Triumphrat

FifeTiger · 10-04-2006, 04:04 AM

this should be in the workshop forum but I need a reply today so I can order some.

Inner tubes - my local dealer doesn't have the metric sized ones but has imperial which they say 'will fit'. Is this good enough ?

Place I bought the tyres from have the metric in stock but at £20 for a pair of tubes I begrudge paying £7 P&P.

Will one sized in inches do or do I really want the metric one ?

Have to order today so answers on a postcard to the usual address.....

thanks

Arrybash · 10-04-2006, 06:40 AM

Hi,

I can't be 100% sure but I would have thought that a tube is reasonably tolerant of the marginal differnecs betwenn metric and imperial.

If you blow a tube up in free air it can expand to one hell of a size.

If you multiply the imperial sized ones by 25.4 and it will give you the equivalent metric size.

The diameter is the critical dimension.

Regards

Chris

iansoady · 10-04-2006, 09:11 AM

Quote:

On 2006-10-04 04:40, Arrybash wrote:

The diameter is the critical dimension.

Even that's not too bad - I used to carry a 21 inch tube for my Trials Bullet and used it in the back 18 inch wheel without problems.

Mind you, I struggled to get over 45mph on that, and it was a bit lighter than the Tiger. But with 4psi in the tyres that felt pretty fast.........

blacktiger · 10-07-2006, 04:35 AM

Quote:

On 2006-10-04 02:04, FifeTiger wrote:

Inner tubes -

Will one sized in inches do or do I really want the metric one ?

There are, of course, metric and imperial equivalents. It would have been handy if you could have told us what imperial sizes the dealer had.
The original tube in my Tiger was a Metzeller which has "max tyre size 140/80" on it. So, it wasn't really the right size for the 150/70 tyre on my bike. It seems that tubes that go up to 150 are not available. So, just get the biggest/closest you can and fit it.
Unfortunately, imperial sizes are a bit weird. A 5.10 tube doesn't actually mean 5.1 inches and should be close to a 140/150 which in theory is around 6 inches.
Confused? Yeah, I'm not surprised.

FifeTiger · 10-09-2006, 03:42 AM

ah well, picked up the bike on Saturday after the service, grazed my way down the bill looking for new tubes and they'd put the old ones back in.

Never mind, have breakdown cover will travel.....

blacktiger · 10-09-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

On 2006-10-09 01:42, FifeTiger wrote:
ah well, picked up the bike on Saturday after the service, grazed my way down the bill looking for new tubes and they'd put the old ones back in.

Never mind, have breakdown cover will travel.....

I've always used the tubes for two tyres then put new ones in with the third tyre. You should be OK. I wouldn't risk a third tyre though because there is visible wear on the tube after 8000 miles so beyond 16K would be pushing it.
The used, unpunctured tube is always a spare to take with you if you want on a long tour.