Hey all, getting ready to drop the hammer on a set of new WWW tires. My question is, are the tubed and tubeless tires the same thing, with one running a tube inside while the other one does not? Thinkin of ordering online as dealer quoted me $505 mounted and out the door (Dunlops). Can pick them up online at motorcycle superstore for about $250 for the tires with free shipping. Add cost of having an indie mount them and I may come out ahead.
Just don't see any reference to "tubed" or "tubeless" on their site. Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

If your running a spoked wheel your gonna have to run with tubes, just the way the world goes around. I prefer a mag wheel so I don't have to worry about a tubed tire or a spoke coming loose and going thru it.

 

I think he knows spoked wheels need tubes. I never thought there was a tire difference. Ask to make sure. Don't forget new tubes and trim strm strips. Make sure they are indentical tires too and model numbers.

 

The modern Dunlops can be run tubed or tubeless depending on the wheel you use.

 

In my 47 years of riding Harleys I have never heard or seen a spoke coming loose (they can become loose) and going through the tube. The spoke cannot come free from the hub. There are ways to seal wire wheels from the inside, so tubless tires can be used. And by the way, tubeless tires can also get cut or punctured rendering them useless. Yes, they can be plugged, provided the damage is not that bad.

 

Try "jakewilson.com" I got a Dunlop E3, front, and a Michelin Commander, rear, delivered to the door for 156.00

 

Hey Dave, spokes can come free of the hub if they weren't maintained and enlarged the hole in the hub.
Spoked rims are fine but require extra maintenance. Tubes, on the other hand, can leave you stranded. That's the main reason why my RKC looks nothing like when it left the showroom.

 

Most tires are tubeless and can be run with tubes. Some rims (mainly spokes) require tubes. Harleys (and other manufacturers) use "tubeless" tires on spoke wheels and they have a tube in them due to the rim.
Honestly I haven't seen a "tube required" tire for a motorcycle in many years.

If you do find a tire that says it requires a tube then yes it requires a tube, no matter what type of rim, the best example of a tube type tire I can think of is bicycle tires.

 

Yeah, I've never heard of a spoke going through a tube. Those who think tubeless tires are better well, the only thing that's better is if you can plug it while still on the bike. If you cut it, forget about that ... you got to replace it. Sometimes if you cut a tubed tire you may miss the tube and keep on going. Last year, I had a big bolt tear through the edge of my rear tire. I pulled the bolt out with my vicegrips and continued on ... for 4 thousand miles before I replaced the tire. Try that with tubeless!

 

Not trying to start a pissing contest here but, if your spokes are that loose you are going to hear it. I have put many,many miles on spoke wheels and have never had a problem. Using something like "Slime" or something similar, with some c02 cartridges will usually get you to some place to get a repair. The tube should be replaced anyways and most times you can just keep using the same tire. Yes, they should be checked on occasion and here is how.

Support the wheels off the ground using a lift, then rotate the wheel while using a screwdriver lightly tapping against the spokes. What you are listening for is a change in sound as the wheel turns. A loose spoke will sound different than the other tight ones. Most here put their bikes on a lift when washing their bikes to clean the wheels and this is the time to check your spokes. Simple and easy to do. Fear mongering over tube tires is a waste of thought.