Original rims have no safety bead on the rim.......so running no tube is not recommended.
Been discussed dozens of time.......... Some care and others don’t...........No safety bead, if the tire deflates while driving the tire rolls off the rims.
Yes.....many are running modern tires on old rims....with quote ....”NO PROBLEMS”........Safety is sissies has come up prior discussions.
I got my original {1954 3100) 16" wheels from a truck that lived its entire life on the eastern side of the coastal mountains in Washington state.
Cleaned them up, stripped them, and, had them powder-coated. No leaks. [with Goodyear light-truck radials]
I have the same 1954 3100 rims on my Suburban. Those wheels were a little "rougher". The tire dealer put Cooper 16" radial truck tires on with tubes and protective "covers"/protectors where the valve stem comes through the hole in the rim. No problems after 12K miles.
If your rims are questionable, use tubes (or, use new rims).
My biggest/bigger concern about tires is how long will they last (how long should we use them)? Obviously, if the side-walls start cracking, replace the tires. My trucks do not get driven much, and they are garage-stored. My hopes are that their tires will last longer.
Radial tires seem to fail quite readily if too old, don't know exact age if too old would be, just inspect the age date when one gets tires. 10 years is probably pushing it.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires. '47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle. '54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed. '55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
When I began working on my '53 3100, I took all four of the original 16" wheels to my cousin's tire shop. He removed the old, dry rotted, tube type tires, ran a wire wheel around the bead of the wheel and mounted a set of used tubeless radial tires. These tire were only intended to allow me to roll the truck around the shop and on/off a trailer while I am working on it. My intention was to purchase some new wheels/tires when the truck is ready for the road.
Well, that's been a few years now. Three of the four have held air the entire time. The one that has a slow leak could be the tire or the rim, I've never soaped it to find out.
Recently, I acquired a fifth rim, that matches my original four, from a very nice man in Alabama. My intention now it to have all five rims blasted and powder coated and run new tubeless tires on them.
We shall see how that works out.
'53 3100 5-window '57 Mercury Monterey 2-Door Sedan Tim H
