First time changing tires, have questions on tubes.

[Guest]

I know these are probably stupid questions. But I have never had a vehicle that used tubes, and I don't want to get the wrong ones. I've been searching the forum for an hour trying to find a post stating what size/type of tubes to use. I found that it takes a TR-6 valve stem. I think the wheels are 3.5 and 4.5 inch. Bikemaster lists both a 3.25/3.50-19, and a 100/110-19 front tubes. I'm assuming I should get the former? Also I guess the correct rear is 4.50/5.10-17. Last question, do I need rim strips as well? I have mag wheels on my 79 1000L.

[Steve]

I think the wheels are 3.5 and 4.5 inch.

Well, first of all, your wheels are NOT 3.5 and 4.5 inch wheels. Your front is likely a 1.85" and your rear could be a 2.15" or a 2.5".
Your TIRES might be that wide, but your WHEELS are not.

Get the tubes that match the TIRE size. If you have a 100/90-19 tire on the front, that is also the size tube to get. Likewise for the rear. If you have a 120 or 130/90-17 tire, get that size tube.

If you do some quick math, 3.50" for the front is 88.9mm, so that tube would be stretched a bit inside a 100/90 tire.
4.50" is 114.3mm, 5.10" is 129.54mm, so that tube would work in either a 120 or 130/90-17 rear tire.

Rim strips are mainly to protect the tubes from spokes. You do not have spokes, so I would likely consider the rim strips to be optional. Please keep in mind, though, I don't have any spoked wheels, it would be better to wait for someone with experience to add their two cents on the matter.

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[althomas101]

Thanks Steve, I was just going by the specs. My confusion was that the tubes are not listed by the size tire they go in... Good to know I just need to do inch/MM conversion. I didn't think I needed rim strips because like you said it's my understanding that they are to protect the tube from the spokes.

[Steve]

My confusion was that the tubes are not listed by the size tire they go in.

Personally, I can't think of any other way they would describe the tubes.

All the tubes I have ever seen were sized by the size of the tire they were for.

Yeah, they usually have a couple of sizes on there, like your 4.50/5.10, that just shows that it will fit any tire in that range.

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