Tube in a GS Tyre

[wintercat7]

Hi All,

I am hoping to take my GS down to Southern Africa next year and was thinking about tyre tubes.
I am planning to have Heidenau Scout K60 Tyres which I think are a good 50/50 tyre.
I will obviously have a puncture kit and pump but I am thinking if I get a tear in the tyre can I put a tube in it.
I have the TPS sensores but have heard that you can remove them easily enough if needed.

So question is can I put a tube in if I need to?

Adam

 

[Bendy toy]

Not with the sensors but a tube should be fine. However a serious rip in the tyre will probably not be contained by an inner tube so it might not be "that" helpful.

I personally prefer a good in tyre sealant to stop and go plugs. Ive used Puncturesafe with tyre pressure sensors & no problems. I cant comment on Slime as it is now but a few years ago, it reacted with the aluminium rim where tyre levers had damaged the paint.

 

[Pukmeister]

If the tyre gets torn you'll be stuffing it with grass to get you home.

 

[Bendy toy]

Anything nasty enough to rip the tyre will take out the tube as well. Trying to get a tube into a heidenau K600 at the roadside will be "Fun" to say the least. If the tear is too big for tyre goo or plugs the tube is unlikely to help very much.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Take one as a precaution but you will find the K60's tough as old boots and having a puncture is a very rare occurrence with them. The sidewalls are very strong and the tread very hard so they really take a bashing in tough conditions. Take a stop and go kit as a precaution but that goo is just a messy hassle in my opinion, especially in the arse end of nowhere.

I would personally ditch the TPS if you can as well as it's just more electrickery to fool you or go wrong. If you needed to use a tube or something else, they would break anyway. On a big trip like that, you need to keep in simple as the TPS readings aren't accurate anyway. They constantly give dodgy readouts at high altitudes or very hot weather and may start confusing you. That's my experience on my trips anyway and I'm sure I will be shot down as they are accurate on the Tecso run!!

 

[wintercat7]

Thanks for the replys.
Yes I have heard that they are very hard to get on and off. Has anybody managed it with tyre leavers?
Bendy, yes tyre sealant seems to be a marmite product. I'm on the dislike side but I can see the argument.
Sgt Bilco. Hoped you'd see this as you have lot's of experience with these tyres I believe. I don't really use the sensors anyway, not even on my way to .
Where can I get normal tyre valves from. Is it a special BMW thing or are they generic?

May take a tube for sods law sake but have the Stop & Go kit and a good pump so hopefully thats enough.

Adam

 

[Bendy toy]

You can get screw in valves. The tube valve should just push through.

Agree tyre goos are like marmite but my last tyre fitter was happy to work with them even on puncture repairs. He likes Puncturesafe says it will even allow a tyre to run flat for a distance that would ruin a non treated tyre.
It's not designed for run flat but it only takes a hundred yards to wreck an otherwise repairable tyre.

 

[Andy B]

If you wanted to leave the existing rear wheel at home I've got a spare that would take a tube.

 

[JJH]

I'm a fan tps not for accuresy but the warning when there is a large pressure drop cant speak for high altitudes though JJH