Do the flaps end up entirely inside the tire, or does the bead fit inside with the flap between the tire and rim?
The flaps I have, fit best on the garage wall. Guess I should put 'em on Tbay.
Flaps inside the tire for split rims, rim liners or duct tape for clinchers. KB
The flap fits around the tube, entirely inside the tire. The two tires I changed this season and didn't replace the flap (they were deformed because someone had installed them incorrectly) developed leaks. I blame it on the poor quality thin tubes we have now.
Also, on the K, the one tire I changed and didn't have a flap for, I evidently pinched. It was flat the next morning. I've never pinched a tube when using flaps.
I put the tube in the tire with a few pounds of air, then install the flap. After that, I remove the valve core and put the tire/tube/flap on the rim. Then replace the valve core and air the tire up partially, watching both sides of the rim to make sure the bead "seats". Then I let the air out, pull the stem out to make sure it is straight, and air the tire up.
I understand flaps are a pain to install, but think they are well worth it.
Rob
Doug Wilson:
The flap fits entirely inside the tire, NOT between; the tire and rim.
I don't understand why everyone says flaps are so hard to use. It may take a little time to stuff them in but it's better than pinching a tube. If you slightly inflate the tube and insert it into the tire casing and then put the flap in working it around the tube it should go in easily and wrap around the contour of the tube. Then you can let the air out of the tube and the flap will protect the tube from being pinched when the tire is forced over the rim and once the tire is mounted the flap will also protect the tube from chafing on the rim. Rim liners are fine for wire wheels but all of the period literature called for flaps to extend the life of tubes when used on clincher and split rims.
Val Soupios:
I agree with you. It so much easier to mount a tire when you have a flap in it and don:t have worry about pinching a tube. I have seen more than one person not be able to finish a tour because they did not have flaps and the tire BEAD rubbed holes in the tubes. I sell tires and tubes and mount them for free, BUT if the customer does not want to put a flap in the tire then I won't mount their tire for them.
We figured it out and actually did it correctly. It made sense once you saw it. Just by chance a third T owner friend called my buddy while we were working and had the rim tool. What a difference. I really feel for those in the day fixing a flat. thank God for Haggerty insurance and the free towing.
After the many forum discussions of the difficulty, when I mounted clinchers with flaps recently I was surprised at how easy it was. I must have done it wrong.
You will really appreciate using flaps if you happen to be out on the road miles from anywhere and you get a flat tire.
Not so much a deal when you are at home or somewhere with a compressor handy but try it out using a hand pump and having to put in 60 PSI. especially if you happen to pinch the tube. You will wish you had a flap then.
I'm sure there are some who pinched the tube and then had to patch it, only to do it a second or third time trying to get back on the road again.
I always leave the air in the tube to make sure it stays round inside the tire they often want to revert to the flat folded shape they have been. You only need a couple of pounds not so much (you have to fight the tube as well as the tire) but it saves having to put the air it in again once the tire is mounted.
I like to pump the tire up to about 30 psi let out all the air go around the tire with the rubber hammer and give it a few blows directly on the tread and then pump the tire up to 60.
A question ? How many of you have actually tried to pump up a tire from zero with the tire pump you should be carrying in the car?
I would like a dollar for every time I have had to lend my pump to someone because they have a tiny foot pump or old or inferior tire pump that's not up to pumping anywhere near 60psi into a tire.
If you have a few minutes you may like to try the pump out before you need to use it 50 miles from the nearest help.
I'm doing something wrong. The guys out there who use flaps say there's nothing difficult about them when it comes to mounting a tire—and I believe them. Fortunately, as a kid, I had a lot of experience changing bicycle tires for myself and all my friends and so, learned the knack of how not to pinch an inner-tube. Still, I realize I'm squeaking by on luck and one of these days, I'm gonna learn how to use flaps and do the job right.
People, when you post with a question, please go at least half way and describe your car.
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Flaps in clinchers are an aftermarket item to fix a non-problem. Your Ford didn't have 'em when it was new.
People, myself included, treat this subject without looking at the whole picture. Firestone and Wards clinchers are built differently from Cokers and Universals. Some have a small gap between the beads, and others have a large gap.
That said, my only flats have been from nails, bad valve cores, and flaps that got folded over when installed. The folded flap caused the only blowout I've had - at 65 on the 605.
rdr
Rick,
Which tires have the small gap between the beads and which have the large gap?
I assume the tires with the small gap are the ones to buy if you're not going to use flaps?
The new (NOS?) semi-rotten Firestones I bought a dozen years ago had a small gap. I'm not so sure about the Universals, as that's been a dozen years, too. The Coker Commanders/Excelsiors have a wide gap. They are my preferred tire. - without flaps.
Bob
It's your choice to not use flaps, doesn't matter on the clincher tires you can buy today.
All clincher tires will have a gap, as the rim bead sets into the clincher rim, and the tire when inflated will expose the inside center of the tube to the rubber edge, and to the rim. That is a simple fact....you can't change design.
The flap protects the tube on insertion from wayward tire tools, tire tools with sharp instead of blut ends, or as some use, sharp edged screwdrivers!
Flaps for clinchers have been around for years, the common style are long strips, not one-piece as today's available thick flaps. But the purpose is the same.
Here is an old strip flat coming out.
Your choice, don't use flaps if you don't want too. Flaps do more good than harm to the tube, and don't blame a flap incorrectly installed, it wasn't the flaps fault.
Clincher tires in my T's have flaps, no problems.
Your choice, happy traveling...and keep the 60psi+ air pressure up!