BWA 5X10 wheels and inner tubes?

[CooperTune]

Had a very nice 72 Inno MK 3 Cooper arrive at shop yesterday. First set of BWA wheels I have seen up close. I noticed all four have inner tubes fitted. One tire being low and having a small nail in the tread I pulled it and took to the tire and wheel shop. Plan was to remove the tire and tube patch the tire on the inside and remount. The tire guy feels the way the wheel is machined it will not take a tubeless valve core. After picking it back up, it's clear the inside of the rim and the seating areas are very rough. I'm now wondering if you have to run tubes by design of valve core hole or the tires were not seating or leaking though the wheel. I can glass bead the inner surface and coat but the seat roughness will still be a problem. While I have always though they are neat looking wheels they appear to be very cheaply cast. I have never run tubes and these are radial tires. The owner claims he never drives over 50. We may be looking to buy some more wheels. Otherwise one of the nicest Innos I have seen. Strange color. Thanks Steve (CTR)

[rich@minispares.com]

years ago I had a bwa wheel pull through its nuts and make good its escape down the road

I don't know who was more surprised, me to the bloke coming the other way

[ivor badger 2]

years ago I had a bwa wheel pull through its nuts and make good its escape down the road

I don't know who was more surprised, me to the bloke coming the other way

Only one, you should have tried 4" cosmics

[minitravellerman]

I've a set of BWA 5x10s on my rally Mini and running tubeless no problem. Incidentially I did do the "Join The Mini Legends" on them including some pretty rough stages and autotests without any problems.

I do replace them with steels for the harder single venue autotest events to prevent any damage.

[CooperTune]

Thank you, maybe I will give them a try tubeless. As it turns out there was a box of tubes in my care package this morning. Seemed strange to open a box and see 5.20-145 10 printed on a tube. To many lawyers when they will install a new tube but will not patch a tube at tire shop. Steve (CTR)