Good afternoon,

I'm just refurbing the wheels for my 2a.

I've got steel wheels (with rivets in) so I am opting to have inner tubes in the new tyres (which the old ones had too).

Wheels are stamped with 5.50F x 16 x 33, as well as NRC7578 if that is relevant. The valve holes appear to be 15.5mm.

In terms of tyres, I'm going for General Grabber AT3s in 205/80 R16.

My question is, which inner tubes should I buy (I am new to the world of inner tubes).

Would either of these suit? I think I'm right in saying I need the TR15 valve?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122687695027?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=122687695027&targetid=1814673647262&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045768&poi=&campaignid=19089547614&mkgroupid=142438599285&rlsatarget=aud-1657461042708:pla-1814673647262&abcId=9303859&merchantid=7287704&gclid=CjwKCAiAjrarBhAWEiwA2qWdCPhUlhtTCcdJjZXN1m9H5cTdfITlq4djzL31iqtoP-rdRak5Wf8j6RoCZ84QAvD_BwE

https://www.tyre-choice.co.uk/16-Inch-Inner-Tubes-With-TR15-Valve/

The best are Michelin available from Vintage Tyres at Beaulieu and Bicester. Avoid cheap and nasty eBay Chinese rubbish.

I concur, never had any issue with Michelin tubes  . Remember they need a dusting of chalk powder on then so they can inflate properly without stress . Ideally the tyres should be deflated after seating the bead and then re-inflated. This is to make sure the tube is evenly distributed in the tyre/ wheel assy.

It's a good point. Most mainstream tyre fitters have lost the skill set to do tubes properly.
Recently I had to get a well known tyre fitter to do exactly what Autorover1 says. That involved one of their staff legging off to Boots to get some plain talc. Apparently they had not had any for about 10 years...  

Michelin?? Nice enough but nah... the trade uses:


https://soopatoobs.co.uk/


Swift are well enough. In fact more than fine.

And your ferrules.... eBay:

Just make sure the tyres are suitable for tubes. Most tyres these days are tubeless and aren't compatible with inner tubes as the inner surface is rough and is likely to chafe the tube.

I will say the art of inner-tubes has been lost. Go to motorcycle dealers, they WILL know what they're doing.  Forget the usual suspects, I'm afraid the bloke with the tyre-fitter haircut won't have a clue. And worse won't be told by you how to do the job, least not until he's messed up a tube or lost/forgotten the ferrule.

None of which they'll have stock replacements for...

After all, what would an old duffer know?

Why use ferrules? Just buy the right tubes.
Incidentally, the eBay link above appears to show tubes with rigid metal valve stems. Not ideal.

Quote from: Old Hywel on Dec 04, 2023, 11:52 PMWhy use ferrules? Just buy the right tubes...

Agreed, only often it's Hobson's choice.

I'm with Alan Drover on this one. Can't beat a quality Michelin Tube. You pay for it though - they cost as much as a cheapo tyre for a small runabout.

OK, I'm happy to be corrected.

I've memory of four punctures. Thankfully they're rare. On each occasion I was found grovelling around with the jack. Only one of those was via a Michelin tube. The rest whatever I could get hold of at the time.

Other than having my wallet lighter by roughly £150 over the alternatives, can one of you give solid reason how all-Michelin tubes would have made the difference?

I use them on Land Cruisers and Land Rovers in Central Africa. Constant punctures due to thorns are a real headache. I once had 14 in one day! I find that a) there is more meat in a Michelin tube and b) they are easier to repair because they are heavier duty. Dunlop do a similar one, but not available in the UK.

Yes, I can see that. A light nick, ergo slow-puncture thorn etc could well be defeated with thicker. I seem to get everybody else's bent wood-screw or paper-clip.

By the time I've heard the classic tick-tick-tick, and the penny has dropped, it's too late.

Plenty of food for thought here, thank you all!

Can't help but think the tyre is what needs to give the puncture resistance and that by the time it gets to the inner tube, little difference is going to be made?

I do get that cheap ones may have bad valves, seams, etc.

You are right on that. A nice 12 ply Michelin XZY is virtually bullet proof. In most parts of Africa, you can also get a liner, which used to be thick rubber, but is now a Kevlar base, so a bit like fitting a stab vest. A bit of a pig to balance though.