Will pushing a tubeless tire without air damage it?
2 Answers
Tubeless tires can be pushed for a short distance without air, but doing so for a long time is not advisable as it can affect the tire's lifespan or even cause direct wear and tear. Here is some knowledge about tubeless tires: 1. Introduction: Tubeless tires, also known as "low-pressure tires" or "pneumatic tires," are inflatable tires without inner tubes. They have high elasticity and wear resistance, along with good adhesion and heat dissipation properties. Tubeless tires are increasingly used in bicycles, motorcycles, cars, buses, and trucks. They have been promoted by the National Economic Commission and the National Tire Association to the logistics and transportation industry. 2. Advantages: Safety. The surface of a tubeless tire is made of high-quality rubber. After inflation, the external tension increases, creating a certain pressure on the inner surface, which enhances the self-sealing ability against punctures. If punctured, unlike ordinary tires where the air escapes instantly, tubeless tires maintain air pressure for a certain period, ensuring safety during high-speed driving.
Last time my tire went completely flat, I stubbornly pushed the car about a hundred meters to the repair shop. When the mechanic took it apart, the sidewall was worn full of cracks and the rim was all scratched up. With a tubeless tire deflated, the entire weight of the car rests on that thin layer of rubber on the sidewall. Pushing the car causes the sidewall to repeatedly fold and rub, tearing the rubber cord ply in no time. Even worse, the rim was grinding directly against the road, completely scuffing the edges of the aluminum alloy wheel. After fitting a new tire, I still had to get the wheel balanced. Those few hundred meters of pushing ended up costing me an extra 800 yuan for a new rim - totally not worth it. Now I always carry an air pump in the car, and if it's completely flat I call a tow truck. Safety comes first after all.
