Tyre lube

Hi David,

Yes I have had the same problem in the past, so when I fitted a new rear 350 x 20 Avon tyre earlier this year I decided to use talcum powder. Although the tyre was new and supple I was dubious on whether it would seat on the alloyrim uniformly. I needn'thave worried, the side wall position lines were equal all the way round the first time I inflated it to normal pressure. Talc is dry and inert so there shouldn't be any corrosion issues and the tyre has not crept on the rim even with-out rim cramps, so well worth a try. Regards, Richard.

Agree with Richard. Talcum powder is an excellent tyre lube and non-corrosive. It also smells rather better than tyre rubber.

One slightly oddball tyre lube for tubeless tyres is silicon sealant. Again, a great lubricant for fitting the tyre and it also helps provide an airtight seal.

Many years ago I went to my local tyre fitting garage who gave me a recipe to make my own, at the time of the pits/power stationetc we had a good hard soap "buttermilk I think it was called" in abundance that eventually went very hard. a slightly quicker cooking method than his was to wait until the wife is out, cheese grater the soap then put into the microwave for a few seconds to soften [he used the stove] whisk briskly, back into the microwave whisk again getting as much air into the mixthen placeinto a jar with lid, it stays usable for years, my latestbatch has fitted tyres for the last eight years with no corrosion problems, I have had one problem of a tyre moving and puncture with a rigid bike on a new stainless rim but I put that down to the new rim having no ribbing inside.

ps clean kitchen items before she gets back its easier than the hassle.

Previously Chris Grimmett wrote:

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

One slightly oddball tyre lube for tubeless tyres is silicon sealant. Again, a great lubricant for fitting the tyre and it also helps provide an airtight seal.

Yes indeed, just about any silicone based material will not attack rubber. A small pot of silicone grease, available from good hardware shops or any plumbers' merchant, should be part of every Norton owner's armoury.

Gordon recommends using silicone grease for tubeless tyres. I don't know why you'd not use the proper stuff for the job - 1kg tub of Schrader tyre lube for approx. £10.00.

The advantage of tyre soap is that it dries out and loses its lubricating properties. Use any non-drying lubricant on a tubed tyre and there's a danger of the tyre moving on the rim. This means the tube will tear at the valve stem, resulting in very rapid deflation followed by a crash/collision/hospital.

Or spend £10 on a decent quality tyre soap.

Simon, 'twas not me who recommended silicon grease for tubeless tyres - it was silicon sealant. I do have a huge tub of tyre fitting lubricant but I no longer use it, preferring talc (Johnson's Baby Powder to be precise).Be a bit careful of domestic soap or washing up liquid which have a high salt content.

Reading the replies makes me think of the tyre possibly slipping on the rim during heavy braking if using an aid that stays slippery. I once read of using baby shampoo, as it has no nasties to burn eyes, and therefore wouldn't corrode the rim. I use now, in my weaker age, a specific tyre lube/soap.

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

Simon, 'twas not me who recommended silicon grease for tubeless tyres - it was silicon sealant. I do have a huge tub of tyre fitting lubricant but I no longer use it, preferring talc (Johnson's Baby Powder to be precise).Be a bit careful of domestic soap or washing up liquid which have a high salt content.

Sorry, Gordon, mis-read that. I wouldn't use any lubricant which retains it's lubricating properties - talc and washing up liquid included. I wonder how many fairy liquid/silicone grease advocates can no longer comment because they're dead. As Paul states, the front tyre can move in relation to the rim when subjected to braking forces, the rear tyre will move due to acceleration forces. £10 for the proper stuff? www.allterraintyres.co.uk

P.S I think talcum powder is ok for bicycles - so if you travel at bicycle speeds you should be ok.

Ah well, that's me doomed then.Still, my bicycle speeds were good enough to get me a podium place first time out racing. One thing I have never suffered from using talc is the tyre moving on the rim. Just lucky I suppose. Unless of course it's the security bolt doing its job. Funnily enough my friendly racing cyclist doesn't use talc for his bicycle tyres. There was something of a sneer in his expression when I asked him. Ho hum.