new tyres on old wheels

Hello chaps,
Just wondered if you can fit tubeless tyres to the old type wheels? Or is it a no go? I only ask as i need to get some tyres (got picked up on the last MOT for being cracked) and was thinking about getting the old wheels shot blasted and powder coated before having the new tyres put on. But if it cant be done might just go down the modular route.
Many thanks

Big no no. Tubeless tyres rely upon an inner rim to hold the tyre under pressure. Old style tube wheels do not have that feature. What tyres and what model do you have? A good Tyre fitter should know all that. Remember a new tube only costs about a£7.00. Also the valves are different too. Safety first eh?

John S said:

Big no no. Tubeless tyres rely upon an inner rim to hold the tyre under pressure. Old style tube wheels do not have that feature. What tyres and what model do you have? A good Tyre fitter should know all that. Remember a new tube only costs about a£7.00. Also the valves are different too. Safety first eh?

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I've got an S3 lightweight at the moment it's just got some rather old tyres on not sure what make as the landy is over at a mates.

You can buy tube tyres. There's plenty choice. Lots of posts elsewhere on the forum about tyres. For example you can buy Avon Rangemasters 750 x 16 for around £110 fitted. A good independent tyre fitter should be able to offer choices.

Super thread and very informative, top marks all round

On the subject of tyres I have a p38 r reg it's wearing 255/60/18 but one block I called for a qoute said they don't fit in the boot derrrrrr
I have one in there all ready
Many people say it knocks the speedo out if you go bigger can any one tell me by how much cheers alll

MadManish said:

Hello chaps,
Just wondered if you can fit tubeless tyres to the old type wheels? Or is it a no go? I only ask as i need to get some tyres (got picked up on the last MOT for being cracked) and was thinking about getting the old wheels shot blasted and powder coated before having the new tyres put on. But if it cant be done might just go down the modular route.
Many thanks

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It's such a shame so few seem to know this....

Tubeless is about the rim, not the tyre!!!

A Tubeless rim has a flat flange on it, a tubed one has an extra rib to keep the bead of the tyre in place. Fit a tyre with no tube to a tubeless rim, hit a bump or corner hard and the bead will move on the rim, letting all the air out in an instant. Hugely dangerous!!

John S said:

You can buy tube tyres. There's plenty choice. Lots of posts elsewhere on the forum about tyres. For example you can buy Avon Rangemasters 750 x 16 for around £110 fitted. A good independent tyre fitter should be able to offer choices.

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You can fit tubes to any tyre and even tubeless rims....

300bhp/ton said:

You can fit tubes to any tyre and even tubeless rims....

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but the tyres may overheat with the internal friction

The Mad Hat Man said:

but the tyres may overheat with the internal friction

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That's a new one on me. Do you have any links or info on it? Thanks.

300bhp/ton said:

That's a new one on me. Do you have any links or info on it? Thanks.

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I found it cheaper to buy new wheels than shot blast and paint or powder coat. I bought defender steel wheels (same style as series wheels) but they are tubeless rims so I can fit tubeless tyres. I paid about £45 per corner from Paddocks about 4 years ago

Land Raver said:

I found it cheaper to buy new wheels than shot blast and paint or powder coat. I bought defender steel wheels (same style as series wheels) but they are tubeless rims so I can fit tubeless tyres. I paid about £45 per corner from Paddocks about 4 years ago

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I got 4 defender steelies with rubber for £50. The rears are still on 2 years later. .

I tend not to shot blast and powder coat. I'm more of a sand paper and paint brush man as one finds appreciating a fine finish when covered in brake fluid and EP90 a bit ard.

300bhp/ton said:

It's such a shame so few seem to know this....

Tubeless is about the rim, not the tyre!!!

A Tubeless rim has a flat flange on it, a tubed one has an extra rib to keep the bead of the tyre in place. Fit a tyre with no tube to a tubeless rim, hit a bump or corner hard and the bead will move on the rim, letting all the air out in an instant. Hugely dangerous!!

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Other way around I think you'll find, tubless rim, (JJ designation) has two extra ribs, inner bead and outer bead, to secure the tyre to inner and outer flanges and help seal the air in.
Tube type rims do not have the ribs, though some from a while back had the outer flange rib, (J designation), I think it was in a transitional period and probably assisted in keeping tubed tyres from rolling so easily if under inflated, but not 100% on that.
I ran tubless tyres on ordinary early RRC Rostyle rims (non JJ) for many years and had no problems, only once did I roll a tyre and that was after deflating the tyres to 15 psi for soft beach driving then taking to the highway without re inflating, that was pretty scarey, something I would not do again.
You are right it can be "hugely dangerous", correctly inflated and under ordinary conditions it will work, BUT!!!

Type approval where said:

On the subject of tyres I have a p38 r reg it's wearing 255/60/18 but one block I called for a qoute said they don't fit in the boot derrrrrr
I have one in there all ready
Many people say it knocks the speedo out if you go bigger can any one tell me by how much cheers alll

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Should be 255/55/18. 255/60/18 will give 31 MPH actual at 30 indicated And at 60 indicated 62.1 so not too far away.

The Mad Hat Man said:

View attachment 124846

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Thabks. But no idea what that diagram is meant to represent or in what context. I certainly can't see anything in it saying you can't run a tube in a tubeless tyre.

Type approval where said:

On the subject of tyres I have a p38 r reg it's wearing 255/60/18 but one block I called for a qoute said they don't fit in the boot derrrrrr
I have one in there all ready
Many people say it knocks the speedo out if you go bigger can any one tell me by how much cheers alll

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That's correct. Depends on exact tyres but error is approximately 5mph so you need to be careful in built up areas.

John S said:

That's correct. Depends on exact tyres but error is approximately 5mph so you need to be careful in built up areas.

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It is not rocket science to work out the difference and if in doubt double check with a GPS unit.

Cheers

I was told tubed tyres are smooth on inside and tubeless have moulding "ridges," its the internal ridges that cause friction and heat. So it is possible to run tubeless tyres with tube but you run the risk of tyres overheating. Putting tubeless tyres on a rim designed for tubed without a tube is dangerous.
I bought a second hand set of 5 Defender tubeless wheels off ebay with standard 205/16 tyres quite cheap.

I started using tubeless tyres on my std tubed type rims many years ago. 205x16.

Never had a problem....some will say...but what if you get a flat type when running....answer...exactly the same as if I had a flat tube fitted.

Tubeless tyres are much less prone to punchers...and are easier to change as no tube to mess with.

Nick.