Since P220 DTS-Fi came in to the market back in 2007, it brought a new trend of technology with it and with the launch of Yamaha R15 in 2008 this trend became a need.
We are talking about the Tubeless tire.
All most all 150cc+ bike at present, namely,
- Hero Honda Hunk / ZMR (18″ platform)
- Honda Dazzler (17″ platform) / CBR 250R (17″ platform)
- Bajaj Pulsar range -> P180 UG4 / P200 / P220 DTS-i / P220 DTS-Fi (17″ platform) / 200 NS
- TVS Apache RTR 180
- Yamaha R15 / FZ-16 / FZ-S / Fazer (17″ platform)
- KTM Duke 200 / 125
comes with Tubeless tire as their default configuration.
This is a new technology in Indian road upgrading from tube type tyre where in case of puncture most of us have enough idea about when to change the tube or tire. But what about tubeless tire ?
How many puncture can a tubeless tire endure / take ?
Its a tricky question !!! As even we, our self (here @ NexGenBike.com) was searching for an answer as Internet seems to be unable to satisfy us with the question as do we need to change a tubeless tire after a certain number of puncture ?
The best place to learn about your bike is its owners manual.
Hence as first step we looked in to the manuals of all the bikes which uses Tubeless tires. All of the above mentioned bike’s (apart from one) manual state no specific instruction on the fact about change of tyre in case of puncture.
Only Hero Honda Karizma ZMR manual has a specific information (Page 28).
It seemed pretty odd to us, as apart from HH no other bike maker is suggesting this expensive recommendation in which a tubeless tire needs replacement in case of puncture. Repairing wont suffice !!
It is a contradictory fact compare to Honda / Yamaha / Bajaj or TVS, hence for testing purpose we took one Yamaha R15 (MRF Zapper) with stock tire (3000kms old) and started to put nails in to it for testing purpose to see as how many puncture (after repair off course) can it endure ?
We went on to put as many as 25/30 punctures from every different angle possible to find out as in what makes the tire unstable enough to replace ?
What we found out is pretty interesting. Its not the number which matters (if repair is done properly), rather its the nature and place of the puncture which matters. We were able to ride fine with multiple punctures without any air loss of much of a stability problem but a single puncture as side ways disrupted the balance greatly.
So when do you need to replace the tire ?
- If you are having puncture side way in the RIM wall, well its time to replace the tire.
- Normally its safe to assume that in city commute riding (60-80kms a day), 2 puncture a month can happen. Meaning around 25 punctures till one year or around 15000 to 20000 kms of the bike. Well in this case you are ready in stage of the age of the tire to replace.
Ur article is great but u made a spell mistake bro …..
sorry to say ……
(NexGenBike.som)
Thnx a lot for the advise.. I have corrected the said mistake..
Man this is the best website regarding bike maintainence I’ve ever visited. On every other site, they never give such details about tires. They just recommend the things that manufacturer already has recommended so of no use. You guys checked this out by making punctures in tire by yourself. This was indeed a wonderful article…I gotta say ‘you guys rock’.
Hello Sir,
Thanks for your comment
..
I am using a P200 with tubeless for last 2yrs, clocked in 35K and still running stong on the original set of tubeless tyres with 15+ punctures.
My bike tyre [TVS tyre] is 2.6 years old, my rear tubless tyre is getting punture often. After the tyre is repaired [there is no leakage of air] the air pressure is not withstanding for more than 3 to 4 dats. I have done more than 5 punture repairs for my bike. Does anyone has any solutions. Changing tyre is the only option? How much an original tublesstyre costs?
The MRF Zapper Vyde (120/80-17″) is priced around Rs. 2600/- (incl fitting charge)..
I am having an Avenger 220. it comes with the tyre with a tube. I want to replace it with Tubeless tyre. Can anyone suggest me which co. makes the tubeless tyre for Avenger?
Hello Amit..
Unfortunately you can’t make your avenger tire tubeless as the present company given default “spoke” wheel rims will not support tubeless.. Incase of tubeless tire, more than tire, what matters are the RIM, which needs to be alloy but Avenger dont come with them..
To make your tire tubeless, you first have to buy some aftermarket alloy wheel RIM for your bike
Thanks.