Re: Tubless tires on riveted rims

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2008/3/7 9:53:32

I'm not certain but I believe tubeless tires made their first appearance on Packards in 1954. I've successfully mounted tubeless tires on a number of earlier Packards without problems and without need for any sealants or modifications. The earliest car I've done this on is a 1941. Still, that doesn't mean that each and every early rim will be compatible and I think your suggestion about using some sort of sealant is probably a good idea. However as wheels can flex to a small degree, and more with a radial tire than a bias-belted, even though the drop center (riveted area) is the strongest part of the rim, I'd try to find a sealant that has some flexibility to it, not an epoxy.