Automobile desk: Whenever we go to the showroom to buy a new car or bike, we pay full attention to the power, mileage, features and price of the engine, but rarely does anyone pay in-depth attention to the choice of tyres. You must have also noticed that some vehicles still come with traditional tube tyres, while tubeless tires are available in many models. The surprising thing is that this tire technology changes even in different variants of the same brand. In such a situation, the big question arises that on what basis do automobile companies decide which tire should be provided in which vehicle?
There is a fundamental difference in the design of both types of tyres. A separate rubber tube is inserted inside the ordinary tube tyre, in which air is filled. This tube maintains the air pressure inside the tyre. In contrast, tubeless tires have no separate inner tube. The tire's own layer holds the air. For this, the designing of the wheel rim needs to be very precise, so that air does not leak from the joint of tire and rim.
Which tire will be provided by the companies in which model, it largely depends on the design and wheel type of the wheels. Even today, spoke wheels are provided in many motorcycles. There is a risk of air leakage through the connections made on the inner side of the rim through these spokes. This is the reason why mostly tube tires are fitted in spoke wheel bikes.
In contrast, alloy wheels offer very strong and airtight sealing. This is why it is easy and practical for companies to offer tubeless tires with alloy wheels. However, after changes in technology, now some special engineering spoke wheels have also come in the market, in which tubeless tires can be installed, but their cost is slightly higher.
Whenever a vehicle's tire gets punctured during a journey, the real difference between these two technologies becomes clear. If a nail or screw enters a tubeless tyre, the air comes out very slowly, giving the driver enough time to stop the vehicle at a safe place. Conversely, a puncture in a tube tire can cause a sudden and rapid loss of air pressure. If the vehicle is moving at high speed, there is a serious risk of the vehicle losing balance due to sudden release of air.
While manufacturing vehicles, companies also give priority to the manufacturing cost and repairing expenses. The traditional tube tire setup proves to be economical in many ways. Apart from this, in small towns or remote rural areas of the country, puncture repair of tube tire is very easy and its mechanic is available everywhere. On the other hand, the beauty of tubeless tires is that small punctures can be easily repaired by inserting strips without opening the tyre.
The type of terrain in which the vehicle is to be used also plays an important role in tire selection. Vehicles or motorcycles that are designed primarily for rough, rocky and unpaved roads often have a spoke wheel and tube tire combination. At the same time, bikes, scooters and cars made for paved roads and urban traffic have now completely shifted to tubeless tyres. It is clear that the choice of tire is not limited only to the price, but it completely depends on the requirement of the vehicle, the design of the wheels and daily driving.