Firestone bias ply run tubeless???

[d.conrad]

Have any of you used Firestone bias ply tires without a tube on '40 Ford 16'' wheels?

[cas3]

There's quite a few threads here on the subject. General thoughts are if your wheels are in good shape, go for it.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by d.conrad

Have any of you used Firestone bias ply tires without a tube on '40 Ford 16'' wheels?

Okay, gotta ask... "why would you want to"?

[Mart]

NO DON'T DO IT!

Firestone bias ply tires are not tubeless!

People do run tubeless tires tubeless but you can't run a tube type tire tubeless.

Please be careful when giving advice when it is safety critical.

mart.

[rotorwrench]

If it was a tractor then I'd say go for it but anything that goes faster than 35 mph and has riveted center wheels, I'd say put tubes in there. Modern radials can work to a point but the old rims don't have the safety bead like the more modern ones after the late 1950s.

[d.conrad]

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With 9000+ miles on a set of 6.00-16 Firestone bias ply tires I had a blow out. The tube had a series of small holes in the wheel side of the tube. My guess is the installer may have scuffed it when he installed it. If hadn't had tubes I wouldn't have had a BLOWOUT. I'll try to put a picture of it soon. Some of the guy above have good luck with them. I'm getting ready to get another set of 6.00-16s to replace the radials on my '40.

[Mart]

I don't get this.

Tube type tires need tubes.

Tubeless tires do not need tubes.

Where is there any room for discussion?

[JayChicago]

Would a tube type tire even hold air without a tube in it? For how long? I thought only tubeless tires were manufactured with a bead surface to provide an air-tight seal against the wheel.

[Mart]

^^ Exactly!

[truckdog62563]

I had a conversation with an STA tech rep about this a few years ago to get a scientific answer for a guy. Guys over on FTE were claiming they ran tube type tires without tubes with no issues. Tech rep said tube type tires lack the inner liner molded into tubeless tires. Might hold air for a while but over time will seep and deflate. The lesson is to follow manufacturers’ guidelines. Stu

[rotorwrench]

This doesn't have much to due with cars but I'm adding it anyway. I live in mesquite country here in south Texas. My old Ford 850 tractor is designed for tube type tires. The rear ones aren't that big a problem but the fronts will go flat right away when cutting mesquite brush due to the nice long thorns on them. The tubes just wouldn't work with tire sealer so I took them out so that the sealer could be effective. It works for about two seasons before new sealant has to be added. A person can see thorns sticking out all over them and I leave them in there to slow the leak rate. They hold air pretty well considering but during the off season, I have to drive the tractor at least once every two weeks to residtribute the sealer in the tires or they will start to go flat.

All this sure is better than replacing or patching a tube every time a tire goes flat.

[Seth Swoboda]

I was unaware that you could run a bia-ply tire without tubes?

[Zeke3]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

I was unaware that you could run a bia-ply tire without tubes?

There were bias ply tires that were tubeless, they were used on all domestic passenger cars from at least the mid 1950's through the 1960's. I can't speak for the tires currently produced.

[JayChicago]

Originally Posted by Zeke3

There were bias ply tires that were tubeless, they were used on all domestic passenger cars from at least the mid 1950's through the 1960's. I can't speak for the tires currently produced.

That could be the answer. The reproduction bias ply tires sold today may be manufactured to tubeless tire standards.

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by JayChicago

That could be the answer. The reproduction bias ply tires sold today may be manufactured to tubeless tire standards.

You will find bias (and radial) tires made today that are tube and tubeless, depending on manufacturer and/or size. Some run tube tires without tubes, but I wouldn't. Best to stay with the original design spec.

[B-O-B]

A bit curious here & just asking. I'm sure someone has thought of making a solid rubber tire just for such purposes. Is it cost prohibitive?

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

This doesn't have much to due with cars but I'm adding it anyway. I live in mesquite country here in south Texas. My old Ford 850 tractor is designed for tube type tires. The rear ones aren't that big a problem but the fronts will go flat right away when cutting mesquite brush due to the nice long thorns on them. The tubes just wouldn't work with tire sealer so I took them out so that the sealer could be effective. It works for about two seasons before new sealant has to be added. A person can see thorns sticking out all over them and I leave them in there to slow the leak rate. They hold air pretty well considering but during the off season, I have to drive the tractor at least once every two weeks to residtribute the sealer in the tires or they will start to go flat.

All this sure is better than replacing or patching a tube every time a tire goes flat.

Originally Posted by B-O-B

A bit curious here & just asking. I'm sure someone has thought of making a solid rubber tire just for such purposes. Is it cost prohibitive?

Bob, I assume that your question is referring to the post from rotorwrench above? I'm no farmer, but I was thinking the same thing.

[cas3]

I've run skid steers with foam filled tires. They ride like fred flintstones car, and you loos some traction since the tires do not "give" at all.

[B-O-B]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Bob, I assume that your question is referring to the post from rotorwrench above? I'm no farmer, but I was thinking the same thing.

Yep. Sorry about that, I guess my old age is beginning to show!

[V8COOPMAN]

.

If all we did was stay with ORIGINAL design specs, this is how we would be flying to see Grandma!

Coop