Tubeless Rims on a Series 1

[rayhyland]

Hiya,

How hard is it to run tubeless rims on a Series 1? Will a Defender steel rim fit the series 1?

I think it would be a lot easier to deal with tubeless tires on my big trip this year.

[Dave_F]

Yes you can run tubeless rims from a Defender 16"...however for your trip I would go tubed regardless...gives you an extra level of protection. Alot easier to carry a couple of tubes versus extra tires.

Your existing S1 rims will need tubes.

[rayhyland]

I always carry a tube with me on any long or remote trip just in case, but for most repairs (nail or thorn holes) I can plug a tubeless tire in about 5 mins. Patching or replacing a tube takes me half a day in the field.

[rayhyland]

My other concern with tubes is that I have had issues with them failing after getting very hot when running highway speeds in the tropics.

After 8-10 hours at 50mph on the pavement, with an outside air temp of 33-38 C it's amazing how hot they get.

To run a tubeless tire on a Series 1 rim, what would be involved, sand blasting it, and then welding all the interior seams and rivets?

[Greg S]

Except back in 1973 on my first Series 1 LWB, because I didn't have it long enough to put new tires on it, I've ALWAYS run tubeless tires on stock Land Rover rims and didn't know it was a problem until the Internet was invented. Now I realize it isn't possible. (Note sarcasm here.)

I have to give in to the notion that it is possible you could have a rim leak at the seam. That being accepted, your suggestion of a sandblast is good but I would shy away from welding it unless there was an obvious repair needed. In stead a good marine sealant (Sikaflex), the permanent type, would work better and not add any damaging heat to the wheel. You can apply it with a caulking gun and put it on as thick or thin as you want and smooth it with a moistened finger or other special tool to make it look pretty. The only issue with tubeless on your old rims would be an air leak at the seam. Make sure that the rim is smooth and in good shape at the bead as well. NEW "tubeless" rims have an inner ridge to help prevent the tire from sliding off the bead if it goes flat at high speeds. This is a new innovation and hadn't been invented on tubeless rims for the first few decades of their existence. Some people go into a regular panic about not having this cursed little ridge, personally, I don't concern myself about it's absence. If you have a "tubeless" rim and want to insert a tube, NOW you have a problem! The tubeless rim isn't designed to treat the tube with a nice bed and the inside of a "tubeless" tire isn't designed to have a tube, it isn't smooth inside. Both can be rough enough to wear through or puncture a tube in short order.

[red90]

I'm with you that tubeless tires are easier to field repair and have less failures. I think this is more true these days as tube quality is very poor compared to the olden days. After wasting two evenings changing tubes on Bill's truck during the Mackenzie trip instead of relaxing and having a beer, I personally don't want to see a tube ever again.

I ran the stock Defender tubed rims tubeless for years (no safety bead) and never had problems. Breaking the bead on one of the those rims is harder than pretty much any rim I've seen. In general the Land Rover rims hold beads very well. When you compare to an aftermarket generic steel rims, it is night and day.

[swamijake]

There are michelin tubes in your tires (good tubes), but the tires are tired. If it is any solace, my MOD defender came with tubeless tires on land rover tube type rims, so apparently MOD thinks its fine to run tubeless tires on tube rims.

If you need spare wheels to play with I think I have a few.

[rayhyland]

There are michelin tubes in your tires (good tubes), but the tires are tired. If it is any solace, my MOD defender came with tubeless tires on land rover tube type rims, so apparently MOD thinks its fine to run tubeless tires on tube rims.

If you need spare wheels to play with I think I have a few.

Good to know. Not sure how well the series rims compare to the defender ones though.

Sure, I can always use a few tires if you are not using them Jake. Same type?

[rayhyland]

Hmm, upon further research on the interwebs, it looks some LR drivers in South Africa put Agri-seal, (which I think is a bit like Green Slime here) in their tubed wheels when they run tubeless tires. I guess in theory it seals any rim seal or rivet leaks the same way it would seal a bead leak or small puncture.

Any thoughts?

I think I have heard this stuff can gum up your valves, and if you are raising/lowering tire pressures for going off-road you could have valve problems.

I also wonder how this stuff would react to balancing beads/powder.

Ray

[Greg S]

From the guys in the tire shop; "Don't use it."

It won't seal the rim, it goes to the outer part of the tire.

[rayhyland]

Yeah, that's what I figured after looking at vids online.

The rivets look pretty well sealed from when I had the rims sand blasted and repainted. So I mounted the tires yesterday. I will monitor the pressure and see if there is any leakage. http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03 ... 2104cf.jpg

[rayhyland]

still holding air.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 563e90703a

[ANDYD]

Looking good Ray .... I bet your getting excited in advance of your big trip ............

[rayhyland]

Yep. Working on the Carnet and the international drivers licenses this week.