DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

How did you get on with them in the end as I have tried to call them and they are never there!!

They are just up the road from me as well

I dropped them an email instead.....

This was their reply..

Paul,
Thank you for your enquiry. Regretfully, I cannot recommend any inner-tubes for your tyres.
Your tyres have a 65% profile, (145/65-15). The lowest inner-tube profile is 70%.
I can supply from stock:
135/145-70-15 Michelin tubes @£7.50 + VAT each.
185/70-15 Michelin tubes @£7.50 + VAT each.

I as I said above, I cannot recommend you fit tubes in the tyres to have, so the decision must remain yours, but I will say that is has been done many times before with satisfactory results. Should you have any further enquiries, please contact me again.
Kind regards,

Grant.
www.vintagetyres.com
Tel: 01590 612261

I have used tubeless tyres on all my early 911's equipped with 5.5's, 6's & 7R rims (all originally designed to run tubes) for the past 10 years without any problems & have used a variety of different very experienced tyre fitters including many specialising in high performance models & have never once been advised to run with tubed tyres.

A check on US forums such as Pelican, Early 911S Registry etc where many of the posters own R Gruppe/modified/uprated 911's reveals that most of them run tubeless tyres on their deep sixes & 7R rims (including track use) - using the TR415 valves that I originally posted at the top of this thread.

This is a purely personal opinion but I don't have any reservations running tubeless tyres on my cars.

Incidentally, are tubes even available in aspect ratios less than 70% ?

I must admit I have heard that most people have run the rims with just the valves and it has only been one or two times I have heard different but!! I have to say they orginaly where ment for tubes. So you just don't want anything to happen for your insurance compaines to bail out on a tec issue. I think I would be happy to run those valves as they look nice and meaty and I know others run them.

The debate continues.. I like the way Vintage tyres sit on the fence..

Its certainly a dilemma !

I am obviously concerned for safety, the car is only ever used in the summer and does shows and around the toen stuff only, so its rarely on the motorway. But it is a 1961 Beetle and doesnt have seatbelts either..

I have listened to lots of advise and read lots on here and cant really come to a conclusion.

Its clear that i can run tubeless tyres on these rims with or without tubes....its just the whole safety aspect that concerns me.....

The search goes on...

this is going to sound scary but i'll continue anyway! several people i've spoken to over the years running low profile, narrow tyres on 4.5s have resorted to the use of a 14" tube for a 135 or 145 tyre. my local tyre man has been in the business for 40 years and told me he'd seen it many times, too...

The plot thickens...