Packard Forum Index » General

My Clipper has the Diamondback radials, which I think are good tires. Unlike modern solid alloy wheels, it seems like the steel rims are prone to lose some air over time, so I have to add air every couple months. Might be in the valves, though. I was advised by club members to run the tires at 36 psi, which I thought seemed a bit high.

Starting in 1955, all Packards had tubeless wheels. I don't think that the load difference between a radial and a bias is that much, so the fact that the tire is different should not make much of a differnce.

I'll tell you where the difference between the radial and bias is apparent: gas mileage and handling. The guys I know who insist on bias ply tires get poorer gas mileage per gallon. I am currently averaging about 14 mpg, which I think is pretty good. Also, the handling of radials, particularly in bad weather, seems to be significant as well.

My final argument for using radials instead of bias ply should be obvious ... how many late model cars ride on bias ply tires vs. radials? A radial is a superior tire to a bias ply.

Actually, 1954 Packards were the first U.S. production automobiles to be equipped with tubless tires.

(o{}o)

Thanks guys - I will continue to run the radials with tubes and quit worrying.

David, unless your tires were designed to run with tubes you may want to rethink running them with tubes. Not advisable. I have tubeless radials on my 115C and my 1955 Clipper, they perform great and no problems. Everyone, just get over it.

(O{}o)

What kind of problem will tubes cause with radials???? I've definately ran tubes with tubeLESS bias ply tires. In somecases had to run tubes. I can certainly imagine needing tubes with radials on some wire wheels tho. Maybe even some riveted wheels that ran tubes very early 50's thru 80's. Never tried that. What will happen if tubes are used in radials????

I've got to think that if the wheels on 1954 Packards onward were spcifically designed to accommodate tubeless tires, then using tubes in tubeless tires seems a bit redundant, don't you think? The inflation valve is designed to attach to the wheel. Tubeless tires are designed to inflate and seal to the wheel. It seems to be that using a tube means feeding the tube's inflation valve through the hole designed for a different valve. Here are a couple of views on it:

"In general, tubeless tires do not need tubes, and you do yourself a dis-service by using tubes with tubeless tires. Tubes reduce the flexibility of tubeless tires, thereby increasing rolling resistance. This then consumes a bit more energy to make it go, which will consume a bit more fuel. The worse part is that this extra energy is turned into heat in the tire, and tires don't like extra internal heat. This could shorten the life of the tire rather dramatically if you run it anywhere near it's maximum load or speed rating." (MGA Guru)

Other sites that I Googled basically said the same thing -- using a tube in a tubeless tire actually reducing the efficiency of the tire, not to mention complicating things for no reason during the installation.

If tubes in radial tires were such a great idea, then why don't tire dealer push them when selling tires to unwary customers? After all, wouldn't they make more money if they did? They don't because that creates more problems than it solves. According to one individual who tried it, "in a modern radial tire the tube squirms around inside and quickly rubs a hole in the tube. I tried it and got those results. I think if you check you'll find that standard tire tubes and radial tires are not designed to be used together."

But as one other user notes: "I wear a condom when I'm not having sex just to be extra safe."

My '54 Clipper had tubes when I got the car. The problem was the rusty bead surface was preventing an airtight seal, so a previous owner installed tubes to fix the problem. I fixed the rust issue, no tubes required now.

There are some tube-type radial ply tires. Coker's Excelsior series is an example of tube-type radial tire. There may be others. The tubes are of a special design and construction for the radial tires. Do not know if these tires can be mounted tubeless. If tubes are used in radial tires be sure to use tubes designed for this type of tire.

(o{}o)

When I got my 38 it had 15" rims so I don't know what year car they're from but I've been running my diamondback 700R 15 tires without tubes for the last 4 years- no problem

Radial tires came into use a long time after tubeless tires were universally adopted by the automotive industry and buying public. Radial tires, by their very nature, are modern tires specifically created for use on tubeless wheels. I suppose that there may be a few odd radial tires being produced for use on 1930s-40s era cars, but for anyone driving a Packard built after 1954, using a tube in a tubeless tire does not make sense.