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KH 15x4.5 wheels. Tube to Tubeless?

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by sammy, Apr 25, 2010.

  1. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    I've always been told you have to run a tube with old flat fender wheels (Mine are Kelsey Hayes) but that was with bias ply tube type tires. I now have tubeless tires to go on it... Is it possible to run no tube, or would they leak through the rivets on the wheel?
    Thanks




    (Yes I did sirch, didn't find stuff)
     
    sammy, Apr 25, 2010
    #1
  2. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Are they tube type wheels? The difference is on the bead of the wheel.
     
    Patrick, Apr 25, 2010
    #2
  3. sammy

    sammy Coca-Cola?

    How do I tell if they're tube type?
     
    sammy, Apr 25, 2010
    #3
  4. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tubeless wheels have a ridge around the circumference near each bead to keep the bead of the tire seated, to keep it sealed.
     
    Patrick, Apr 25, 2010
    #4
  5. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Most, but not all tubeless rims are also welded rather than riveted also. You can safely run tubes with tubeless rims but NEVER run tubeless tires without tubes on tube-type rims.
     
    w3srl, Apr 25, 2010
    #5
  6. jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    Were any jeep wheels intended to be only tube wheels? I thought you can even run the old split rim military wheels without a tube. Anyhow i run my original 46 2a wheels without tubes. Post up a pic
     
    jeep2003, Apr 26, 2010
    #6
  7. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    While you can probably run any "tube type" wheel with tubeless tires, the issue become s what happens if you suddenly lose tire pressure. A tubeless rim has an extra rib on the bead portion of the wheel to keep the tire seated in the event of a blowout. Without that rib, the tire can easily roll off the rim.

    Can you run tubeless tires on a tube-type rim? Yes. Should you? No.
     
    w3srl, Apr 26, 2010
    #7
  8. Bill F

    Bill F Finally running

    No way the old split rims would hold air.
     
    Bill F, Apr 27, 2010
    #8
  9. jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    well youve got to run a bead of sealer around it certainly. my porsche has three piece wheels without tubes. i wouldnt dare to seperate them though lol. But if the jeep wheels wernt intended to run tubeless then yea it shouldnt be done
     
    jeep2003, Apr 27, 2010
    #9
  10. Mike C

    Mike C Member

    That's not completely true. 16.5" rims don't have the "safety bead" which helps keep the tire on the rim, but plenty of tubeless 16.5" tires. It would not surprise me if 19.5" and 22.5" rims didn't have them either, but that I don't know. Unseating the bead at low psi is what the offroad guys complain about with 16.5's and one of the reasons 15's were always popular on even the 8 lug trucks. (must grind calipers!)

    The biggest problem is the tube type rims are typically not "air tight" since they didn't have to be. I just pulled a set of BFG AT's off of a set of GM 16" wheels from a 92 Suburban, and they were riveted, and also designed for tubeless tires, so it can work. YMMV.
     
    Mike C, Apr 27, 2010
    #10
  11. Patrick

    Patrick Super Moderator Staff Member

    Yes, yes, and yes.:)
     
    Patrick, Apr 27, 2010
    #11
  12. kaiser_willys

    kaiser_willys Well-Known Member

    i ran tubless on my 47 pickup, but i cant recall if they were rivited or not. if the rivits dont leak you should be ok. large truck rims dont have the bead either. but they do have about 2 inches of rubber at the bead;)
     
    kaiser_willys, May 5, 2010
    #12