tires question 1952 cranbrook

Ruby 52 Cranbrook · November 22, 2012, 12:36:08 AM

I brought the wheel with the damaged valve stem on the tube to a tire store and asked them to install a tubeless valve stem and try to inflate the tire. After they cleaned the minor rust off the rim and cleaned the bead the tire held air. An oval valve stem that attaches with a nut abound the stem was used. At this point it appears the tires did not need tubes (3 of 4 so far). The comments I received helped me understand the issue. thanks

CHS · November 20, 2012, 12:31:08 PM

Here is my 2 cents. I have radial tires on my 55 Plymouth. No inner tubes. The tires fit the wheels fine, What I had to do was find oversized valve stems. The ones for modern cars are smaller. I took a wheel to Napa and they were able to sell me the size I needed. No leaks.

Ruby 52 Cranbrook · November 20, 2012, 02:03:35 AM

I checked my 5 wheels and tires. 1 had the tube replace 1 year ago, 1 had a new rubber valve stem installed, 1 (today) had a slow tire to rim leak and the fix was deflate and break seal, clean the rim and tire, re-inflate. we will see how long it holds. the Fourth has a tube and the valve stem is about to break. I plan to try it without a tube and if it won't hold, get a new tube and a grommet to reduce the hole the stem goes through. the spare has a tube and seems to hold air. I read somewhere that tubeless for Plymouth began in 1955. My rims are tubeless. What the true story?

SD Glenn · November 17, 2012, 12:16:13 AM

I think you may have the answer to your original question in here someplace. I have seen covers rotate and pull on the valve stem, as you noted. Probable the valve stems that fasten in with the nut on the inside might be your best bet. The stems I have seen of that type did have a steel core all the way to the valve cap. Only other cure I see would be drill a hole in the cap and put a screw in to the rim. Good luck with this.
SDGlenn

Ruby 52 Cranbrook · November 16, 2012, 10:23:02 PM

Thanks for your inputs. I think I have a variety of configurations. I see one with a nut holding the stem to a plate on the rim. Another has a valve stem tube sticking out of the oversize hole in the rim. And as I recall, I had a valve stem (not a standard size in use today) installed into the hole at a small independent tire shop The other issue is the wheel covers move on the rims and bend the valve stems. I do not drive this car often but don't want a blowout or two flats on one trip. I don't personally care if some have tubes and some don't as long as they hold air and aren't a safety hazard.

plym_46 · November 16, 2012, 02:23:23 PM

why do you want or need to run tubes? The radials are obviously designed for tubless mounting. Even though the rims are riveted together they seem to hold air very well according to other folks experience. You might need to buy some two piece air valves which are screwed together to mount them on the rim. these will cover the larger or in some cases ovoid holes found in the stock rims. If you cant find them in an auto parts store they are readily available at places that sell light truck tires. If you are concerned with leakage around the rivets, a bit of silicon on them when the tires are of should take care of any issues.

Gaby51 · November 15, 2012, 09:52:34 PM

The Tire Tubes used today have valve stems that are narrower than the holes in our rims. I ordered several "grommets" from Coker Tire so that I could install these new tire tubes in my tires, and so far they have worked. At this point, they are the only solution for our cars until someone decides to make tubes with the thicker valve stems that we need.

I hope this helps. :)

SD Glenn · November 14, 2012, 07:40:11 PM

I have the same size tires on the 1939 Model Plymouth. (I know, not original to the year) But have had no low tires yets, or other problems other than being a bit too wide for the turning radious.
SDGlenn

suntennis · November 14, 2012, 05:33:11 PM

I also have a 52 car and use 215/75/15 tires. For the most part the rubber valve stems work fine. It seems like the hole for the valve stem is a bit large for the stem but they work. I think intertubes are available for the radial tires if desired.

Go Fleiter · November 14, 2012, 01:08:12 AM

most of these old rims are not air tight. So a tube is a must.
Greetings from D?sseldorf! Go

Ruby 52 Cranbrook · November 13, 2012, 12:07:50 AM

I have had my car about 2 years and driven it around 1500 miles, The tires are P215/70 R15 and have most of the tread. They all have tubes and the stems are loose in the holes in the rims. I keep having slow leaks. I figure it is time to get the tire situation right. Is there any reason the existing tires will not work without inner tubes? I assume someone put them in for a reason. I suppose I can take 1 wheel down, have a valve stem installed and see if it inflates and holds. Just looking for some suggestions. Tires are a mystery to me. Thanks