Bicycle Mechanics - Crazy looking tire valve or no valve.

What's with this tire valve, and how is there air in the tire? Just purchased bike and noticed the fill valve is gone. Yes, this is the only hole in the rim, and I see no where to fill the tire with air. Seems to be about 25lbs. of air in tire.

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My first instinct was that someone broke off the valve when pumping it up, but since you feel some pressure, that's ruled out.

Likely this is one of those foam filled tires that get introduced as the latest and greatest every few years. You'll know for sure if you remove the tire and the tube feels like Italian sausage. If you can get it apart, you can replace the tube and be good to go, but know in advance that it's really hard removing these types of tires.

My first guess is also that it is a non-pneumatic (foam filled) tire. I have never heard many good things about those - high drag and they feel weird... maybe they'd be appropriate for very short rides like for getting around in a warehouse or something, but most consider occasional flat tire repairs to the price of riding a bicycle.

it also might be that the stem was pushed in and is stuck inside, perhaps rotated to some location in the rim away from the valve hole caused by riding with low tire pressure. But I have never seen this happen that I can recall.

Foam filled ! That would explain it. Rides pretty good for no air!

Oh my lord. Is that cardboard inside the rim?

How much did you pay for this bike, man?

Well, it appears to have SS spokes at least... or are they chromed?


know in advance that it's really hard removing these types of tires.

Depends whether you want to keep the tyre ;)

My first guess is also that it is a non-pneumatic (foam filled) tire. I have never heard many good things about those - high drag and they feel weird...

Well, there are tire inserts, and "solid" tires. The tires aren't foam filled as such, they're made out of the same foamed polyurethane throughout.
I've logged plenty of miles on such tires. On decent roads they're a non-issue entirely. On cobbles and when crossing lane markers at a shallow angle, they're a little squirrely, but nothing critical. There's a lot more shock transfer, so you get an immense rattle every time you go off a curb or so.

If you're riding on decent roads, and is used to 5+ bar pressures anyhow, the biggest issue I can think of is to figure out which tire and pressure equivalent to go for. No margin for adjustment after the purchase.

I wanted to try inserts made for sports wheel chairs, but the guys wouldn't sell me any, claiming that they were "too hard for bike use". Obviously absolutely clueless to what regular road bike pressures are.

These must be the tire inserts because the tires say 45 to 65 psi. The front tire has a tube and the rear has the insert. If I squeeze them they feel very similar. 268342

I have a crazy idea. Take a needle and poke the tire. If it deflates, then it's a pneumatic tire, and you need to replace the tube. If it doesn't deflate, then it's one of those foam filled ones.

I have a crazy idea. Take a needle and poke the tire. If it deflates, then it's a pneumatic tire, and you need to replace the tube. If it doesn't deflate, then it's one of those foam filled ones.
Sounds like fun but I need it to get to work tomorrow. If It still doesn't need air in 6 months, I guess I'll just ride it till I'm on the rim.