tubeless tyres

Shan2nu · 23rd March 2005, 18:19

ok Samurai, one more question. What is the general way of mending a puncture on a tubeless tyre?

Will the repair kit make the tyres as good as before or did you get a hot/cold patch fixed inside?

Shan2nu

Samurai · 23rd March 2005, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shan2nu

ok Samurai, one more question. What is a general way of mending a puncture on a tubeless tyres?

Once I had the misfortune of getting an instant puncture on my rear tyre. I was going to work and suddenly started hearing a light whirring sound. Since it didn't affect the handling in any way, I ignored it. Later drove home for lunch I again heard it, again ignored it. However, before starting back to work I suddenly remembered the sound. So, I went around the car looking for any sign of trouble, some hanging part, etc. Then I was shocked to see that the right rear tyre was fully flat. I was driving the Acura (FWD) for like 10 miles with a rear flat tyre and I hadn't noticed any difference in handling except for a tiny heaviness. What a car!

Anyway, I changed the wheel and boy those 16 inch wheels are heavy. I took the flat tyre to the nearest garage. My memory is little hazy now, but this is what I remember. The culprit turned out to be a twisted piece of metal which is why the tyre flattened instantly. They took this 4 inch long strip (rubber? plastic?) and put some kind of gum and heated it a little. Then they inserted the strip into the puncture hole and left it for a while. And they pruned the remaining strip. That's it. When I saw it, I was really unsure whether it will hold. Well, it did fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shan2nu

Will the repair kit make the tyres as good as before or did you get a hot/cold patch fixed inside?

That plug held fine as long as I had the car. The other nail which was discovered in the routine service was fixed differently, I didn't get to see the process. The Acura mechanic said something about galvanising the punture, etc. Not sure about that.

amitoj · 23rd March 2005, 19:38

Here is another disadvantage.... its not really a disadvantage but just a heavier burden on ur wallet. If u go for tubeless tyres, then u should either switch to alloys, or at least replace the existing steel rims if they are bent or damaged. And given the state of roads, its not uncommon to have a bent rim.
Say, what would happen if you are running on tubeless tyres on normal wheels and the rim gets bent?
Also, what would happen if you are running on alloys and the alloy wheel gets a crack?

Cheers
Amitoj

Shan2nu · 23rd March 2005, 19:40

Quote:

Say, what would happen if you are running on tubeless tyres on normal wheels and the rim gets bent?

This would create a gap between the rim and the tyres making the tyre lose air.

Quote:

Also, what would happen if you are running on alloys and the alloy wheel gets a crack?

Time to get a new wheel!!!

Shan2nu

amitoj · 23rd March 2005, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shan2nu

Time to get a new wheel!!!

Shan2nu

Or a new SET of wheels if u r running on one of em imported alloys... right?

simran · 23rd March 2005, 20:46

or put the spare tyre, and get a rim for the 5th tubeless till a time another one breaks. Then you replace all 5 :-)

Rehaan · 23rd March 2005, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

The Acura mechanic said something about galvanising the punture, etc. Not sure about that.

I think you mean Vulcanizing ?

cya
R

rahulmd · 15th April 2005, 15:14

Shan2nu, to answer your question [b]"ok Samurai, one more question. What is the general way of mending a puncture on a tubeless tyre?"[b]

i get my punctures fixed at Ashoka Tyres in Indira Nagar. (he is a dealer for GoodYear tyres)

Once i had a semi flat in the morning (after a feeling of uneven tyre pressure the previous morning), I changed the tyre and took it there. now our man says that if you have a flat in the front tyre, dont even bother changing it, Just fill in some air and drive it to the shop. They will jack up the car, turn the relevant wheel outwards and identify the nail (or whatever). Pull it out using a pair of pliers. Then take this chewing gum like stick of whatever and stick it into the hole with a thin long iron thingey, pull out the iron thingey. cut off the loose ends of the chewing gum and you are done! even changing the tyre is not required!

not bad eh?

simran · 15th April 2005, 15:55

Yeah, that is the procedure that was explained to me also. Seems having a tyre repair shop is no longer necessary. I got a 'kit' for around Rs. 200 which included a set of rubber/plastic threads in some gel. there are 2 screwdriver like tools. One to take the rubber thing out, another one to open the puncture after pulling out the nail so the puncture can be fixed. Then you push the thread/string into the hole so that half of it is inside, fill in air with a foot-pump (bought that as well), and drive off. The tyre guys do the same thing, so saves you a visit to them as well.

Rtech · 15th April 2005, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

Here is another disadvantage.... its not really a disadvantage but just a heavier burden on ur wallet. If u go for tubeless tyres, then u should either switch to alloys, or at least replace the existing steel rims if they are bent or damaged. And given the state of roads, its not uncommon to have a bent rim.

Well, I would not call that a disadvantage. The fact is that if your wheel is bent or worse still, cracked, you really don't want to be driving around on it. If the air leaks out of the tubeless tyre because of that forcing you to change the wheel, I would consider that an advantge. It may just be the thing that saves your life! A bit of inconvience and extra expense is a small price to pay.

Your wheels are the only thing that connect your car to the road, and that is one area where you just don't want to take any chances. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.

amitoj · 15th April 2005, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

Well, I would not call that a disadvantage. The fact is that if your wheel is bent or worse still, cracked, you really don't want to be driving around on it. If the air leaks out of the tubeless tyre because of that forcing you to change the wheel, I would consider that an advantge. It may just be the thing that saves your life! A bit of inconvience and extra expense is a small price to pay.

Ummm... a slightly bent rim is more dangerous when running on tube type tyre or a tubeless tyre ?

simran · 15th April 2005, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

Ummm... a slightly bent rim is more dangerous when running on tube type tyre or a tubeless tyre ?

On a tubeless, the air will keep escaping, so there'll be a regular topping up required, which is quite cumbersome.

On tubed, you'll run fine. But when the tyre/tube are hot, and if the bent opens up a gap, you'll have a quick puncture which might be more unpleasant.

Therefore, with tubed, a bent rim is more dangerous. But the word 'slightly' is confusing. I'd say with a slightly bent rim. a tubeless would be more inconvenient, not dangerous.

Simran

Rtech · 15th April 2005, 17:37

OK, ignore the reference to the bent rim in my previous post. But yes, it would be more of an inconvenience if you have a slow leak because of that. More dangerous, no, the tubed tyre would still have a higher risk factor.

However, I would trade a bit of inconvenience (rarely I might add) for the leap in safety over tubed tyres every time. Think about it, there must be a reason why tubed tyres have become all but extinct in the world. Even when it comes to serious offroad vehicles.

I have been running tubeless on steel rims for more than a year now. Over all sorts of roads. Zero air loss.

In this day and age if a person buys new tyres with tubes inside, he is either ignorant or foolish. Period.

Rudra Sen · 15th April 2005, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by amitoj

Ummm... a slightly bent rim is more dangerous when running on tube type tyre or a tubeless tyre ?

Amitoj your Zen's rear wheel (don't know left or right cause I was with you in the car) is wobbling very badly. Why and how and what are you doing about it?

speedsatya · 15th April 2005, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

I have been running tubeless on steel rims for more than a year now. Over all sorts of roads. Zero air loss.

.

rtech ,
what car do u run those rires on?????

Quote:

In this day and age if a person buys new tyres with tubes inside, he is either ignorant or foolish. Period

and what do you say of the car company that sells 1.1L cars with tubeless tires and air bags,while its more powerful 1.6 L car has tubetype tires.

the baleno having a top speed of 175kph has a s-rated tire.which means the tires have as peed limit of 180kph.

Quote:

Amitoj your Zen's rear wheel (don't know left or right cause I was with you in the car) is wobbling very badly. Why and how and what are you doing about it

amitoj

,

its high time u put alloys in your car.

23rd March 2005, 18:19	#31
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	ok Samurai, one more question. What is the general way of mending a puncture on a tubeless tyre? Will the repair kit make the tyres as good as before or did you get a hot/cold patch fixed inside? Shan2nu Last edited by Shan2nu : 23rd March 2005 at 19:11.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2005, 19:38	#33
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,348 Thanked: 3,105 Times View My Garage	Here is another disadvantage.... its not really a disadvantage but just a heavier burden on ur wallet. If u go for tubeless tyres, then u should either switch to alloys, or at least replace the existing steel rims if they are bent or damaged. And given the state of roads, its not uncommon to have a bent rim. Say, what would happen if you are running on tubeless tyres on normal wheels and the rim gets bent? Also, what would happen if you are running on alloys and the alloy wheel gets a crack? Cheers Amitoj
	() Thanks

23rd March 2005, 20:46	#36
simran BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 171 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	or put the spare tyre, and get a rim for the 5th tubeless till a time another one breaks. Then you replace all 5 :-)
	() Thanks

15th April 2005, 15:14	#38
rahulmd BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 137 Thanked: 5 Times	Shan2nu, to answer your question [b]"ok Samurai, one more question. What is the general way of mending a puncture on a tubeless tyre?"[b] i get my punctures fixed at Ashoka Tyres in Indira Nagar. (he is a dealer for GoodYear tyres) Once i had a semi flat in the morning (after a feeling of uneven tyre pressure the previous morning), I changed the tyre and took it there. now our man says that if you have a flat in the front tyre, dont even bother changing it, Just fill in some air and drive it to the shop. They will jack up the car, turn the relevant wheel outwards and identify the nail (or whatever). Pull it out using a pair of pliers. Then take this chewing gum like stick of whatever and stick it into the hole with a thin long iron thingey, pull out the iron thingey. cut off the loose ends of the chewing gum and you are done! even changing the tyre is not required! not bad eh?
	() Thanks

15th April 2005, 15:55	#39
simran BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 171 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Yeah, that is the procedure that was explained to me also. Seems having a tyre repair shop is no longer necessary. I got a 'kit' for around Rs. 200 which included a set of rubber/plastic threads in some gel. there are 2 screwdriver like tools. One to take the rubber thing out, another one to open the puncture after pulling out the nail so the puncture can be fixed. Then you push the thread/string into the hole so that half of it is inside, fill in air with a foot-pump (bought that as well), and drive off. The tyre guys do the same thing, so saves you a visit to them as well.
	() Thanks

15th April 2005, 17:37	#43
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	OK, ignore the reference to the bent rim in my previous post. But yes, it would be more of an inconvenience if you have a slow leak because of that. More dangerous, no, the tubed tyre would still have a higher risk factor. However, I would trade a bit of inconvenience (rarely I might add) for the leap in safety over tubed tyres every time. Think about it, there must be a reason why tubed tyres have become all but extinct in the world. Even when it comes to serious offroad vehicles. I have been running tubeless on steel rims for more than a year now. Over all sorts of roads. Zero air loss. In this day and age if a person buys new tyres with tubes inside, he is either ignorant or foolish. Period.
	() Thanks