Lancia Motor Club

Just ordered some new Continental tyres for my Sport following recommendations and took to local tyre fitters which was a mistake. Upon removing one of the Dunlop SP Sports from my Cromodora's they damaged the inner tube.
They then tried to throw it back in my face saying that I hadn't informed them that there was a tube inside and now are refusing to fit anymore saying that it isn't safe to put tubes in tubeless tyres. The tyres that are coming off are 18 years old but are tubeless and have been on the car along with the tubes for the 8 years that I have owned it. The garage didn't have any spare/new tubes so I ended up fitting the steel spare.
I now have four new tyres plus four new Michelin tubes that I have ordered but no-one to fit them.
Can anyone recommend a tyre fitter in the North West that can help? We are going up to the GNW in Kelso on Friday and don't really want to travel as the car is?
Thanks in advance.

Hi Paul, I run tubeless tyres on my Cromadoras no issues at all, new valves fitted no leaks no issues.

I have also been advised you don't run tubes in tubeless tyres. We used to run a tube of foam in rally tyres many years ago but that too was banned.
You are still using tyres that are 18 years old! Not recommended due to the compound ageing.

You can run tubeless on Cromodoras without any problem......

You should be able to run tubeless tyres with tubes providing the inner moulding of the tubeless tyre do not have any significant ribbing, as over long distances such ribbing will cause hotspots on the tube and they will ultimately fail.

The current (soon to be exchanged) Dunlop SP Sport period looking tyres did not have a manufacturing date on the outside. It was only when the tyre was removed that the manufacture date was found on the inside - 3rd week of 2005 did I find out the age. There are no signs of cracking, ageing or excessive wear at all on any of them and I have never had any issues/pressure loss either in eight years and 8,000km. No advisories at MOT times either including the latest yesterday. It was due to the fact I didn't know when they were last changed or their age that I decided to go for new- particularly as it's going on a long trip this weekend. These Dunlops are also 'tubeless' but do in fact run Michelin inner tubes which maybe as old as the tyres themselves?
I have now found an alternative more competent and experienced tyre shop to fit the tyres on Thursday probably without the inner tubes.

Thanks all for your advice & comments, hopefully it's now just a straight fit onto the rims.
Paul

I ummed and arrd for a long time about renewing my Firestone tyres which were about the same age. Plenty of tread, but who knows what happened to them over the seventeen years prior to my ownership.

I did quite a lot of research and one of the things I read was that plasticisers are released when are when a tyre moves and they help it to retain its integrity. I certainly didn’t find anyone who thought for one moment that 18-year-old tires should be on a car for normal driving.

I bit the bullet and bought a set of four Dunlops with new Michelin tubes (don’t even consider buying any other make) and another worry was off the list! Whether Cromadoras need tubes I don’t know, but a specialist tyre fitting garage should be able tell immediately. You could always send them a photo as I did. My rims are FPS which were a factory option in 1975 and tubes were needed. The tyres would have sealed perfectly, but in the event of a puncture the tyre would almost certainly come off the rim.

A full 24hr wheel refurbishment is in order as although the alloys look good they are deteriorating on the rears and rims, hence why my current Dunlops are inserted with tubes. Looks like I have been fortunate over the past 8 years. The centre caps may also need replacing if they can't be saved.

Nothing’s ever straightforward….😂

My first holiday job back in 1965 was as a tyre fitter and Tim's comment was our hard and fast rule as potential friction related heating of the tube was the worry.
Back then we actually had more trouble establishing which wheels could take the then newish technology of tubeless tyres. I seem to remember essentially it was determined by the width of the shoulder in the wheel well -  narrow for tubed, wide for tubeless?
To add to the potential for confusion was the fact that the more common tyre sizes were available in tubed and tubeless spec!
Chris

If you want some advice from helpful experts try:

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk

In the end I had all 4 Cromodoras refurbished and the new tyres fitted without tubes. Have just completed 400 miles over the weekend with no issues.
Anyone want to buy 4No brand new & boxed Michelin 14" inner tubes!!!!!!!

Did you determine if the wheels are suitable for tubeless? I see no reason why you would have had any issues or indeed will have unless you have a puncture.

I attach a photo of my FPS alloy wheel which was a factory option on my S3.

I was told by at least 2 tyre companies that they were not suitable for tubeless.

I also include a link to a seller of Cromadoras and to me the it seems to have a very similar internal profile.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155509179671

My tyre fitter says these type of rims are OK but others go by the book. For what it is worth I run 2 Fulvias and a Beta HPE tubeless. I would have run a third without but the Michelin tyre was specifically for tubed as Michelin left out the inner layer of sealant in the manufacture process of XZX classic range so without a tube the air would leach out through the tyre carcass. My 1600HF has done 10000 miles on its current tyres and similar on my Sport1600. Its everyone's own decision.....

What size tyres do you run on your 1600 HF Tim?

I hear what you say and would prefer to run tubeless too.

I think the problem that can arise is that if the air pressure is too low, as with a slowish puncture you might not have noticed, the tyre can come away from the rim on a corner/bend with potentially serious consequences. With a proper tubeless rim it usually stays on the rim and gives a chance of better control.

I reckon to have one puncture in about 60,000 miles of everyday motoring. With the Fulvia I'll be long gone before I get one statistically! As you say, best for people to make their own choice if they know the potential issues.

 Helpful expert again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWJ-tWP3iU0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWJ-tWP3iU0)

175/70 dont ask why!! But I find 185 kills the steering feel after the tyre has worn in (ie new tyres are deliciously light on the steering....)

BTW If a tube bursts due to incorrect tyre fitted this happens without warning.

The old adage "of know thy car" should alert drivers of nuances.

Excellent info, thanks for the link.

Thanks Tim, currently running 176/65/14