Stock Alloy Wheels - and tires

[Guest]

I need tires on my 82 GS1100EZ and have some questions about the situation. Will these stock wheels work with tubeless tires and if so will radial tires work with them? If I must use tubes, can I use radial tires with tubes in them? These may seem like useless questions but my other bikes either have spokes and require tubes or have alloy wheels that came with tubeless radials on them. I really like the handling of the radial tires. At this point the brand of tires is not an issue.
Thanks,
Lee

[PAULYBOY]

The info you're looking for should be stamped on the rim of the wheel. They should be tubeless.

[Muser3]

rims

Thanks PAULYBOY,
I will go scrape some of the corrosion crap off the rims and find the info. The wheels are the one thing I have been putting off on the refurb project. I hope to have them powdercoated or maybe do it myself if I can find an old oven at the thrift store that is big enough.
Lee

[PAULYBOY]

Lee, I thought I had a closeup of a wheel, but I don't. As I remember they're stamped right on the rim between where the "spokes" or ribs are. You'll usually find a part number, the brand Ennkei, some DOT info and then the size and whether it's tubeless or not.

[Nessism]

You can not use radial tires on a narrow GS wheel; radials need wide rims because the sidewall is flexible and the tire needs to be spread wide.

Regarding tubeless or tube type, there is lots of discussions in the archives. Some people go tubeless on wheels NOT labeled for tubeless; seems to work fine as long as there is not too much porosity in the wheel which causes leaks.

[Muser3]

tires

Thanks Nessim.
Now I know why about radial.
I did find stampings on the rim. "Suzuki", Ashai", and the size. Also the number 81. No info about tube or not. I'll assume they are for tubes?
Lee

[mriddle]

When I bought my 83 it had a tube in the front but not in the rear. I have to add air to it constantly . .. not sure what is stamped on the wheel though.

I will use a tube at the next tire change guaranteed.

Mike

[rphillips]

Hey Mike (MRIDDLE), How about spraying some soapy water, all over the wheel & tire, to find out exactly where the air is leaking from. It would be very interesting, at least to me, to know for sure. Thanks, Rick

[salty_monk]

Go for The Avons roadriders or Pirelli Sport Demons. They are a ply tyre but ride similar to a radial apparently. Loads of info on here if you search.

If they are not marked for tubeless they aren't compatible. Some have used them though with success.... what worries me is one guy experienced rapid deflation at speed. That's scary stuff!!

[mriddle]

Hey Mike (MRIDDLE), How about spraying some soapy water, all over the wheel & tire, to find out exactly where the air is leaking from. It would be very interesting, at least to me, to know for sure. Thanks, Rick

I could try .. it takes several days for it to leak from 32 to upper 20s (last time was like 27) ..


Think a leak that small would show ?

I thought maybe it was just the aluminum rim was porous and letting the air seep out from many spots ..

Mike

[Mysuzyq]

I know that the '82's were supplied with tubes from the factory, as my bike still had the stock rubber on it ...the rims have no mention of tubless application on them....I think the '83 rims, which have a different design, are stamped "for tubeless tires", though some choose to run a tube......some also choose to run tubeless on the '82's, and I have not heard of any untoward incidents, apart from the need to frequently add a few pounds of air .....some attribute this to the porosity of the rims themselves, which were not designed to run tubeless. I have always used tubes in the tires on my '82...... the Sport Demons are great tires for this bike IMHO, as the previous post mentioned.

Tony.

[rkubik]

bead leaks

It's probably not so much porosity of the wheels as it is a small leak from where the tire bead seats on the rim. That's the usual culprit. Try putting some soapy water around where rubber meets aluminum.

[mriddle]

I will try to do that this weekend .. let you know what I see.


Mike

[rphillips]

Yes, a porus wheel could be the problem, or a valve stem, a valve core, a slight seep around the bead, or maybe a nail or piece of wire in the tire. I've ridden my CB1100F all summer & put air in it 2 times, After sitting all winter, it will be flat, I've just been too lazy to check it out. If possible, use a spray bottle to put soapy water all over everything, Keep rotating the wheel & watching, you won't see bubbels blowing, that small of a leak should make a little spot of foam, at the leak. It won't be real quick & easy, but just keep watching, you'll find it.

[mriddle]

Now you have me curious ..

Mike