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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - TF Wire Wheels / Tube or Tubless

Because it came up again on a thread about tyres!
Years ago when I ordered new Dayton 60 spoke wires for the TF I also ordered new radials & (radial specific) tubes from the same dealer.

Over the years I have owned a few LBC's with wire wheels. All ran tubes.
Fact is I never even thought about running without tubes because it never occurred to me it would be a possibility!

I have a flat (Leaking stem/bad tube).
My plan at this point is to take it to the shop and remove the tube and have just a stem put in (no tube).
I am just curious to see if the wheels will hold air without a tube.
Does anybody know: Were Dayton wire wheels made in 2 versions? i.e. Tube or Tubeless? Wheels are about 14 years old.
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

I think the 72 spoke 15 in could be had tubeless, but not the 60 and 48 spoke. I have the 48 spoke Daytons on my TF

Look the spoke ends are obniously sealed on the tubeless ones
Don Harmer

I'll report back on what I find.
Because I ordered everything from the same dealer, I have never seen the inside of my wheels!
I picked up 5 wheels & tyres balanced and ready to go.
Wasn't till years later I was reading that some here run without tubes.
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

MY Daytons come to me tubless and as a matter of fact, say do not use tubes. They are sealed with a large amount of what appears to be black Silicon.
Tom Maine

If the rims were not sold as tubeless, I doubt you will last a day without the tire going flat. The tubeless wires are sealed at the nipples with some silicone on assembly to keep the air from going the way of Lucas smoke.
MG LaVerne

The Dayton rims are, in fact, tubeless. They have a safety bead to hold the tire on. These are the only wire wheels I have seen with such a bead. They also have a gummy substance over the spoke nipples to retain air.
The TD/TF steel wheels do not have safety beads, they are a tube type rim, requiring the need for tubes.
David
D. Sander

My Wires (68 spoke) came from Dayton as well and had Kumho tubeless fitted. Balanced and shaved round. Looks like the nipples are sealed with silicon and in 5 years I have not had a flat yet.
Hopefully the commentators curse won't kick in here :)
Rod


R. D. Jones

Have Dayton 70's on my MGB and they are tubeless without an issue in 5 years.
Bruce Cunha

I have Dayton Wires on both the TF and the B. Neither were sold as or designed as tubeless. It's been a while since I have looked but the last time I did they sold rims for both applications.
MG LaVerne

The update:
Been driving around with my wheel in the back of my 3000GT hoping to find someone to break it, install a valve stem, and re-mount the tyre.
Discount tire will take it off, install the valve, but will not re-mount the tire. They just lost a good customer.
On the way back from inspecting Tom's TC parts (another thread) saw this sign and got excited! They don't do mounting wholesale distributer...:-(.
Next stop ...the guy selling 26" rims (not a nice part of town) but a great guy! ($10)
Confirmed: I am going to need tubes ...my 60's need tubes. Going to replace all 5.

David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

I've got Dayton 72 spoke tubeless chrome wire wheels on my MGA. Bought them from British wire wheel over 15 years ago.... Never had an issue.

They are by far the best ones I have ever had. I had tons of trouble with tubes chaffing on MGBs and would change to solid wheels if it weren't for the Dayton's

Steven Devine

Steven
I had to log on just to say "wow!" that is a fabulous photo! The MGA with the reflection of the MGB GT. Fabulous.
I'd love to have a print of that.

Tom
'54 TF
T Norby

Dave,
Why did they (Discount tire) refuse to mount the tire? Was it because you wanted it tubeless??
Because it was a wire wheel??

SPW
Steve Wincze

I have slotted disc wheels on my TD and it has tubes. Normal?
Kevin McLemore

I have tubes in my wire wheels 54TF. Just seems to me when you have so many potential holes for leaks somethings going to leak sometime. 60 spokes + 5 stems x 5 tires = 305 holes.
Peter
Peter Dahlquist

Steve ,
New policy @ DT. They will not mount a tire over 10 years old.
OK ...I know 10 year old tires should be replaced.
However these have always been in a heated garage and I use Mequires tire conditioner on them. They are not dry rotted or stressed. Rubber is still supple.
Even the guy at DT was surprised when he learned how old they were.
The flag came up when they looked up my sales records.
(After arguing with him that they did have tubes in them...."we don't put tubes in tires")

I have bought a lot of tires from these folks. (3 kids) and I have (normally) 9 cars just between the wife and I. My purchase records are a full 6 pages long. I offered to do this cash, no paperwork, or sign a release.
That's the rest of the story: Mainly the "attitude" of one employee has chased me away. I heard him tell another employee "that asshole says we put tubes in his tires, what an idiot, we have never put tubes in a tire".
David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

This thread was discussed between 02/07/2014 and 09/07/2014

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