Do the wheels on my 52 Hornet require tubes when installing new tires? I have tubeless on it now but can't determine if they have tubes inside without dismounting them. Roger
The originals had tubeless tires. Look at the valve stem and determine if it is a tubeless stem or a tube stem made as part of the inner tube.
Kerry, I believe that Hudson used tubes until the 54 models when Goodyear offered them. However the rims were made to use tubeless years before that, because Goodrich filed a patent in 1947, but did not get patent approval until Feb 26, 1952.Rim makers knew it was only a matter of time, so they designed the wheels to use either tubes or tubeless. So the answer is, no problem with tubeless. I have used Goodrich Silvertowns ( tubeless)for 22 years on my '53. As for judging authenticity 1952 cars was the accepted date.
[quote="Kerry Dancy---Wellborn,Fla" post=3041]The originals had tubeless tires. Look at the valve stem and determine if it is a tubeless stem or a tube stem made as part of the inner tube.
And as far as rims, look for a larger hole for the stem on the tube to go thru the rim (many older rims are 'tubeless only').
As a retro-fit, many rims were made to accept tubes - however the rims would accept a larger diameter (.625) tubeless stem so that the owner could go 'either way' (tube-type or tubeless tires).
The larger tubeless valve stems (.625) are still readily available at any auto store.
[b]Got an 'education' in this somewhat recently:[/b]
** A while back I bought some cheap tubeless tires @ Walmart, and had them installed on some early 50's Chrysler rims I am using to make my '39 a 'roller'. Their service department didn't have the larger diameter tubeless stems - and I had to make a trip to the auto parts store to get them, so they could finish the install of the tires I had bought.
[i]THEN -[/i] They tried to charge me for the tubeless valve stems!
Took a manager for the clerk to 'see the light'...
I now keep a dozen or so on-hand, and take them with me if I am having any tire work done on my older vehicles.
Thanks for the information.I questioned this after reading the "wheels and tires" section of the 52 shop manual as it caution's against pinching the tube when changing tires and does not mention tubeless at all. Roger
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