Can Tubeless Tires Be Fitted with Inner Tubes?
3 Answers
Tubeless tires cannot be fitted with inner tubes. Below is an introduction to tubeless tires: Working principle of tubeless tires: Tubeless tires do not have inner tubes. They operate on the principle of inflation and expansion, relying on the outer tire's sealing gasket and the wheel rim's outer edge structure to contain the internal gas. The outer tire also serves the function of an inner tube. Impact of adding an inner tube to a tubeless tire: They are significantly affected by temperature. At high temperatures, the tire pressure can increase, leading to a blowout. Additionally, friction between the inner and outer tubes can occur, increasing the likelihood of a blowout. Moreover, increased tire pressure can make the tires harder, negatively impacting ride comfort, shortening the lifespan of shock absorbers, and potentially causing uneven tire wear.
I helped a friend deal with this issue last year. Tubeless tires are designed to work without inner tubes, featuring a special sealing layer on the inner wall and raised edges on the wheel rim to secure the tire bead. If you force an inner tube in there, you're asking for trouble: First, the wheel rim might not hold the inner tube securely, increasing the risk of it coming loose at high speeds and dramatically raising the chances of a blowout. Second, the inner tube rubbing inside can generate excessive heat during high-speed driving, causing the tire temperature to rise dangerously high, which can lead to bulging or cracking of the rubber. Additionally, the airtightness actually worsens—there's no way the inner tube and the tubeless tire's inner wall can fit perfectly together, so slow leaks become a common issue. Unless you're dealing with tractor-style steel rims where it might work temporarily, never try this with regular car rims. If you really want to use an inner tube, switch to the appropriate rims; otherwise, you're gambling with your life.
Having repaired tires for over a decade, I dread encountering this kind of operation the most. The raised edge on a tubeless tire rim is specifically designed to secure the tire bead, with a completely different shape compared to traditional tube-type rims. If you insist on fitting an inner tube, the rim edge will constantly rub against it, inevitably causing wear and air leaks over time. What's even more dangerous is the heat dissipation issue—with two layers of rubber pressed together, friction generates heat that makes the tire scalding hot after just a dozen kilometers, risking a blowout at any moment in summer. Tire pressure becomes uncontrollable too, as the inner tube shifts unpredictably inside, rendering tire pressure monitoring systems useless. The most alarming case I've seen was an inner tube getting dislodged on the highway, leading to instant loss of air pressure and steering control. If you truly need an inner tube, visit a tire shop and switch to a traditional rim for safety.
