Tubeless Dunlop 491s

[djkehoe]

I want to install Dunlop K491s on my snowflake wheels. It seems a lot of wheel spinning to put tubes in them but I am told that snowflakes are tube wheels. How many of you are living out on the edge and has anyone actually had a problem going tubeless?
Dan.

[James.A]

I have a set on one of my bikes. Good tires and they wear very well. I am reasonably sure that cast wheels are tubless. I saw an interesting thing inside a tubeless wheel on a Kaw 1000. The stem had a hard rubber flange that matched the contour of the inside of the rim. When the tire was inflated, the rubber chunk pinched the tire bead up against the edge of the rim. I don't know if the snowflakes are similarly equipped. I would hate to think the Japanese might have out-clevered the Germans. OTOH, why not "steal their thunder".

[bmwmick]

Dan,
NONE of the early airhead snowflake wheels are meant for tubeless use. The rim is not made correctly for use without tubes.
Many have machined the valve stem area and inserted a tubeless valve stem and ARE using tubeless tires. You'll hear many stories on both sides.
Officially, put a tube in it!

Mick

[James.A]

I defer to a more knowledgeable member.

[rocketman]

Originally posted by woodnsteel
I I saw an interesting thing inside a tubeless wheel on a Kaw 1000. The stem had a hard rubber flange that matched the contour of the inside of the rim. When the tire was inflated, the rubber chunk pinched the tire bead up against the edge of the rim.

I had a Kaw Z1A ( 74 900) that had "rim locks" inside the rear wheel, sounds similar to what you discribe, except the tire went between the lock and rim whereas what you describe was between the tire and the rim, they were tightened down to keep the tire from slipping on the rim when under hard exceleration and they made changing the tire a bitch.

I concor with bmwmick, I asked my mech about running tubeless and he said none of the early snowflake wheels were designed to run tubeless, personnaly that isn't something I'd want to mess with!

Even thou tubeless would be nice for easy flat fixes on the road till you can patch it properly I'll continue to run tubes on my snowflake wheels.

RM

[srb]

from what i understand snowflakes are tube-type rims

lester mags that fit up to airheads are able to go tubeless

sb
'79 R100S