Can one use radial tires with a tube...and is there any benefit then if you can?

[80GS850GBob]

My friend {but he rides a honda cb-lol} and I were talking today. He was asking if he could put radials on his comstar wheels with a tube...and I couldn't answer that fully. Best I could say was I'd think the radials would loose some of their flex with a tube in it and negate the need for a radial.
I suggested there were plenty of good bias ply types out there that would work fine. After that thought - I had nothing...
So, do you folks think it's possible....and/or if it's be even worth it if one could do it? Let's just say he's got me wondering now too....

 

[alke46]

1st question is why would he want to run a tube? Secondly, I have at least on two occasions, been forced to put a tube in a radial tire and I did not feel any loss of flex. YMMV.

 

[Steve]

You can use a tube, as long as you use a radial tube.

However, the greater question would be ... is the rim wide enough to properly support a radial? Likely NOT.

Radial tires are sort of treated as god's gift to cars. Some feel that if it works for cars, they must be great for bikes, too, but it's not that simple. The tires need to be made a little stiffer, so they don't just wobble from side to side (like a car can), and they need a rim that is considerably wider to properly support it and keep it from wobbling. I don't believe the Comstars were anywhere near wide enough for a radial.

.

 

[Guest]

So, do you folks think it's possible....and/or if it's be even worth it if one could do it? Let's just say he's got me wondering now too....

You certainly can run tubes in radials, the supermotard guys do it all the time with wire spoked wheels. Steve is correct, though, that your buddy's CB will not have wide enough rims to run radials. The narrowest wheels that are commonly available that are meant for radial tires are 3.00x17 front and 4.50x17 rear and there is no way any 80's vintage Comstar wheels will be anywhere close to that.


Mark

 

[Big T]

Well, the guys above are talking about the regular radial tires, which require rims much wider than a GS has.

But, Continental and Metzler now are making radial tires for our older skinny rim bikes.

I'm looking at the ContiClassicAttack, myself

 

[posplayr]

You certainly can run tubes in radials, the supermotard guys do it all the time with wire spoked wheels. Steve is correct, though, that your buddy's CB will not have wide enough rims to run radials. The narrowest wheels that are commonly available that are meant for radial tires are 3.00x17 front and 4.50x17 rear and there is no way any 80's vintage Comstar wheels will be anywhere close to that.


Mark

86-87 gsxr 1100 were 2.75x18" and 4.0x18" and commonly run sport touring radials.

 

[Guest]

Well, the guys above are talking about the regular radial tires, which require rims much wider than a GS has.

But, Continental and Metzler now are making radial tires for our older skinny rim bikes.

I'm looking at the ContiClassicAttack, myself

I would love to see some reviews of these, radials were a big step forward at the time and I would like some of those benefits for my GS if they work well.

86-87 gsxr 1100 were 2.75x18" and 4.0x18" and commonly run sport touring radials.

They certainly weren't radials when new, I had an 86 GSXR750LTD and it used bias ply tires front and rear. The first sport bike to run radials as OEM was the 88 GSXR750.


Mark

 

[posplayr]

I would love to see some reviews of these, radials were a big step forward at the time and I would like some of those benefits for my GS if they work well.




They certainly weren't radials when new, I had an 86 GSXR750LTD and it used bias ply tires front and rear. The first sport bike to run radials as OEM was the 88 GSXR750.


Mark

Sorry to upset your selective interest in wheel/ tire comparability for vintage applications.

 

[80GS850GBob]

-Well, the cycle in question is my friends '73 CB750 that had wire wheels...but he hates wire wheels and the maintenance that can go with them, so he went with a set of comstars. He's gone the semi cafe route on his bike {brat/cafe seat and clubman bars only so far...he likes the look and that's what matters}
-I figured the whole sport radial tire thing started in the 90's...ish....so I wasn't a wealth of information to him...and, why I asked here.
-I didn't even know that there were biased and radial tubes out there, so this is very informative to me as well since I plan on wire wheels for my G model and would like a step up tire to go with my improved suspension on my bike. But, the question is honestly for him - he doesn't hang on the cycle forums...I've tried to get him to, but he travels a lot on business so has little time.

 

[80GS850GBob]

Well, the guys above are talking about the regular radial tires, which require rims much wider than a GS has.

But, Continental and Metzler now are making radial tires for our older skinny rim bikes.

I'm looking at the ContiClassicAttack, myself

That's good to know....I'll have to go and looks those up. I've always liked my Metzlers..but maybe I need to try something new for a change. {Avons for biased plies so far...}

 

[80GS850GBob]

1st question is why would he want to run a tube? Secondly, I have at least on two occasions, been forced to put a tube in a radial tire and I did not feel any loss of flex. YMMV.

1 Lol..I can't answer that one...maybe same reason he {6'6"} rides with clubman bars and no rear sets....
2 Good thing to know...

 

[80GS850GBob]

You can use a tube, as long as you use a radial tube.

However, the greater question would be ... is the rim wide enough to properly support a radial? Likely NOT.

Radial tires are sort of treated as god's gift to cars. Some feel that if it works for cars, they must be great for bikes, too, but it's not that simple. The tires need to be made a little stiffer, so they don't just wobble from side to side (like a car can), and they need a rim that is considerably wider to properly support it and keep it from wobbling. I don't believe the Comstars were anywhere near wide enough for a radial.

.

I've seen guys stick radials on an old car where the suspension wasn't really set up for them...some folks swear by them in that state and some swore at them. As far as the comstars were concerned - I didn't think they would either, but I was obliged to ask anyway.

 

[81gs7501166]

I belong to the SOHC forum.
I have a 76 cb750f that came with spokes.I upgraded to the 77-78 Comstars.
They require a tube, wheel not machined for a valve stem.
He should join that one!

 

[roeme]

I belong to the SOHC forum.
I have a 76 cb750f that came with spokes.I upgraded to the 77-78 Comstars.
They require a tube, wheel not machined for a valve stem.
He should join that one!

OT: all your images are upside down.

 

[81gs7501166]

Not had this pad long,pics are right in my gallery,but when post they Flip?
I've figured it out,turned my pad 180 and now it works,it's the first pics I took that are wrong way!
Sorry?

 

[Steve]

... I plan on wire wheels for my G model ...

Good luck with that project. :-k

Many of the guys here have expressed a preference for wire wheels and done some rather extensive searching, but the selection of wire wheels on a shaft-driven bike is rather sparse. The Suzuki Madura has been brought up. The 700 had a drum brake, so would require some extensive fabrication to adapt, the 1200 had some other issues. Don't remember for sure, but it might have been a different axle diameter. The wheel itself is a 16" and it carried a 140 tire, so it should be wide enough, but it might actually be TOO wide. There is very limited clearance from a 130 tire to the swingarm.

If you find something that works, be sure to post it here. There are many that would like to do that (I am NOT one of them).

.

 

[80GS850GBob]

Good luck with that project. :-k

Many of the guys here have expressed a preference for wire wheels and done some rather extensive searching, but the selection of wire wheels on a shaft-driven bike is rather sparse. The Suzuki Madura has been brought up. The 700 had a drum brake, so would require some extensive fabrication to adapt, the 1200 had some other issues. Don't remember for sure, but it might have been a different axle diameter. The wheel itself is a 16" and it carried a 140 tire, so it should be wide enough, but it might actually be TOO wide. There is very limited clearance from a 130 tire to the swingarm.

If you find something that works, be sure to post it here. There are many that would like to do that (I am NOT one of them).

.

Oh, I have the back all figured out already - a thread and pics will be shown when it's done {and process along the way}...right now I'm mixing/matching a front wire wheel with discs that'll work for the new fork and calipers I have.
This tire question was just something of curiosity along the way.

 

[80GS850GBob]

I belong to the SOHC forum.
I have a 76 cb750f that came with spokes.I upgraded to the 77-78 Comstars.
They require a tube, wheel not machined for a valve stem.
He should join that one!

I've tried to get him to join a forum, but like I said, he's rarely home now a days {he travels a lot for his job}.
Nice F, my 1st and 2nd cycles were CB750s {'74 and '75}.