The Ford Barn

Krylon32 · 11-01-2022, 01:28 PM

What are the Barn thoughts on running early Ford wires tubeless. I have 35 wires for the front and 2 inch widened 32 wires for the back. I will be using Excelsior radials which I have several friends running them tubeless on steelie's. Do you think they would work tubeless on the wires? I've just had problem with tube lasting. Your opinion please. Thanks

V8COOPMAN · 11-01-2022, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krylon32

What are the Barn thoughts on running early Ford wires tubeless. I have 35 wires for the front and 2 inch widened 32 wires for the back. I will be using Excelsior radials which I have several friends running them tubeless on steelie's. Do you think they would work tubeless on the wires? I've just had problem with tube lasting. Your opinion please. Thanks

That's a winning situation all the way around! Run 'em!!

Coop

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deuce_roadster · 11-01-2022, 02:33 PM

I have powder coated 16" KH wires on my 33 phaeton with tubless tires, no trouble after 6 years. i think the powder coat seals up any places that could leak air.

deuce lover · 11-01-2022, 03:39 PM

I ran tubeless on my '33 that had 16" 1935 wires.No problem at all.

Mart · 11-01-2022, 03:43 PM

Think about it. No rivets on a welded spoke wire wheel. The should be no potential leak paths. Even the steels with rivets tend to do ok tubeless. Your results may vary, of course.

glennpm · 11-01-2022, 04:40 PM

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I have tubeless with my Kelsey Hayes too. I sealed around all the spoke end/nuts with silicone. I had one slow leak that I was able to repair without completely removing the tire.

Glenn

V8Vic · 11-02-2022, 02:03 PM

Back in the late '80s, Rex Gardner and I had some problems with Kelsey and Ford wire wheels on our Great Race '35 coupe. Apparently, the wheels were just moving around enough to shred our new Coker tubes. Replaced them with a heavier tube from the Co-Op farm store and stopped the problem. I have used adjustable 15" Kelsey's on my '32 street rod with epoxy paint and duct tape with no tubeless tires and no problems.

jimvette59 · 11-03-2022, 02:51 PM

I had Mclaines rims with stainless spokes wire wheels back in the 80s. He had a thick coating of silicone on his nipples with tubeless tires and never had a leak. I don't know how the silicone will work with (rubber) ? tubes.

Steve/IL · 11-03-2022, 04:38 PM

I have Excelsiors on my 35 wires on the B400. No tubes. No leaks.

Dad250 · 11-14-2022, 04:17 PM

Call me old fashioned - I plan to run tubes in my 32 PU w/ wire wheels and bias plys

My beads probably wouldn't seal with tubeless !

deuce lover · 11-15-2022, 10:32 AM

I thought that way also but after multitude of flats even with AAA road service I am done with tubes.

11-01-2022, 01:28 PM	#1
Krylon32 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,489	Ford Wire Wheels What are the Barn thoughts on running early Ford wires tubeless. I have 35 wires for the front and 2 inch widened 32 wires for the back. I will be using Excelsior radials which I have several friends running them tubeless on steelie's. Do you think they would work tubeless on the wires? I've just had problem with tube lasting. Your opinion please. Thanks

11-01-2022, 02:33 PM	#3
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Ford Wire Wheels I have powder coated 16" KH wires on my 33 phaeton with tubless tires, no trouble after 6 years. i think the powder coat seals up any places that could leak air.

11-01-2022, 03:43 PM	#5
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,755	Re: Ford Wire Wheels Think about it. No rivets on a welded spoke wire wheel. The should be no potential leak paths. Even the steels with rivets tend to do ok tubeless. Your results may vary, of course.

11-01-2022, 04:40 PM	#6
glennpm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wiscasset, Maine Posts: 1,981	Re: Ford Wire Wheels Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have tubeless with my Kelsey Hayes too. I sealed around all the spoke end/nuts with silicone. I had one slow leak that I was able to repair without completely removing the tire. Glenn

11-02-2022, 02:03 PM	#7
V8Vic Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Independence, Kansas Posts: 18	Re: Ford Wire Wheels Back in the late '80s, Rex Gardner and I had some problems with Kelsey and Ford wire wheels on our Great Race '35 coupe. Apparently, the wheels were just moving around enough to shred our new Coker tubes. Replaced them with a heavier tube from the Co-Op farm store and stopped the problem. I have used adjustable 15" Kelsey's on my '32 street rod with epoxy paint and duct tape with no tubeless tires and no problems.

11-03-2022, 02:51 PM	#8
jimvette59 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Perry OH Posts: 1,330	Re: Ford Wire Wheels I had Mclaines rims with stainless spokes wire wheels back in the 80s. He had a thick coating of silicone on his nipples with tubeless tires and never had a leak. I don't know how the silicone will work with (rubber) ? tubes.

11-03-2022, 04:38 PM	#9
Steve/IL Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 370	Re: Ford Wire Wheels I have Excelsiors on my 35 wires on the B400. No tubes. No leaks. __________________ I've got the old car disease. Thankfully there's no cure!

11-14-2022, 04:17 PM	#10
Dad250 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Biglerville, PA Posts: 23	Re: Ford Wire Wheels Call me old fashioned - I plan to run tubes in my 32 PU w/ wire wheels and bias plys My beads probably wouldn't seal with tubeless ! Last edited by Dad250; 11-29-2022 at 09:46 AM.

11-15-2022, 10:32 AM	#11
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,307	Re: Ford Wire Wheels I thought that way also but after multitude of flats even with AAA road service I am done with tubes.