Fitting 2 innertubes in each tyre

**Bill Holland** · #1 20 Aug 2005

This may sound like a stupid question, but has anyone ever fitted 2 innertubes into a tyre? Drilling a second valve-hole in the rim oposite the first one to balance the weight.
Why? well, the chances are if you got a puncture, your tyre would only go half flat, and if you could remove the cause of the puncture, you could inflate the other up from half to full pressure without removing the wheel.
Perhaps the innertubes would rub together and create heat.
Any thoughts?

**Julio** · #2 20 Aug 2005

Hi Bill

I have heared of this being done as an emergency measure when you cannot get the right size tube.

My friend used two moped inner tubes in Africa when he used his last innertube up until he could get one of the correct size.

I would imagine that the are many problems with using this as a long term solution.

Julio

**Ian** · #3 25 Aug 2005

I wouldn't fit 2 tubes in one tyre.

In any case punctures are something that are unavoidable. A big enough nail is going to deflate a tyre. IMHO better to learn and practice fixing them.

FWIW I've just fitted Michelin Ultra Heavy Duty tubes - around 4mm thick.

**RichLees** · #4 26 Aug 2005

if the nail that punctures the first tube is still there, it will also puncture the second, won't it?
if pump them up properly and use rimlocks, you can bend the rim without puncturing heavy duty tubes. I generally prefer 25+psi and don't change it for the road/sand/mud. well, occasionally 30+psi in the front on really rocky stuff

**Mike Stone** · #5 26 Aug 2005

As Ian said, I use the heavy duty tubes like the Kenda or Moose tubes. Very rare to get a flat with those thick tubes.

**Sime66** · #6 26 Aug 2005

I've just used the following combination for 20,000 African kilometres with NO punctures.

Mich. Desert tyres (two sets)(front and rear - front not great on tarmac)

Bridgestone heavy duty tubes (one set)

Ultraseal (squirty stuff inside tubes).

-Simon

**adventure950** · #7 26 Aug 2005

Hi, similar to everyone else I use Michelin heavy duty tubes in my tyres but I also fited the old tube cut as aliner around the inside of the tyre for a bit extra protection. with this set up I covered several hundred miles on terrible potholed roads and gravel roads in Russia thankfully I never got a puncture.I did have to pull several Barbs from the tyres on one part of the journey and these had not penetrated the inner tube. Beware slime fillers these can prevent you repairing a puncture if you get one.