back yesterday. They advised that I could run their radials tubeless on my ”˜41. I said I run tubeless radials on my ”˜55 and thought there was a difference in the rims on the ”˜55 wheels. He said wheels didn’t change until the mid 70’s, when an extra bead was added to the rim. I plan to buy the Diamond Backs. Tubeless tires run cooler. Thanks for all your comments. Sid