Hi everyone, I am having a problem with slow leaks on 3 of the 4 tires. Local tire shop has told me that the air is leaking through the spokes of the wire wheels. They wouldn't touch it!!! The wire wheels are something I have little experience with. I assume that the inside of the spokes are sealed or something prior to mounting??? Do these need to be resealed periodically? Do the spokes loosen over time??? Looking for any advise I can get. The tire shop sure didn't offer any!! Thanks

 

Not my area of expertise, either.

I think the spokes are sealed, as you say, and/or wire wheels have a wide rubber belt covering the ends of the spokes on the inside of the wheel rim.

My first thought (FWIW) is to have inner-tubes installed. That used to be standard procedure with wire wheels.

Others will chime in.

Cheers
DD

 

Unless you have the modern bolt on Dayton wire wheels, tubes are required/suggested to ensure proper inflation.

The new wheels are tubeless but cost new about $500.00 per wheel....

 

My experience with wire wheels is limited. Bicycle wheels used spokes that were threaded into the rim. Rubber bands protected the tube from chafing by the nuts on the ends of the spokes. No tubeless bike tires in my day.

The wire wheels on a few of my early critters had the spokes welded in place. Again, no tubeless tires at the time. They had rubber bands to protect the tubes from the somewhat irregular welding. On my last project, before the Jaguar, I scrounged 35 Ford wires from all corners. After bead blasting and painting, the band issue needed a solution. I eventually found new ones.

In each case, the rubber bands fit tightly on the rim. So, it seems a seal is possible.
And, a liquid sealant seems feasible.

But, early on at the time of the influx of tubeless tires, it was cautioned that hesvy duty tubes were needed because of the additional flexibility of tubeless sidewalls when compared to bias corded tires.

Carl

 

Thanks for all the input guys! I have finally found a local tire shop that is at least willing to take a look. I am thinking that some sort of a new band and then having them install tubes seems like the solution. They sounded more than willing to break them down and take at look at whats inside. Guess we will make a decision once we see! Tubes were the norm way back when I guess....they worked then..no reason why they wouldn't work now right?? Thanks for the tip guys!! I think I am headed in a right direction.

 

I've had "radial tubes" put in mine. No leaks but had it before the tubes. Don't forget to talcum powder the tubes.

 

www.wirewheel.com can reseal wheels, just shipping is costly.

 

Well, hopefully my issue is solved. Had a tube put in it!! The only obstacle that I came across was a valve stem problem. The stock stem had to be removed and it was a very small stem size. To install a tube, the hole had to be drilled larger for the tube stem size. They gave me the option....leave it as is and deal with the slow leak or drill it out larger! Didn't like the idea of them drilling these rims but decided to go for it. Hopefully I didn't make a mistake...but I won't have to add air every time I decide to drive it now! Thanx again for all the input everyone.

 

I have a set of bolt on Dayton wire wheels for sale if your solution doesn't work. They hold air great, just the tires on them are shot in terms of dry rot.