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Oem US Royal 8.20 x 15 inner tube

Started by Jeff Maltby 4194, February 02, 2013, 12:10:18 PM

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Jeff Maltby 4194

When I bought my fastback in 87, it came with all 5 oem us royal tires-spare never down.

Here's what one looks like in great condition for its age.
Jeffo 49er chapter

CLC 1985
Honda Gold Wing GL1500

Doug Houston

If the tube had been natural rubber, you would have cause to be jubilant over  it. However, tubes have been made of a butyl elastomer since during WW II, and that''s what you have there.

The butyl compound came out around the middle of the war, as a substitute for the tubes that we had used. Previously, natural rubber had been used in all tubes, and they would lose pressure such that you needed to check your tires every two weeks or so. With new butyl tubes in their tires, owners found that they didn't need to check air pressure at all for months. Following the war, the industry never did go back to natural rubber inner tubes. Tubes in use today are the same as the replacement tubes that an outfit named Polson made during the war.

My father was in the tire business, and he sold possibly thousands of  Polson tubes. They were truly a Godsend. 

I have a '69 Harley that I haven't ridden for 30+ years. One tire is original with a new tube last driven, and the other tire is a replacement, matching the originals. The bike has been parked in my garage all this time, and when it was moved and run for the first time in around 5 years, the tires needed very little air.

NOW, one other little sideline. Natural rubber tubes are still used in airplane, earth mover, and drag racing tires. reason for that is that butyl tubes can' stand up to the heat generated in those tires, but natural rubber can. They still need pressure checks frequently.

Sorry to have rained on your parade, Jeff!
38-6019S
38-9039
39-9057B
41-6227D
41-6019SF
41-6229D
41-6267D
56-6267
70-DeV Conv
41-Chev 41-1167
41 Olds 41-3929

Jeff Maltby 4194

#2
Doug. Your post confuses me in that I'm saying, there oem 49 tubes regardless of what compound there made from not knowing myself, seeing how 8.20.15 tires were first introduced in 48, but a great story from you as usual=Thanks.

I figured few in the club have ever seen one, so I posted it for the archives :<)



Jeffo 49er chapter

CLC 1985
Honda Gold Wing GL1500

Doug Houston

What I as saying was that  the material in inner tubes that was used as a wartime substitute became the standard used forever more. The car owner like yourself, nor anyone else was totally aware that inner tubes were no longer like those before the war. The Butyl substitute  was one of very few that ended up as in improvement. 

I sort of think that there were some natural rubber tubes to be had after the war, for passenger car use. Goodyear had a dual-chamber safety inner tube (Goodyear Lifesaver?) in the early fifties, but It was a short-lived product. I also seem to recall Firestone having some kind of a dual-chamber tube that never went very far.  But, they both could have been Butyl....I dunno.








never lasted very long. I seem to remember that Firestone had some kind of dual chamber tube as well, but memory is foggy on it.

There were individuals who were adamant about wanting prewar style tubes in their tires, but they were somehow persuaded to accept current technology.
38-6019S
38-9039
39-9057B
41-6227D
41-6019SF
41-6229D
41-6267D
56-6267
70-DeV Conv
41-Chev 41-1167
41 Olds 41-3929

D.Yaros

Well, what I want to know is why the tube says both 7.50 x 15 and 8.20 x 15?  Seems to me that nearly 3/4 of an inch is pretty significant?
Dave Yaros
CLC #25195
55 Coupe de Ville
92 Allante
62 Olds  

You will find me on the web @:
http://GDYNets.atwebpages.com  -Dave's Den
http://graylady.atwebpages.com -'55 CDV site
http://www.freewebs.com/jeandaveyaros  -Saved 62 (Oldsmobile) Web Site
The home of Car Collector Chronicles.  A  monthly GDYNets newsletter focusing on classic car collecting.
http://www.scribd.com/D_Yaros/

Walter Youshock

Maybe it's minimum to maximum inflation?  It'll work in any tire from 7.5 to 8.20?
CLC #11959 (Life)
1957 Coupe deVille
1991 Brougham

Jeff Maltby 4194

I've had motorcycle tire tubes that for example say 3.25-3.50 etc.

Have any pictures of your 69 HD Doug ? I started riding bikes in 1970 on a HD 250 Sprint made in Italy...my first and last HD :<)
Jeffo 49er chapter

CLC 1985
Honda Gold Wing GL1500

Doug Houston

There's a decent pix somewhere here, but I'll need to look for it. Just now, it's in the garage, but decent pictures are never good in garages.
38-6019S
38-9039
39-9057B
41-6227D
41-6019SF
41-6229D
41-6267D
56-6267
70-DeV Conv
41-Chev 41-1167
41 Olds 41-3929