Tire/Tube question

[Mellow'dOut]

Took my newly acquired 82 GS1100GL rims in to get nice new Metzler ME880's installed. Dealer installed front no problem. Installed rear with a tube.

When asked why a tube when tire says tubeless (its a radial) and rim says tubeless, dealer says the hole for the valve stem is too small to put in a tubeless valve stem and the previous tire (Avon Roadrider) had a tube in it.

Is this just a way to get me to buy more stuff or would the hole need drilled out to go tubeless?

[tkent02]

He's scamming you. Even the useless morons working there know how to enlarge a hole.

[Nessism]

The factory tubeless valve stems are smaller in diameter than common automotive valve stems. You have two choices: order the factory valve stems from Suzuki, or drill out the wheel to take a bolt-on 0.453” automotive valve stem. I did the later and had a leak because the diameter of the bottom of the valve stem was too large – it rode up into the curved radius of the rim profile. Went back to the auto parts store and found another valve stem with a smaller diameter bottom, which is working great.

Hope this helps.

[Headphase]

sounds a bit wierdy. I just had the same tyre fitted on the rear of my 750, and no tube, no change of valve or anything. Whitewall too, for that bling


Blooming brilliant tyre though, feels like it is absolutely grabbing onto the road.
Not had a real good test in the wet yet, but in the dry, I am amazed how much I can feel the rear grip.

Was avon on the back of mine before, but was well past it's sell by date, all hardened and squared off.

[itsniper1s1k]

I just replaced the tires on my '82 GS550L and had tubes in both. The tires and tubes where so old and brittle that there was no salvaging the tubes (I had to drill out the valve stem on the front it was so corroded in). So I just grabbed a couple of push-in valve stems from Wally-world, drilled the holes out and they work just fine . I drilled the holes a little small and then threaded my valve core remover tool into the valve stem for something to grab and pull it through.

[Mellow'dOut]

The factory tubeless valve stems are smaller in diameter than common automotive valve stems. You have two choices: order the factory valve stems from Suzuki, or drill out the wheel to take a bolt-on 0.453” automotive valve stem. I did the later and had a leak because the diameter of the bottom of the valve stem was too large – it rode up into the curved radius of the rim profile. Went back to the auto parts store and found another valve stem with a smaller diameter bottom, which is working great.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info.

Then they were scamming me. This was at the Suzuki dealer. The only reason I went there is their price on tires was the same as everyone else's in town, and they are right next to my office instead of all the way across town. I will be sure to let them know I will be driving across town for my business from now on.

Any known issues with running these radials with a tube in them?

[Nessism]

Thanks for the info.

Then they were scamming me. This was at the Suzuki dealer. The only reason I went there is their price on tires was the same as everyone else's in town, and they are right next to my office instead of all the way across town. I will be sure to let them know I will be driving across town for my business from now on.

Any known issues with running these radials with a tube in them?

You can not run radials on GS rims, they are too narrow. What kind, and size, tires are you considering?

[focus frenzy]

You can not run radials on GS rims, they are too narrow. What kind, and size, tires are you considering?

I just looked and only found two front ME880's that were radials and those are a 130/60VR16 and a 120/70VR17
and the skinniest rear radial is a 170/60VR17

all the other sizes are bias tires

[Headphase]

the me880 on the rear on mine is a xply, super grippy. I have never known such an improvement in grip and feel on a bike.

I just need to save my pennies and get a matching front now.

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. Mellow'dOut,

Did you upgrade the wheels on your GS? As Mr. Nessism says, stock wheels don't do radials.

I have run a tube in my "tubeless applicable" rear rim with no problems. Just keep an eye on the pressure. If it gets low it may run hotter than optimal due to the tube in there. I kept at least 36psi in my rear tire when it had a tube. My current rear tire has no tube, but my front wheel is not "tubeless applicable". I don't know why Suzuki did that on my bike.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Billy Ricks]

If you are indeed running radials on skinny wheels the dealer made two mistakes. They shouldn't have sold you radials for one, and you can buy different diameter metal stems.

[Mellow'dOut]

thanks for all the input. They may not be radials, I just thought all the ME880's were radials.

The more I thought about it, the more I figured they were scamming me. A Suzuki dealer installed the tires, so they should have the correct valve stem. They probably didn't have it in stock and didn't bother to call and ask.

[doctorgonzo]

The factory tubeless valve stems are smaller in diameter than common automotive valve stems. You have two choices: order the factory valve stems from Suzuki, or drill out the wheel to take a bolt-on 0.453” automotive valve stem. I did the later and had a leak because the diameter of the bottom of the valve stem was too large – it rode up into the curved radius of the rim profile. Went back to the auto parts store and found another valve stem with a smaller diameter bottom, which is working great.

Hope this helps.

Same thing, after mine was drilled it leaked because of the curve. I just put a tube in it.