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Read More December 24, 2015 | Blain's Farm & FleetThe Ultimate Automotive Inner Tube Buying Guide
Discover everything you need to know about tire inner tubes.
When you get a flat tire, you have two main options: you can replace the entire tire, or consider an inner tube for a more budget-friendly solution. An inner tube is a flexible, inflated ring made of rubber that goes inside a tire to hold air.
Inner tubes can cover up a lot of problems, including punctures, leaks, and flats. They can prolong the useful life of your tire in some situations, but they can’t be used in all tires. This guide from Blain’s Farm & Fleet will walk you through everything you need to know about inner tubes, from determining when they’re right to use, to selecting the right type for your specific tire.
When Can I Use an Inner Tube?
Inner tubes are a great solution for many scenarios, but you can’t use them in every situation. Here’s when they work best and when they don’t:
Best Inner Tube Uses:
- Farm Equipment Tires: Generally speaking, inner tubes are best suited to use on non-highway farm equipment like tractors, lawn mowers, and cultivators. This is because they typically operate at lower speeds and drive over rough terrain where punctures and air loss are common.
- Lawn and Garden Equipment Tires: Things like mowers, tillers, and wheelbarrows benefit greatly from inner tubes, as they’re low-speed and only used occasionally.
- Non-Highway Vehicle Tires: Most other equipment that doesn’t operate at highway speeds, such as golf carts and utility vehicles, can safely use inner tubes.
- Existing Inner Tubes: Sometimes, your tire may already have a tube in it. And the tire might be flat because the tube or its valve stem failed. Simply replacing the tube can often be the easiest fix.
When to NOT Use an Inner Tube:
- Highway Vehicle Tires: It can be dangerous to put an inner tube in a car or truck tire that will be driven at highway speeds. Most auto mechanics advise against installing inner tubes in radial car and truck tires because the tube can rub against the inside of the tire and cause heat buildup at highway speeds. Heat buildup can lead to tire blowouts.
- Low-Profile Tires: Especially in lower profile tires (tires with an aspect ratio lower than 65% of the width of the tread face), an inner tube cannot function properly. An inner tube inflates to a circular cross section. But the cross section of the inside of a low-profile tire is a narrow rectangle. This results in the inner tube getting squeezed and possibly developing creases that can cause it to fail.
Inspect your tire’s intended use and condition when deciding whether an inner tube is the right solution. When in doubt, consult a professional. You can have it inspected by one of the skilled service technicians in our Automotive Service Centers.
How to Choose the Right Inner Tube
There are two main things you’ll need to know in order to choose the right inner tube for your needs:
1. Tire Size
Getting the right inner tube size is fairly easy, since manufacturers usually make inner tubes that are specially sized to fit each different tire size. Your tire size is printed on the side of your tire and is typically made up of a series of numbers and letters.
2. Bias or Radial Tire
You must take note as to whether you have a bias-ply tire or a radial-ply tire. If you have a bias-ply tire, there will usually be a letter “B” or “D” before the last number in your tire size (i.e. 225/75B15 or 225/75D15). If you have a radial-ply tire, there will be a letter “R” before the last number in your tire size (i.e. 225/75R15).
Make sure you choose the right type of inner tube for your specific tire. If you install a radial tube in a bias tire or a bias tube in a radial tire, you’ll create a mismatch in how the tire flexes during operation. This can lead to heat buildup and potentially dangerous blowouts.
If you’re having trouble finding the right inner tube, just write down the size of your tire, and bring it to your local Blain’s Farm & Fleet Auto Parts Department. One of our friendly and knowledgeable associates will help you find the right tube for your tire.
How to Install an Inner Tube
Once you’ve chosen the right inner tube, installing it correctly is crucial. While installing it on your own is possible, we recommend having professionals do it for you. Tire mounting requires specialized tools and knowledge to ensure safety. Professional technicians can also inspect your tire to determine if it’s suitable for tube installation and to identify any potential problems.
Here’s a quick overview at how to install an inner tube:
- Prepare the Tire: Fully deflate and remove the tire from the wheel. Check for debris, punctures, or anything sharp that could potentially puncture the new rubber tube. Then, clean the wheel rim and the interior of the tire.
- Insert the Inner Tube: Partially inflate the inner tube to shape it. Next, insert it into the tire. Make sure the valve stem lines up with the the hole in the tire rim.
- Mount and Inflate: Carefully mount the tire back onto the rim. Inflate the tube gradually. Check that it seats properly without folds or creases.
Inner Tube Maintenance Tips
Proper maintenance can significantly extend the life of your inner tube and ensure safe operation. Follow these best practices:
- Regular Pressure Checks: Inner tubes can lose air pressure quicker than tubeless tires, especially when they’re first installed. Check the tire pressure weekly for the first month, then monthly after that. Maintaining proper pressure prevents the tube from flexing excessively, which can cause premature wear and failure.
- Regular Inspections: You should inspect tires with inner tubes more frequently than tubeless tires. In addition to checking the pressure, look for unusual wear patterns, bulges or deformations, valve stem damage, and signs of overheating.
- Storage: If you’re storing equipment with inner tubes for long periods, slightly over-inflate the tires, as they’ll gradually lose air. This will help prevent the tube from forming permanent creases if it was flat.
- Speed Limitations: Never exceed the speed rating of your tire. And remember that inner tubes are generally not suitable for highway speeds. In most instances, you should limit your speed to 25-35 mph at a maximum.
- Load Considerations: Also make sure you don’t exceed the tire’s load rating. Overloading can cause dangerous failures.
- Replace When Necessary: Inner tubes don’t last forever. Even with proper maintenance, they may need to be replaced every few years, depending on how often you use them and environmental conditions. Signs like frequent air loss, bulges, or visible deterioration can signal that they need to be replaced.
If you determine an inner tube is right for your situation, consult the automotive professionals at your local Blain’s Farm & Fleet to help you select the correct tube and ensure proper installation. With the right tube properly installed, you’ll have no trouble keeping your equipment working smoothly.
For more buying guides like this one, check out our other Tires articles.
