Tire question

[kelley]

Hi All,
I recently bought a set of Michelin 9x16 XL's for my truck to replace the Firestone 9x16 NDT's. Do I need to find tubes and flaps specifically for radial tires? If so would anyone have a source? Thanks in advance for any information.

[just me]

Radial tubes. Flaps are flaps.

[rickf]

If they are radial tires you will need radial tubes because the radial tire sidewall moves substantially more than a bias tire so the tubes have to be compatible with that.

[Elwood]

I remember getting nothing but radial tubes the last time I purchased new 9.00x16 bias NDT tires.

Are bias-only tubes for highway tires still being made?

[rickf]

Probably not, unless you get the cheap Chinese junk which are probably Bias tubes and even junk for them.

[jim lee]

Just asked my tire guy about that yesterday. All tubes are radial/bias ply don't worry about it. A better tube for bias would probably be natural rubber but your never going to find one of those. And he assembled my tire with the tube I had.

-jim lee

[kelley]

Thanks for the replies, the tubes in my 5 year old NDT's have 7.50 x 16 tubes that say "Bias ply only" on them, that's why I asked.

[Kaegi]

thats good to hear all the new ones will work in radials. I have run old bias tubes in 11.00 x 16 XL radials on my own truck. I just used tons of talcum powder. no issues. Always use powder regardless of which tube. tubes can split without it. its even more important if you like to air down in the snow and ice or other offload conditions.