Are Car Tire Inner Tubes Necessary for Tires?
Modern cars and vehicles, especially light passenger vehicles, SUVs, and light trucks, use tubeless tires that do not require a separate inner tube. The inner edges of these tires are sealed to the rim with the help of an internal liner and bead bundles. As the ribs are molded integrally into the bead of the tire, the tire can be filled with air without requiring an inner tube.
Heavy construction equipment such as industrial graders, dump trucks, and earthmovers; large trucks; tractors; and buses still use inner tubes for car tires, also known as pneumatic tires. Besides, many classic vehicles that retain their original parts will require car tire inner tubes.
The tubeless tires need proper inflation for the safety of the vehicle. Improperly inflated tires can affect gas mileage as well. So, you should check the tire pressure at least once in a month to ensure safe driving.
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What Are Car Tire Tubes?
The car tire inner tubes are a circular tube-like structure that inflates like a balloon when filled with air. They can be made of any materials ranging from rubber to a mix of synthetic rubber and plastics.
Bicycles and motorcycles use smaller inner tubes while the size grows bigger in larger vehicles. The industrial-grade pneumatic tires are strong and heavy and are capable of a tremendous amount of off-road traction.
Are Car Tire Inner Tubes Necessary for Tires?
Traditional pneumatic tires are designed in a way that requires a separate inner tube for sealing the air inside the tire. However, those car tire tubes can fail for a number of reasons. A puncture, friction between the tire walls, incorrect tire fit, or excess heat generated by the tube can lead to irreparable damages. A puncture to the tire will cause a deflation proportional to the size of the hole, leading to a sudden loss of control of the vehicle.
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On the contrary, tubeless tires eliminate the necessity of inner tubes for car tires. They are comparatively safer considering that a small puncture to the tire will cause only a mild deflation because the air escapes through only that hole.
How to Treat Small Punctures in Tubeless Tires?
If the puncture is small, you can inject liquid tire sealant to prevent deflation. However, it is a controversial process as the sealant can make the tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) inoperable. In such case, you have to hire an expert to clean, inspect, and re-install the TPMS.