To Tube or Not to Tube?

Again, consult the owner’s manual on this. The manufacturer will specify a tube type (TT) or a tubeless (TL) tire, and you should stick to that.

If you put a tubeless tire on a motorcycle that specifies otherwise, odds are that your rim isn't air tight. That means you’ll be leaking like a sieve.

Similarly, using a tube with a tubeless tire or rim is going to be problematic. This will add stiffness and friction to the wheel. Your rolling resistance will increase, and the tire's lifespan will be shortened by the extreme heat cycles. Plus, there might be burrs on the tubeless-type rim that will pop the inner-tube.

If you are running tubed tires, there are three things to consider when it comes to tube fitment: valve stem type, rim diameter and tire width. If you have questions regarding this, our customer service team will be happy to help.

For those running tubed tires, always replace the tube and rim strip when you replace the tire. Tubes will wear away at the same rate as tires, so replacing one and not the other doesn't make much sense. The same goes for your rim tape. Faulty rim tape will expose your tube to some sharp screws, and you know what happens after that. At two bucks a pop, rim strips are the cheapest flat prevention available.

Shop all our tire tubes here