Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

I dismounted a tire from an elite wheel today and it didn't have a tube. Has anyone ever tried this with elite wheels?

Yes itÔÇÖs works great

The Elite rim isn't designed for tubeless. YMMV but I wouldn't run it like that. The safe route for tubeless is to swap in a Metropolitan wheel.

does anyone know the difference in design for a tubeless wheel and a tube type? I know metro are wider. It must have something to do with how the tire seals.

Yes, the rim lips are slightly different. TheyÔÇÖre designed to better seal against the tire. People have run tubeless with tube wheels/tires without problems. Personally I wouldnÔÇÖt do it, especially with the speeds our modified bikes reach.

Yea, the met wheel is the way to go for tubeless tire. The steel is heavier gauge and the taller bead area is also wider (2.15") than the elites' 1.85" so you are able to run a 90/90/10 without worry of clearance. Only metropolitan wheels 2003-2011 will fit. I believe the later model wheels (2013 & up) are larger diameter brake drum and will not fit. I just installed a new set of 3.00/10 IRC tires on elite wheels and they were so stiff and flat (4 yrs old) I put the tubes inside of them and inflated a little, then placed them in a 200 degree oven for 15 minutes to avoid damaging the elite's thin wheel/bead. Of course I wore some gloves to handle them and they went on like a dream. But I would not run any elite wheel with a tubeless tire especially over 35 mph.

Rancher1 wrote:The Elite rim isn't designed for tubeless. YMMV but I wouldn't run it like that. The safe route for tubeless is to swap in a Metropolitan wheel.

Yup that's what I did..... switched to Metropolitan wheel and it's awesome!