QuestionThanks for your answer. It's puts me a bit at ease but I thought I'd write a follow up because I've
heard different. Does this hold true for sport bikes and extreme conditions? If so, why make a
"tubeless" tire at all? I easily hit speeds in access of 140k on the highway, (passed regularly by
Harley's as well. I think they think I'm trying to show 'em up. I'm not. I love Harley's, just can't
afford them.) and I'm concerned that I might have a blow-out or pinched tube with a passenger
on board. Safety in all situations is my concern here.
Thank you again Falcon, for your quick response.
dc.
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Followup To
Question -
Hello Chris. I recently had a leak in my bike's back tire. (It's an
'86 Honda Interceptor, customized with CSXR ferrings and other
racing parts, including the tires) The tires where both replaced
less than a full season ago but maybe I ran over something. At
any-rate, it has tubeless tires but when I got it back the guys at
the shop have put an inner tube into it. This seems wrong but is
it a safety issue? Will it wear out my tires faster? Is there
anything I need to know basically or is it okay to ride a tubeless
tire with a tube in it?
Thanks.
dc
Answer -
Hi DC.
The tube in your tubeless tire will have absolutely no effect on the wear or safety of your tire.
Many times a shop will put a tube in a tubeless tire because their mechanic cannot seem to get
the tire to seat correctly for inflation. That is why it happens and likely the reason that it was
done on your bike.
Enjoy the ride.
FALCON
AnswerHi again DC.
I have had a couple of bikes that have had to have tubes put into tubeless tires to get them to seat correctly and never had a problem with them. You listed the speeds that you go at to be over 140k? I am assuming that means KPH, which would equate to excess of about 80-90 MPH. I have frequently exceeded that on all of the bikes that I have had, including my XJ900RK racebike, which has a tubed tubeless rear tire.
I wouldn't worry about it unless you have not had the tire balanced for high speeds. My tire guy also races bikes on the weekends so I trust his judgement on this issue completely.
If you should notice the bike handling a bit on the squirrelly side, then slow it down and get the tires checked out for high speed balance. That is the only real concern.
If a tube were going to pinch in a tubeless tire, then it is just as likely to pinch in a tubed tire. And since the tire you have is a tubeless, then if the tube leaks, there is still nowhere for the air to go since it's a tubeless tire on a tubeless rim. It's sealed up.
Have fun.
FALCON
