Hi, So Iam getting to mount my new Firestones on my powder coated wire wheels. Do I need the skinny flap? Will the powder coating protect the tube?
thanks, Scott
I'd use the flap as insurance, even if your wire wheels are new reproductions with no rust pitting.
Are yours clinchers??
I had a blowout with a pinched flap, so use gaffer's tape.
What size tires on what style wire wheel ? Clincher or drop center will dictate whether one use a "rim strip" or a "flap".
Hey Ralph !
I'd use tape just like Ralph's photo.Flaps are more of a pain in the butt then they are worth IMHO.
Sorry guys when I said wire wheels. I didnt know of clinchers that are wire spokes. I have 450-21 Firestones and powder coated Ford wire wheels. I have been told to use duct tape but wanted a few more idea,s Thanks, Scott
Do NOT use duct tape.
I have used it a lot.
It does not last.
Go to a good hardware or plumbing store and get a roll of black plastic pipe tape.
I have no idea what it is used for but the wheel shops use it.
They go around the wheel twice, cut it off and mount the tire and tube.
Since I paid $80 to get two tires mounted, including tubes, and balanced, I decided to get some tape and do it myself after that.
I can't find my tape now but I got it at OSH, it is about two inches wide and has yellow or white lettering on the back of the tape.
Maybe called Shurtape and is used for wrapping underground pipes.
It is easy to work with and if it is a little too wide it will ride up on the edges of the drop center and conform nicely to the wheel.
Aaron. That tape is used for wrapping black pipe that carries natural gas. I think they are trying to keep the exposed threads from rusting out and causing a gas leak. It is a very heavy tape. Thanks for the tip, Scott
If you have any tower people that put up towers, coax, and antennas in your area, they use a lot of two inch vynal tape to seal and wheather proof connections.
While I agree that flaps are not worth the trouble and also that using the better tapes mentioned is also good, I have had no trouble with my 50 year old tubes on rusty rims. I just replaced my tires and decided to clean up and paint my rims and use new tubes. I think that will be good enough for me. Maintaining the correct air pressure is what matters most.
The vendors sells this type of rim liner for 21" wire wheels: http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/354
I use the same type of rubber band liner (but a different size) for bicycle wheels. The welded ends of the spokes on T/A wire wheels aren't very friendly to tubes unless you grind them a lot.
On my Simplex wires (clinchers), I used 15" bicycle tubes as rim liners. Just cut them to fit the width inside your rim. $5 each at your local Walmart. Thanks to Allan Bennett for the idea. So far they work great.
In agreement with Dave, we take the old "T" tubes and cut them down for the flaps. Seems to work well but not enough miles on one to tell for sure. Anyone else tried this method?
Patrick