The tires on my bike are tubeless and keep losing air around the rim, they're not damaged or anything and was wondering if I could just put some tubes in them?

 

If there's one are you don't want to skimp on or "jerry rig" on a bike it's your tires and wheels. you can try to over inflate them to see if that seats tham better (do not ride it this way). What is the current max psi for the tires? i can try to help.

Are you sure it leaking at the rim? Valve stems leak frequently. Every 10 degrees cooler=1 less psi, and it will also normally lose a # a month anyway. Maybe even try some of that "green slime" stuff if all else fails.

Sorry if I'm giving obvious information, but running tubes in this case seems like a very bad idea for various reasons, heat mostly. Maybe others have better suggestions.

 

I used soapy water around the rim and valve stem to locate the leaks that are around the rim. I tried using the green slime stuff but that didn't work and it says on the bottle that it's not for rim bead leaks. The tires will lose about 15psi over night. The tires are Metzlers by the way. The max pressure is 40psi and I did try inflating them to that pressure to see if the beads would seat any better, but it didn't help. These wheels are aluminum mag type. I noticed that if I ride the bike everyday that it holds the air pressure, but if I don't keep riding it daily it will lose pressure.

 

Tires are funny things. I have had a problem with wheel barrow tires. I tried the Green Slime stuff on a couple of them. It appeared to work at first. Then later on, it keep losing air. I have aluminum wheels on a Mustang. One keep losing air. I put a different one, but the same style on it, still lost air with different tires. I have some very old tires on a spare Dana 60 axle. They have not lost any air in many years.

 

I doubt you will find anybody who will install tubes in tubeless tires for you. That is a big no-no. Do not do it. Oh, it might work, but it might not......Putting tubes inside tubeless tires can cause excessive heat buildup.

Both front and rear leaking? How old is the bike? Is the bead evenly seated all the way around? Who installed them?
Do you know for sure the bead of the tire or the shoulder of the rim wasn't damaged?

 

Strange, I remember putting a tube in a cycle tire one time and it was not bad. The folks here say it is a no-no, so check it out with a mechanic.
If you pull your tire off, make sure the inner rim is not pitted or corroded, that might cause a leak. Metzlers are supposed to be real good-so check to see if there is a recall or if they moved to the "far-east"

 

Tubes not a good idea. Heat buildup and all. Plus, tubes react quite badly to a puncture, where a tubless tire will usually give it up slowly enough for you to move it on over and slow down to save your hide.

Keep trying for a fix... how old are the tires? Time to swap 'em anyway?

 

The bike is an '81 Yamaha SR500. The dealer where I bought the tires from a couple of years ago did the install. The bead looks even all the way around the rim and I can't see any damage but, I haven't taken the tires off the rim yet. The tires are still pretty new with only about 600 miles on them. I was thinking of taking the tires off and sanding around the rim a little to see if there are any burrs or nicks in there. It's just funny how they don't lose any air if I ride it daily.

 

take them off the rim, sand and clean the inside of the rim, then get someone to put lots of bead sealer gunk on the bead b4 they install it, it will help to seal any pits in the rim.

 

Why would tubes cause heat build up?

In the early days of tubless tires, we often put tubes in them. I'd do it today if necessary, and could find them.

 

Exactly!

Chances are your mag rims have oxidation along the beads causing the tires to leak along the bead.

Best way to correct is to pull off the tire, wire brush the area and put some bead seal on.

 

The friction between the tire and the tube ads to heat buildup.

In an emergency for a temporary repair, fine.

But, as a fix for a leaker where the car or truck is going to be driven long distances.....I wouldn't do it. And if you do, please post a sign on the side of your car or truck so the rest of us will know not to drive beside you except to pass or be passed.....

This problem gets worse with radial tires, as they flex more than bias ply.

If there is something wrong with the tire it should be replaced.

I remember my old man getting all whacked when they (whoever they was) stopped putting "boots" in seriously damaged tires, and when the 2/32 minimum tread depth law came into effect.

I knew another guy who described a trip from LA to SLC, leaving on 4 bald recaps. 7 (SEVEN) flats on the way.

Note to depression era oldsters: The depression is over, it's ok to spend money on tires.....

My all time favorite: The guy who goes to the co-op and buys the "blem" and/or "second" stamped, buffed ( all the wording was buffed off the tire) and stamped "implement and off road use only" tires and puts them on his pickup.

Quiz: How many miss the excitement of inflating a split rim set up?

 

I beg to differ. I have a 1999 Harley tat uses tubed tires and I have not had a flat in 6 years. Even when the back tire had a screw in the tire and tube. The only reason I replaced the tire at that time was because the tread had worn down in the center becuase The dealer had too much air in the tire. Tubed tires are not much different than the tubeless.

 

Usually when the tube gets poked, that's the end of it. Lucky you.

And sure, tube tires have given many trouble free miles.

But there is scant wisdom in trying to permanently repair a tubeless with a tube.

 

I may be wrong here, but aren't the rims different as far as being designed to use tubes or not(shaped differently internally/ more volume?) ? Maybe some of the other riders know more about this subject. If you end up doing this, atleast consider the heat and speed ratings lowered from the orig. tire specs. Good luck and be safe.