I tried to mount the slicks this weekend, but I noticed the wording "Tube Type" on the sidewalls of our Mickey Thompson ET slicks (sized 24.5 x 9" x 13"). The sidewalls were noticeably softer than the M/T ET 24.5x8.13's that were on there before and were not labeled "Tube Type".

After researching a little, I've got a couple of options.

1.) Use the inner tubes. The tubes will provide tire carcass stability as wheel speed increases. The tubes will also contain the air better and prevent any leakdown. This will keep your tire pressures more consistent as you gauge performance and is also a safety issue if the bead happens to break.

2.) Don't use the inner tubes. Some have said that leakdown isn't an issue, and that traction/grip is better because the inner tubes tend to bias a higher portion of load to the center of the slick, and don't sufficiently use the sides of the tread width.

The slicks are part number 3016 and the recommended inner tubes are 9553

Does anybody have any experience not using the inner tubes on a slick that recommends using tubes? Or, even better would be experience having used slicks with and then without the inner tubes (or vice versa).

 

I currently run Tubes in my MT's and have not had any problems with them at all. MT actually recommended me to use them. So far for me it has been good, and tire pressure loss is not an issue..


Modified by FRernesto at 6:53 PM 6/22/2008

 

i think the tubes all come down to personal preference

we don't run tubes at all in the 24.5" MT's or the 26" MT's

but i do know of others that do, not sure how much of a difference it may actually make

 

The only time I use tubes is when I float the river.

Even my bike is tubeless..lol

 

We talked to the someone reputable over at MT and he highly recommended we run tubes,he says not only does it maintain air but gives you better contact patch of the tire...

Got my tubes last week....

 

I'm glad to hear that I wasn't the only person that MT recommended to use Tubes. I actually believe it is a bit safer also because it reduces the chance of tire blow out...IMO

 

http://www.mickeythompsontires...in=s6

Tubes and Tube Type Tires *Weight & performance In some cases it is acceptable to run a racing tire without a tube. When a car competes in a heads up class, unsprung weight is an important factor. Tires and tubes are all unsprung weight. One pound of "unsprung" weight is equal to 8 pounds of "sprung" weight. The average tube weighs about 6 pounds. Therefore, if you eliminate the tubes you have eliminated the equivalent of 96 pounds from the car. For every 10 pounds of unsprung weight removed you may pick up as much as .01 seconds in quarter mile ET.

 

Nice find there buddy..
I guess we will be putting that theory to the test..lol
I'd sacrafice .01 off our time for better and consistent 60s anyday.....Just gotta turn up the boost up top..lol

 

wonder if they mean 0.1 seconds ( a tenth) instead of 0.01 seconds ( a hundredth) from ET thinking back to the age old theory that 100 pounds is equivalent to 0.1 seconds (a tenth ) ET

the driver could fart before the pass and see a 0.01 (a hundredth ) difference

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aggressive Racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">We talked to the someone reputable over at MT and he highly recommended we run tubes,he says not only does it maintain air but gives you better contact patch of the tire...

Got my tubes last week.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

i tubed mine halfway through 06 as a recomendation from john at m and h.
im not worried about what people say to the contrary.

i feel it is much more stable with the tubes.

and the air is maintained a little more consistently.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Arturbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only time I use tubes is when I float the river.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
they have rivers in Tx?

 

I think I'll just slap them on for now without the tubes. The slicks won't be staked to the rim, so it won't be hard to dismount them if there's a problem.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Arturbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The only time I use tubes is when I float the river.

Even my bike is tubeless..lol</TD></TR></TABLE>

But I read this from your tire MFG:

"For passengers weighing less than 75 lbs, tubes are not required"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Innes &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
the driver could fart before the pass and see a 0.01 (a hundredth ) difference </TD></TR></TABLE>

I gotta remember to fart/sneeze/burp before I run next time.
I ran my cars without tubes even with the 28x 10.5 slicks. When I asked the tire mfg rep about it, he said "If it's working for you, don't change it. You're only adding extra weight." I believe he added that the tubes offer more stability, and consistency to a bracket car.