Wire wheels and inner tubes

[Manon4]

I have a 79 seville with nice orig wire wheels. I hear all sorts of cautions about using the necessary inner tubes.  Will get too hot.  Will cause tire failure. New tires are coated on inside so tubes cause probs. Etc etc. is is ok to use tubes and drive  regularly on the highway?  Thx. Manon4

[TJ Hopland]

Are you sure they require tubes?  Seems odd that they would design a wheel that far into the tubeless era to require tubes.

From my limited knowledge and memory on the subject I'm thinking that if you use a tube in a tubeless tire you have to de rate it somewhat both speed and load wise.   With the limited options for that size these days I could imagine you not being able to find a tire that would be a good fit unless you were not planning on any highway driving.

[35-709]

The "necessary" inner tubes?  I'd want to see that in writing --- from GM if they are GM wheels.  Inner tubes are to be avoided with radial tires and the '79s had radials.  Do believe by then that wire wheel sealing technology was pretty much in place and reliable.  I run aftermarket wire wheels on my '35 Cadillac resto-mod with no tubes and no issues.

[Manon4]

Thx. These are the dayton wire wheel options and all leak around the spoke inserts. Day said tubes were fine but i dont like that idea particularly.  I think i ll just put on my set of reg steel wheels and hubcaps. 

[Glen]

Spray the inside of the rim with a good coat of Flexseal?