Stephen F. Bauserman wrote:
>
> Being we are in our annual two weeks of Spring in Houston, I took Scarlet
> out for a run this morning. After lunch I went out to take care of a few
> minor things in the garage and found Scarlet with a flat tire.
>
> When Scarlet was restored her 72 spoke painted wire wheels were replaced
> with a set of Dayton Chrome 72 spoke wire wheels. I have always run them
> with tubes. They have rubber inserts inside the rim to keep the spokes from
> making holes in the tubes and they have been checked for loose spokes, but
> in spite of this I have at least a half dozen flat tires a year. I run
> Dunlop SP20 165/15 tires on her and I drive Scarlet about 5K miles per year.
> Much of that drving is at 50 - 65 MPH on freeway or interstate.
>
> I have been told that I can run these wheels without tubes if I will use a
> silicone sealant at the base of the spokes on the inside of the rim. It is
> getting harder and harder in my area to get someone to repair of replace
> inner tubes. I have replaced the last two myself. I can think of numerous
> other things I would rather do with my time. Has anyone out there converted
> a set of wire wheels from being tube to tubeless? Or does anyone have any
> ideas on this subject?
>
> I just returned from Pep Boys with a large tube of Permatex Silicone Sealant
> (Everything else is held together with Permatex, why not the wheels?).
>
> Steve Bauserman
> 67 4/4 Series V Competition
Steve
As Nogueira said, I have also converted my blue Morgan over to tubless
wired wheels using silicone. I had a tire shop do it for me as my
efforts failed. However, it now seems successful and all four tires hold
air, although the one I use as a spare leaks about 2 pounds a week.
That's why it is the spare. I did it since I travel in my Morgans a lot
and tubes are hard to find. However, I have not had undue problems with
flats in tubed tires. In using the silicone, you just have to be very
thorough. Also, I got some spoke tape from British Wire Wheel to tape
the spoks after they were sealed. The tape was only about $8 a roll.
Darn. I don't have any interest in BWW either.
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