Ford Wire Wheels

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Krylon32

Well-known member
What are the Barn thoughts on running early Ford wires tubeless. I have 35 wires for the front and 2 inch widened 32 wires for the back. I will be using Excelsior radials which I have several friends running them tubeless on steelie's. Do you think they would work tubeless on the wires? I've just had problem with tube lasting. Your opinion please. Thanks
 
Krylon32 said:
What are the Barn thoughts on running early Ford wires tubeless. I have 35 wires for the front and 2 inch widened 32 wires for the back. I will be using Excelsior radials which I have several friends running them tubeless on steelie's. Do you think they would work tubeless on the wires? I've just had problem with tube lasting. Your opinion please. Thanks
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That's a winning situation all the way around! Run 'em!!

Coop

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I have powder coated 16" KH wires on my 33 phaeton with tubless tires, no trouble after 6 years. i think the powder coat seals up any places that could leak air.
 
I ran tubeless on my '33 that had 16" 1935 wires.No problem at all.
 

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Think about it. No rivets on a welded spoke wire wheel. The should be no potential leak paths. Even the steels with rivets tend to do ok tubeless. Your results may vary, of course.
 
I have tubeless with my Kelsey Hayes too. I sealed around all the spoke end/nuts with silicone. I had one slow leak that I was able to repair without completely removing the tire.

Glenn
 
Back in the late '80s, Rex Gardner and I had some problems with Kelsey and Ford wire wheels on our Great Race '35 coupe. Apparently, the wheels were just moving around enough to shred our new Coker tubes. Replaced them with a heavier tube from the Co-Op farm store and stopped the problem. I have used adjustable 15" Kelsey's on my '32 street rod with epoxy paint and duct tape with no tubeless tires and no problems.
 
I had Mclaines rims with stainless spokes wire wheels back in the 80s. He had a thick coating of silicone on his nipples with tubeless tires and never had a leak. I don't know how the silicone will work with (rubber) ? tubes.:)
 
Call me old fashioned - I plan to run tubes in my 32 PU w/ wire wheels and bias plys

My beads probably wouldn't seal with tubeless !
 
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