Can't find correct tubes!

[NC Steve]

I'm having a real fit trying to locate tubes of any brand to fit the new Bridgestone Spitfire S11s I have for the R65. The tire sizes are 100/90-18, and 110/90-18, which are fairly standard and readily available. However, the closest size to these I can find anywhere for an 18" wheel, is a 110/100-18. I've looked at all of the major online shops, and while the tires can be had all day everywhere, no tubes. I'm beginning to wonder if a 100/90 or 110/90 tube has been made!

May I run the 110/100-18 tubes in either of the /90 aspect front or rear tires? If so, should I use a lower air pressure? What might be the negatives if I did so? I'm concerned about how handling could be affected, or excessive heat buildup, leading to a flat or shorter tire life. Help!

[montmil]

There's help for you, Steve.

I bought new Spitfires for my R100S which runs Akront rimes and spokes. Deciding wich tube would be best was just crazy.

As I was buying the tires from American Motorcycle Tire, I just called 'em up, shared details and they provided the correct tubes and rim strips along with fresh Bridgestone rubber.

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php

Based in Arizona, these helpful folks offer free shipping and no sales tax for us. I bought my last pair of Spits for the '81 R65 from them, too.

[NC Steve]

Thanks a lot for the info Monte, I'll call over to American Motorcycle Tire tomorrow and see if they can hook me up. I can't understand why aligning tube and tube sizes is such a headache.

What would be the effect of having a tube slightly off sized though? If the tube was too small, would there be an inability to fully support the tire, at least at recommended pressure, and would it feel as if the tire was going flat? Could the tire come off of the rim from inadequate support? In contrast, if a tube was oversized, would it put too much pressure on the tire itself, maybe making the tire feel squirrely, as if it were skating or sliding? Could too large of a tube damage the tire, or ever push the tire completely off the rim?  

[montmil]

...  What would be the effect of having a tube slightly off sized though? If the tube was too small, would there be an inability to fully support the tire, at least at recommended pressure, and would it feel as if the tire was going flat? Could the tire come off of the rim from inadequate support? In contrast, if a tube was oversized, would it put too much pressure on the tire itself, maybe making the tire feel squirrely, as if it were skating or sliding? Could too large of a tube damage the tire, or ever push the tire completely off the rim?

Uh, possibly...  [smiley=wall.gif]

[NC Steve]

 [smiley=wall.gif]  
I believe you're right, I'm over thinking this thing. Opinions and advice on the inet are all over the place, and make my head hurt!

[Tony Smith]

[smiley=wall.gif]  
I believe you're right, I'm over thinking this thing. Opinions and advice on the inet are all over the place, and make my head hurt!

Go slightly smaller rather than slightly bigger.
 
A smaller than recommended tube will still fully support the tyre, but it will be "stretched" just a little more than is optimal, I have used smaller tubes many, many times without issue.

But, a tube that is too big is a cat of a different colour, you may end up with a fold or crease in the tube and it will fail on that fold or crease very quickly.

[wilcom]

I'm having a real fit trying to locate tubes of any brand to fit the new Bridgestone Spitfire S11s I have for the R65

I still have 10 of these left in storage somewhere locked in a conex. Had 50 and Ebay'd them till I got down to an amount I wanted to keep. If it's an issue with some one I will dig them out when I am at the storage and drag a couple out,  If I rode a lot I would be well into my 80's b4 I needed all 10 tubes. I don't even buy green bananas anymore.

[montmil]

"I don't even buy green bananas anymore."

Good 'un, Joe. [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]

[NC Steve]

Thanks again for the help guys, American didn't have a phone # for technical issues, but I have a detailed email/message out to them and I'm awaiting their reply. I'll let you know what info they give me.