Quality tire parts

Acidreamer
Profile picture for user Acidreamer
Posts
1794
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
Acidreamer
Edited Date/Time 11/11/2017 12:05pm
About to replace my front tire. Have been having problems with my tube breaking every couple rides - usually at the valve stem. I have a feeling the tubes at my local dealership are really low quality. Typically i go an entire tires lifespan on 1 tube. Im looking for some higher quality tire parts that will aid in flat prevention. So far ive found some ultra heavy duty tubes that are 4mm thick. Are there any higher quality rim straps out there that help protect against the spoke nipples? Or a rimlock with a better design?
|
RussB
Profile picture for user RussB
Posts
851
Joined
7/12/2014
Location
GB
Fantasy
1164th
RussB 11/9/2017 3:43am
11/9/2017 3:43am
First off, are you tightening your inner tube to the rim via the lock nut? If you are, stop doing this. Put the dust cap on, then tighten the inner tube lock nut up against the valve cap. This will allow your valve stem to 'float' just a little and prevent it from tearing. I then use a rubber valve stem seal to keep the mud and water out (under the valve lock nut)

A 4mm thick inner tube is a good purchase. You pay the price with a big weight penalty but I've never ever punctured a 4mm tube. Even running low pressures (8-10PSI).
If you are serious about performance and handling then you may just want to stick with a regular tube. Heavy duty tubes can be over twice as heavy as standard tubes, that's a lot of added unsprung rotational weight.

Buy a quality rim lock such as a Motion Pro.
Also I've always preferred to use 2 to 3 revolutions round the rim with good quality duct tape as opposed to using a rim strap. Just make sure you tape the rim indent only and not the internal edges where the tyre bead sits.
Acidreamer
Profile picture for user Acidreamer
Posts
1794
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
Acidreamer 11/9/2017 3:51am
11/9/2017 3:51am
RussB wrote:
First off, are you tightening your inner tube to the rim via the lock nut? If you are, stop doing this. Put the dust cap on...
First off, are you tightening your inner tube to the rim via the lock nut? If you are, stop doing this. Put the dust cap on, then tighten the inner tube lock nut up against the valve cap. This will allow your valve stem to 'float' just a little and prevent it from tearing. I then use a rubber valve stem seal to keep the mud and water out (under the valve lock nut)

A 4mm thick inner tube is a good purchase. You pay the price with a big weight penalty but I've never ever punctured a 4mm tube. Even running low pressures (8-10PSI).
If you are serious about performance and handling then you may just want to stick with a regular tube. Heavy duty tubes can be over twice as heavy as standard tubes, that's a lot of added unsprung rotational weight.

Buy a quality rim lock such as a Motion Pro.
Also I've always preferred to use 2 to 3 revolutions round the rim with good quality duct tape as opposed to using a rim strap. Just make sure you tape the rim indent only and not the internal edges where the tyre bead sits.
Thanks for that much info. I did try not tightening the valve stem nut to the rim like you said. Didnt seal the bottom tho. Im not fast by any means so at this point i dont think the weight is an issue. Interesting point about the duct tape too.
RussB
Profile picture for user RussB
Posts
851
Joined
7/12/2014
Location
GB
Fantasy
1164th
RussB 11/9/2017 4:04am
11/9/2017 4:04am
Acidreamer wrote:
Thanks for that much info. I did try not tightening the valve stem nut to the rim like you said. Didnt seal the bottom tho. Im...
Thanks for that much info. I did try not tightening the valve stem nut to the rim like you said. Didnt seal the bottom tho. Im not fast by any means so at this point i dont think the weight is an issue. Interesting point about the duct tape too.
Get a set of valve stem seals and it will keep the crud out



Lightly tighten the valve stem lock nut onto the stem seal to seal it to the rim. This still allows the valve stem to move slightly but will keep the dirt and water out. I've been running this set up for years. Works well.
Paw Paw
Profile picture for user Paw Paw
Posts
679
Joined
12/24/2011
Location
Benton, LA US
Paw Paw 11/9/2017 7:12am
11/9/2017 7:12am
Normally the tearing of the valve stem is caused by the tire rotating on the rim. A good rim lock will stop that .

Paw Paw

The Shop

See All »
Acidreamer
Profile picture for user Acidreamer
Posts
1794
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
Acidreamer 11/9/2017 7:31am
11/9/2017 7:31am
Paw Paw wrote:
Normally the tearing of the valve stem is caused by the tire rotating on the rim. A good rim lock will stop that .

Paw Paw
Yea ive never had problems until recently. Wonder if the oem one has just outlived its lifespan
Muscle-Milk-KTM 11/9/2017 9:35am
11/9/2017 9:35am
Bridgestone make ultra heavy duty tubes, really thick & can be a bit of a pain to fit but I've never had a puncture running them, touch wood. I'll only put them in when I change a tyre, I don't go to the trouble of doing it before.

Anyone know if the OEM ones are any good?
Acidreamer
Profile picture for user Acidreamer
Posts
1794
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
Acidreamer 11/9/2017 9:43am
11/9/2017 9:43am
Muscle-Milk-KTM wrote:
Bridgestone make ultra heavy duty tubes, really thick & can be a bit of a pain to fit but I've never had a puncture running them...
Bridgestone make ultra heavy duty tubes, really thick & can be a bit of a pain to fit but I've never had a puncture running them, touch wood. I'll only put them in when I change a tyre, I don't go to the trouble of doing it before.

Anyone know if the OEM ones are any good?
Yea those are the tubes im lookin at
Muscle-Milk-KTM 11/9/2017 10:17am
11/9/2017 10:17am
Muscle-Milk-KTM wrote:
Bridgestone make ultra heavy duty tubes, really thick & can be a bit of a pain to fit but I've never had a puncture running them...
Bridgestone make ultra heavy duty tubes, really thick & can be a bit of a pain to fit but I've never had a puncture running them, touch wood. I'll only put them in when I change a tyre, I don't go to the trouble of doing it before.

Anyone know if the OEM ones are any good?
Acidreamer wrote:
Yea those are the tubes im lookin at
There was a shop over here that was chucking in free ultra hd tubes when you bought a tyre, which was a cracking deal.
Tracktor
Profile picture for user Tracktor
Posts
2344
Joined
8/17/2006
Location
The RTF/Amboy, WA US
Tracktor 11/9/2017 10:48am
11/9/2017 10:48am
Paw Paw wrote:
Normally the tearing of the valve stem is caused by the tire rotating on the rim. A good rim lock will stop that .

Paw Paw
Acidreamer wrote:
Yea ive never had problems until recently. Wonder if the oem one has just outlived its lifespan
As usual Paw Paw nails it. Either too low of pressure or rim lock slipping if you are tearing valve stems. Dunlop recommends 13-15psi in some of the front tires. I'd check rim lock first.........
Paw Paw
Profile picture for user Paw Paw
Posts
679
Joined
12/24/2011
Location
Benton, LA US
Paw Paw 11/9/2017 11:15am
11/9/2017 11:15am
Paw Paw wrote:
Normally the tearing of the valve stem is caused by the tire rotating on the rim. A good rim lock will stop that .

Paw Paw
Acidreamer wrote:
Yea ive never had problems until recently. Wonder if the oem one has just outlived its lifespan
Yes , they are a wear item and thus need to replaced from time to time. Many after market units available.

Paw Paw
SPYGUY
Profile picture for user SPYGUY
Posts
2020
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
US
Fantasy
748th
SPYGUY 11/10/2017 9:52pm
11/10/2017 9:52pm
Muscle-Milk-KTM wrote:
Bridgestone make ultra heavy duty tubes, really thick & can be a bit of a pain to fit but I've never had a puncture running them...
Bridgestone make ultra heavy duty tubes, really thick & can be a bit of a pain to fit but I've never had a puncture running them, touch wood. I'll only put them in when I change a tyre, I don't go to the trouble of doing it before.

Anyone know if the OEM ones are any good?
Acidreamer wrote:
Yea those are the tubes im lookin at
They also make a line of "Heavy Duty" tubes that aren't as thick as the "Ultra Heavy Duty" but are much more durable than the flimsy stock tubes.

With that said, I agree with the other posters that are thinking yours is a rim lock issue, not a tube issue.
Acidreamer
Profile picture for user Acidreamer
Posts
1794
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
Acidreamer 11/11/2017 5:33am
11/11/2017 5:33am
Ive got a 4mm thick tube, motion pro rim lock, and new tire on the fedex truck for delivery right now. Once i get all that together i need to hope theres some decent temps for a ride day. Under 45 deg doesnt sound appealing. I have a feeling my rim lock nut came a bit loose. It had somewhere around 5ft-lbs of torque when i went to loosen it.
Acidreamer
Profile picture for user Acidreamer
Posts
1794
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
Acidreamer 11/11/2017 12:05pm
11/11/2017 12:05pm
Rim lock was the problem. No teeth left on it.

Post a reply to: Quality tire parts