Old Balloon Tires

[TrailerRider]

Where can I find some balloon tire valve stems?

[SWIGIN]

Valve stems are valve stems as far as I know.

[TrailerRider]

Yes, but this tire does not have a inflation like normal tires, it says "Max inflation 63 IN Outside circumference". I believe that it has a 2 way rubber valve. I think that when the tire presses in some air is pushed out and when the tire goes back in air is sucked back in. This is for suspension right? I seen some on ebay yesterday but now can't find them. They were little rubber plugs NOT like normal stems.

Also it has this symbol on it (what does it mean?):


http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7391/tiresymbol.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/tiresymbol.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[TrailerRider]

So not many responses, did I stump all the forum geniuses? :wondering

[110klt]

use regular valve stems, tire gauges come with a small tit on the opposite side just for letting air out. This is what I would do, all the cicumferance measurement is for is so you don't over inflate and so your rears are even and the bike does not pull to one side.

[sblt500r]

read a post on replacing these stems in the old 6 wheeler balloon tires. you use regular valve stems. but the problem is getting them in. normal rim you pull them out from the inside, you can't do that on the balloon tires. have to push it in from the outside. forget how they did it, but you can get them in, just a pain.

suspension action comes from the balloon tire , all that extra rubber tire helps them flex to absorb impacts. no 2 way valve stems.

[jeswinehart]

Well Rich, as for myself in saying,,,, IMHO ,,, will say about those "symbols". I don't know guy,,, where do I go with this.
Could they be abstract or simply ejector pin/mold clasping pin markings, I chose the latter being molding fixture markings. They can be made to resemble anything from your aunt to something totally allian.
Ever thought about making them ?

[Vealmonkey]

Wow. The forum geniuses aren't stumped, we know the answer. LOL Firstly the 63 inch outside diameter is for your safety. At the normal pressure, if the tire has a larger outside diameter than 63 inches, the tire was technically considered trash. I also believe what you may be looking at, which is very hard to tell by your picture, could be a plug. The valve stem, was built into the rim, which was molded into the tire itself.

[TrailerRider]

So what is the method to putting a new stem into the rim from the outside?