Stem confusion

QHow do I know if my Austin 1300 has inner tubes fitted?

Gail Jardine, Bromyard

Nigel says:

ALook at each valve stem. One which is bulbed where it meets the wheel rim is a tubeless type. It snaps into position in the rim and forms a seal.

The tyre has soft rubber around its beads, so the tyre, valve and wheel form an airtight unit. Straight stems which pass right through the hole in the rim belong to inner tubes. Some tyres (labelled ‘tube type’) have no soft beading; some wheels – including wire wheels – are unsuitable for tubeless use (consult your manual) but in many cases an inner tube is installed simply as a crude method of preventing air loss, for example where the rim cannot seal against the tyre due to corrosion.