Inner Tubes




Classic Tyre Inner Tube

Michelin Classic Tyre Inner Tube


Car Inner Tubes


  • Most Vintage and classic cars will need inner tubes.
  • Tubeless wheels started to be prolific towards the end of the 1960s.
  • If your classic car has wire wheels, then we strongly recommend inner tubes. We will not fit any wire wheel without an inner tube.
  • Do not fit inner tubes in tyres with a lower profile than 70%.
  • Generally speaking we suggest fitting Michelin inner tubes.

To find the correct inner tube for your classic car please choose your classic tyre size from the drop-down list above; this will then tell you which inner tube you should fit.




Tubeless & Tube-Type Wheels Explained




It is worth pointing out that we strongly recommend fitting Michelin inner tubes to your classic car. We will offer Michelin in every circumstance where they are available. Where there isn't a Michelin tube that fits, we have offered the best one possible. In some sizes, there may be some alternative tubes, but please use a Michelin tube where you can – we like happy customers.


Michelin inner tubes for sale

Period Michelin Inner Tube Advert




You may find there is an option of central valve or offset valve inner tubes. This describes how the valve exits your wheel rim, through the centre of the wheel (central valve) or from the side of the well in your wheel (offset valve). The majority of European vintage and classic cars from the mid '20 will want an offset valve on their inner tube. Vintage cars with beaded edge tyres, Straight sided tyres and some American cars such as a Model A Ford stuck with central valve inner tubes. H/D denotes heavy-duty inner tubes.

Rim tapes are used on well-based wire wheels to protect the inner tube from the spoke ends in the centre of the wheel and are available in two sizes, 14" - 17" and 18" - 21"

Flaps are essentially very heavy duty rim tapes and are used solely in straight sided wheels. They fit around the tube inside the tyre and protect the inner tube from the spokes, and also stop the inner tube getting trapped between the rim and the bead of the tyre.

Vintage Car inner tube

Vintage Car Inner Tubes


The safety hump displayed in this picture shows the hump that in Longstone’s view shows that this wheel is built to be used without an inner tube.

Inner tubes were essential with all manner of tyres until the safety hump/ safety rib was developed and the tubeless wheel rim. When a tyre is 70% profile or taller it can be fitted with an inner tube. Tyres that are 65% profile or less should not run an inner tube.


Classic Car Inner Tubes


A large portion of the classic cars on the road today are fitted with wire wheels. Wire wheels were designed to be fitted with inner tubes. All the tyres that were fitted to the classic cars with wire wheels were not low profile tyres and therefore should fit inner tubes.


Radial Tyres and Inner Tubes


Inner tubes are not essential on modern radial tyres, however, there are situations in which fitting an inner tube is advantageous, providing the tyre is 70 profile or higher. If you run your radial tyres on a wheel without a safety rib, inner tubes will be an advantage, similarly, if you aren't sure about the quality of your wheel rim then an inner tube would be preferable with radial tyres.

Pirelli Inner Tube Guide

This is a letter from Pirelli explaining their position regarding inner tubes.


When to Fit Inner Tubes


  • A tubeless wheel needs an inner tube if fitted with a tube-type tyre.
  • A tubeless tyre needs an inner tube if fitted to a wheel that is built to be used with a tube.
  • Only a tubeless wheel, fitted with a tubeless tyre can be run tubeless. You need both.

Please Consider -

  • Tyres with a profile below 70% (e.g. 185/60 VR 14 Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2) should not fit inner tubes.
  • All wire wheels require inner tubes to be fitted, so do not buy <70% profile tyres if you have wire wheels fitted.

Reading Tyre Fitment Guides


When using data from our period fitment guides please note that tyre manufacturers base their fitment guide data on whether an inner tube is necessary with their own recommended tyres. Not just whether the wheel fitted to the vehicle is a tubeless wheel.

For Example, many cars from the 1970s fitted tubeless wheels, (wheels featuring a safety rib). The Michelin XAS tyres, in period, were tube-type tyres. In cases where Michelin recommends an XAS for a car, their fitment guides will say the car needs inner tubes. However, the wheel is a tubeless wheel with a safety rib and if fitted with an alternative tubeless tyre, no tube would have been needed. Therefore, for example; if the same car listed in a Pirelli fitment guide, where a tubeless CN36 tyre was recommended, the same car will be listed as tubeless.


Car Inner Tube Fitment Guide


Tyre SizeInner Tubes
125R400 16c Offset Valve
125x12 12c Offset Valve
125x15 15cb Offset Valve
125x380 15cb Offset Valve
12x45 18c reinforced Central Valve
13/14x45 18c reinforced Central Valve
130/140x40 16e Offset Valve
130x40 16e Offset Valve
135R400 16c Offset Valve
135x12 12cg Offset Valve
135x15 15cb Offset Valve
135x380 15cb Offset Valve
13x45 18c reinforced Central Valve
14/15/16x50 20h-1 Central Valve
140x40 16e Offset Valve
145/70x12 12cg Offset Valve
145R400 16e Offset Valve
145x10 offset valve tube 10
145x12 12cg Offset Valve
145x13 13cg Offset Valve
145x14 14cg Offset Valve
145x15 15e Offset Valve
145x380 15e Offset Valve
14x45 18c reinforced Central Valve
14x50 20h Central Valve
15/16x45 18c reinforced Central Valve
15/16x50 20h Central Valve
150/160x40 16f reinforced Offset Valve
150/160x40 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
150x40 16f reinforced Offset Valve
150x40 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
155/70x12 12cg Offset Valve
155R400 16e Offset Valve
155x12 12d13 Offset Valve
155x13 13d Offset Valve
155x14 14d Offset Valve
155x15 15e Offset Valve
155x380 15e Offset Valve
15x45 18c reinforced Central Valve
15x50 20h Central Valve
160x40 16e Offset Valve
165R400 16e Offset Valve
165x13 13d Offset Valve
165x14 14d Offset Valve
165x15 15e Offset Valve
165x16 16e Offset Valve
165x380 15e Offset Valve
16x45 18c reinforced Central Valve
16x50 20h Central Valve
175/70x12 12CG Offset Valve
175/70x13 13e Offset Valve
175/70x15 15e Offset Valve
175x13 13e Offset Valve
175x14 14e Offset Valve
175x16 16e Offset Valve
175R400 16f Offset Valve
17R400 16f reinforced Offset Valve
17R400 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
180x15 15e Offset Valve
185/70x13 13e Offset Valve
185/70x14 14e Offset Valve
185/70x15 15e Offset Valve
185R400 16f reinforced Offset Valve
185R400 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
185x13 13f Offset Valve
185x14 14f Offset Valve
185x15 15f Offset Valve
185x16 16f reinforced Offset Valve
185x16 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
185x380 15f Offset Valve
195/70x14 14f Offset Valve
195/70x15 15f Offset Valve
195/75x14 14f Offset Valve
205/70x13 13f Offset Valve
205/70x14 14f Offset Valve
205/70x15 15f Offset Valve
205x14 14f Offset Valve
205x15 15-17h Offset Valve
215/70x14 14h Offset Valve
215/70x15 15-17h Offset Valve
ER/70 R 15 15f Offset Valve
215/75x15 15-17h Offset Valve
225/70x14 14h Offset Valve
225/70x15 15/17H Offset Valve
225/75x14 14h Offset Valve
225/75x15 15/17H Offset Valve
235/70x15 15/17H Offset Valve
235/75x15 15/17H Offset Valve
26x2-5 21mdr Central Valve
26x3 21mdr Central Valve
27-4 Kleber Offset Valveor 19mfr Central Valve
27-4.40 Kleber Offset Valveor 19mfr Central Valve
28x3 21mdr Central Valve
300x20 21mdr Central Valve
30x3 Model T Central Valve tube
30x3 1/2 Model T Central Valve tube
31x4 815 x 105 reinforced tube
325x17 17mg Central Valve
325x20 21mdr Central Valve
32x4 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
32x4 1/2 815 x 105 reinforced tube
33x4 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
33x4 1/2 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
33x5 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
34x4 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
34x5 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
35x5 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
350x16 16c Offset Valve
350x17 17mg Central Valve
350x18 18mfr Central Valve
350x19 19mf Central Valve
350x20 21mdr Central Valve
36x4 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
36x4 1/2 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
36x5 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
36x6 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
37x5 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
38x7 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
400/425/440x15 15cb Offset Valve
400/425x15 15cb Offset Valve
400/425x17 17mg Central Valve
400/450x18 18mfr Central Valve
400/450x19 19mfr Central Valve
400x15 15cb Offset Valve
400x17 17mg Central Valve
400x18 18mfr Central Valve
400x19 19mfr Central Valve
40x8 central-valve-40x8-tube
425/440x15 15cb Offset Valve
425x15 15cb Offset Valve
425x17 17mg Central Valve
440/450x21 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valveor 440/550x20/21 Central Valve
440x10 10" Offset Valve
440x15 15cb Offset Valve
440x21 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valveor 440/550x20/21 Central Valve
450/475x16 16c Offset Valve
450/475x21 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valveor 440/550x20/21 Central Valve
450/500x17 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
450x12 12d13 Offset Valve
450x13 13d Offset Valve
450x15 Racing Tube race-tube-metal-valve-stem-450x15
450x16 16c Offset Valve
450x17 16e Offset Valve
450x18 18mfr Central Valve
450x19 kleber-1 Offset Valve
450x19 Racing Tube 450/500 x 19 race tube
450x20 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valve
450x21 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valveor 440/550x20/21 Central Valve
450/500x18 18/19CD RET Offset Valve
475/500x17 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
475/500x18 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
475/500x19 18/19 cd reinforced Offset Valveor 475/550x19/20 Central Valve
475/500x20 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valve
475/525x18 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
475x16 16c Offset Valve
475x17 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
475x18 18/19 cd reinforced Offset Valve
475x19 18/19 cd reinforced Offset Valveor 475/550x19/20 Central Valve
475x20 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valve
475x21 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valveor 440/550x20/21 Central Valve
480x10 10" Offset Valve
500/520x14 14cg Offset Valve
500/525x16 16e Offset Valve
500/525x21 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
500/550x16 16e Offset Valve
500/600x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
500/600x21 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
500x14 14cg Offset Valve
500x15 15e Offset Valve
500x15 Racing Tube 500/550 x 15 race tube
500x16 16e Offset Valve
500x17 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
500x18 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
500x19 18/19 cd reinforced Offset Valveor 475/550x19/20 Central Valve
500x19 Racing Tube 450/500 x 19 race tube
500x20 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valve
500x21 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
500x23 815 x 105 reinforced tube
500x24 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
520x10 offset-valve-tube-10
520x12 12D Offset Valve
520x13 13cg Offset Valve
520x14 14cg Offset Valve
525/550x17 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
525/550x18 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
525/550x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
525/600x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
525x13 13d Offset Valve
525x16 16e Offset Valve
525x17 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
525x18 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
525x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
525x20 20/21 cd reinforced Offset Valve
525x21 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
550/600x18 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
550/600x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
550/600x20 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
550/600x21 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
550x12 12D Offset Valve
550x13 13cg Offset Valve
550x14 14cg Offset Valve
550x15 15e Offset Valve
550x15 Racing Tube 500/550 x 15 race tube
550x16 16e Offset Valve
550x16 Racing Tube 550/650 x 16 race tube
550x17 17/18 e reinforced Offset Valve
550x18 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
550x18 Racing Tube 550/600 x 18-19 race tube
550/600x18 Racing Tube 550/600 x 18-19 race tube
550x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
550x20 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
550x21 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
560x13 13d Offset Valve
560x14 14cg Offset Valve
560x15 15e Offset Valve
575/600x16 16f reinforced Offset Valve
575/600x16 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
575x16 16f reinforced Offset Valve
575x16 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
590x13 13d Offset Valve
590x14 14d Offset Valve
590x15 15e Offset Valve
600/640x15 15f Offset Valve
600/650x17 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
600/650x18 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
600/650x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
600/650x20 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
600x15 15f Offset Valve
600x15 Racing Tube 600/650 x 15 race tube
600x16 16f reinforced Offset Valve
600x16 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
600x16 Racing Tube 550/650 x 16 race tube
600x17 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
600x18 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
600x18 Racing Tube 550/600 x 18-19 race tube
600x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
600x19 Racing Tube 550/600 x 18-19 race tube
600x20 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
600x21 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
600x22 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve inner tube
640x13 13f Offset Valve
640x15 15f Offset Valve
640/700x13 13F Offset Valve
650/700x17 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
650/700x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
650/700x20 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
650x15 15f Offset Valve
650x15 Racing Tube 600/650 x 15 race tube
650x16 16f reinforced Offset Valve
650x16 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
650x16 Racing Tube 550/650 x 16 race tube
650x17 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
650x18 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
650x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
650x20 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
670x15 15f Offset Valve
670x16 16f reinforced Offset Valve
670x16 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
695x14 14f Offset Valve
700x15 15-17h Offset Valve
700x16 16f reinforced Offset Valve
700x16 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
700x17 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
700x18 17/18 h reinforced Offset Valve
700x18 Racing Tube 650/700 x 18-19 race tube
700x19 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
700x19 Racing Tube 650/700 x 18-19 race tube
700x20 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
700x21 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
700x80 21 mdr Central Valve
710x90 central-valve-h-d-michelin-tube-710x90 reinforced
715x115 18c reinforced Central Valve
720x120 18c reinforced Central Valve
725x13 13f Offset Valve
730x130 18c reinforced Central Valve
740x140 18c reinforced Central Valve
750x13 13f Offset Valve
750x14 14f Offset Valve
750x16 16f reinforced Offset Valve
750x16 Fat valve stem 16f-tr15 Offset Valve
750x17 17/18H RET Offset Valve
750x20 19/20 h reinforced Offset Valve
750x80 21MDR Central Valve
760x15 15-17h Offset Valve
760x90 central-valve-h-d-michelin-tube-760x90 reinforced
765x105 central-valve-h-d-michelin-tube-820x120
800x15 15j Offset Valve
810x90 central-valve-h-d-michelin-tube-760x90 reinforced
815x105 815 x 105 reinforced tube
815x15 15j Offset Valve
820x120 central-valve-h-d-michelin-tube-820x120
820x15 15j Offset Valve
835x135 835 x 135 heavy duty Central Valve tube
875x105 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
880x120 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube
890x15 15/17h Offset Valve
900x16 Contact Us For More Information
935x135 880 x 120 heavy duty Central Valve tube

Classic Tyre Inner Tube FAQ


Q: Who makes the best car inner tubes?

A: There are a wide variety on inner tubes out their for the classic cars that might need them. However in our experience the Michelin Airstop range are the best car inner tubes.

Q: Do classic cars need inner tubes in their tyres?

A: All tyres before the war fitted inner tubes. All wire wheels fitted inner tubes in period. Longstone still suggest fitting inner tubes in all wire wheels. If a wheel does not have a safety rib to stop the tyres bead from slipping off the bead seat then it will be safer fitted with an inner tube.

Q: Do spoked wheels need inner tubes?

A: Wire wheels were commonplace on cars up until the 1970s and all came fitted with inner tubes. There are now wire wheels designed to be used without inner tubes, however these wheels do regularly fail and are better fitted with inner tubes.

Q: Can you fit inner tubes in low profile tyres?

A: Inner tubes can be fitted in 70% profile tyres (185/70R13 or 205/70R15 etc) but inner tubes should not be fitted in to lower profile tyres (195/65R15, 215/60R15, 205/55R16 etc should not fit inner tubes).


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