tubes or not, that is the question

[TrikerR]

hay guys just a little opionion poll...

tubes

or

tubeless

and why....

[Macs]

well i like to run tubless on new tires just because after buying new tires i dont want to buy tubes too. if the tires are bad i will tube them but that is it.

[atcmatt]

Tubeless is the only way to go in hilly country. As for flat country you can run a tube......

Thats my 0.2

Matt

[TrikerR]

what about dunes and trail riding

[ClayW]

I have been trail riding on hard clay, sand, and rock with tubes in the rear of my old SX and had no trouble at all. Even with new tires. If they will hold air I leave them alone, but if they leak around the bead/edge of wheel slowly I usually tube it to avoid the annoyance. I rode the SX hard and made many a jump with tubes, and never had a problem.

ClayW :TrikesOwn

[Lots_Of_Nothing]

i had to resort to running tubes on a set of turf tamers on my old 84R when one popped and wouldnt patch for nothing,, got the tubes in, worked well on the roads and fields, but when i went up hills and rough stuff the tires spun on the rims.

[ClayW]

I didnt have that problem in the hills and mountains of north Georgia with my tubes. I take that back. I did have that happen on one rear wheel when I first got it. However the guy I bought the trike from had put a 9 inch tube on a 8 inch rim. Tire shop said that wasnt wise. Not to say that it could not happen with a 8inch rim. Its probbably more likely with a real weathered tire. Rubber is not as supple and doesnt stick to the wheel as good. Interesting point. Never thought much about it. Makes sense though.

ClayW

[Howdy]

I run tubes in most all my tires. I do this so I don't have to worry about knocking the beads off the rim. A very good example is our Wrecker ( 88 TRX125 ). I will have to get a picture of the one tire. Maybe tomorrow. ;)

Howdy

[smokinp]

If I have a leak then I will put a tube in them and I take my trikes in all kinds of different terrain and they haven't busted so I would say tubeless if the tires are new but if they leak then I would put a tube in them.

[TimSr]

If your rims are in good shape, and your tire bead is in good shape, Id advise running tubeless. Its a lot easier to plug a tire and to patch a tube. You also wont rip the valve stem off if it turns on teh rim, which is commonplace on the 250 two strokes. If you have a rusty rim, one with a bad sealing surface, and sometimes split rims can be a pain to make leak free, or if your tire has a bad bead, or a hole that doesnt plug well like a split of a slice, then run a tube. If you run tires in the condition of the tires Howdy has on the wrecker, run two tubes, and put tire chains on it!

[TrikerR]

well my tires are brand new and i have split rime...i dont think there is much rust on the inside of my rims.

[Howdy]

If you run tires in the condition of the tires Howdy has on the wrecker, run two tubes, and put tire chains on it!

What are you trying to say here TimSr? Are you saying the wrecker tires are old, worn out, or both?? lmao It funny the wrecker goes where other machines don't. Sometimes with a rider and sometimes without. It's nice having a machine that you don't have to worry about hurting. In fact we have tried to kill it a few times ( we check the oil when it quits smoking ). But it just keeps going and going and going. This might have something to do with the energizer batteries we use in it. lol j/k What can I say? It's a Honda, built to last. The best never rest!!

Anyone that has ever rode the wrecker knows it is a very unique machine. And if your into mud it will really satisfy your thirst. Actually this thing is in great shape for a 1988. I bet you can't find any cracks in the fenders. lmfao j/k

Back to the subject of tubes and why I use them. If I didn't tube the tires this machine would need to be fixed before riding. But since I tubed the tires it's good to go.
FYI, The bead was on the rim when we took it to TF04. By the time TF was over the bead had started to come off the rim ( about 2-3" ). We kept riding it without doing any repairs ( never even added any air ) and it now looks like this below.
Like I said above. You can't kill it!! For reference I took one picture of the other side front tire.


Howdy

[Xowner]

my god why dont you just shoot that poor thing and let it it die !


and is that tires bead broke and thats thats just the tube holding it on?

[Howdy]

my god why dont you just shoot that poor thing and let it it die !


and is that tires bead broke and thats thats just the tube holding it on?

1st off, it's hard to kill a Honda ( The wrecker is proof of that ).

Yes, the tube is the only thing holding the tire on. The wires in the bead broke and that allowed the bead to come off the rim. The inside bead is being pushed on the rim by the tube. I am sure if I let the air out of the tube I can remove tire with No other tools. This is proof that Tubes are a good thing. lmao
Howdy

[trikerider2oo7]

that thing is a beast Howdy...the only thing i run tubes in is dirtbikes and bicycles

[TimSr]

my god why dont you just shoot that poor thing and let it it die !


and is that tires bead broke and thats thats just the tube holding it on?

If you shot that thing it would likely ricochet off and kill the shooter without leaving a scratch on the bike!