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MG MGB Technical - Wire Wheels

I have 5 dunlap 70 spoke (yes, it was a competion option) wire wheels with 5 new michelin tires and tubes. The rears are continually going flat. It seems the acceleration rips them.

Any ideas? I am tiring of multiple repairs. I do know there are radial and bias tubes. I am using the radial tubes. Discount tire is mounting them for me
Frank

Frank-
There are a few secrets to making sure that a tubed tire will give trouble-free service. Be sure to put in new band on the rim. Beware of tubes that are labeled "radial/bias ply". These one-size-fits-all tubes that are available at most modern tire shops simply will not work in our cars. Check the inside of your tire for a little square information block. Some tires have this and it scrapes away on the tube. Run a nylon stocking around the inside of the tire to assure there are no fine burrs or anything that might cause wear of the tube. By all means use tubes intended only for use in radial tires, but here is an ol-timey-mechanic's tip: dust the inside of the tire and the exterior of the tube heavily with talcum powder. The stuff will act as a dry lubricant to reduce chafing. If you can, find an unscented product as the perfumes might have some affect on the rubber. It is sometimes called 'French chalk,' so you might find it under that name as well. Perfume in talcum powder rots rubber, which is why divers never use it on their wet suits. It also helps to 'burp' the tire after it has been inflated to seat the tire bead. Once inflated, remove the valve core and let the pressure out of the tube. Move the valve stem around (gently) while it is deflating. This lets any air out that is trapped between the tube and tire causing a bubble. Repeat this process until no more air escapes around the valve stem.
Steve S.

Thanks Steve

New band on the rim - I did not do this today because I don’t have one (I want a spare, because I get so many flats), but where would I order one (or 5)? Moss is one place, do you know of anybody else?

Nylon stocking around the inside of the tire – I did this and I also looked at the rim and the inside of the tire. The rip was in the tube only, on the side in a molded rib. There are also ribs in the tire. I did see some rust along the rim and there are 2 rows on spoke mounts. The middle set is covered with a band, but the outside set are not. Should there be 2 bands or only one?

talcum powder – got it

Once inflated, remove the valve core and let the pressure out of the tube. – done

Thanks again.
Frank Murch

A substitute for the rubber band is to use gas pipe tape. A plumbing contractor store will have it in various widths. (up to 3 inches as I remember). The tape is smoother than the rubber and you can actually cover the nipple areas.

This worked for my original rims. I recently changed to dunlop rims with the tubless option. They have not leaked in two years so far. The only difference is that they coat the inside with a rubber sealing compound.
Bruce-C

I bought a set of used wire wheels that had duct tape over the rough nipple area and it seems to be working well. Another trick used by a lot of people is to seal up the other end of the spokes with RTV to keep the grease from migrating out onto the spokes.
C.E. Campbell

I bought new wire wheels a year ago from Hendrix Wire Wheel in North Carolina. They were very helpful people, and they do seem to know their stuff. I do remember that they don't recommend using a standard 14" tube you can get at the run-of-the-mill tire store. They recommend a somewhat different size because, if I can remember correctly, the narrowness and profile of the wire rims, allows a standard size tube (designed for steel wheels) to do some slipping. I'd advise a call to them. They are willing to talk over the phone, and their website will give you the contact info.
David Burke

This thread was discussed between 16/02/2008 and 17/02/2008

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