Tire Inner Tubes | Honda CT90 / CB350 / CB360 / CB450 / CB550 / CB750
Your vintage Honda has wire spoke wheels — and spoke wheels require inner tubes. The tubes inside your tires are decades old, and rubber deteriorates from the inside out even when the tires look fine on the surface. Old tubes develop slow leaks, brittle patches, and weak spots around the valve stem that can fail without warning. Replace them every time you change tires.
Why You Need This
Every Honda motorcycle from this era — CT90 through CB750 — uses wire spoke wheels. Unlike cast wheels, spoke wheels cannot seal air on their own because the spoke nipples penetrate the rim. That’s why inner tubes are required, and it’s why the rim strip and tube should be replaced every time you change a tire.
We carry two types:
- Standard Tubes — thinner sidewall, lighter weight, suitable for street riding
- Heavy Duty Tubes — thicker sidewall for extra puncture resistance, recommended for off-road riding on CL and SL models
All tubes are natural rubber and can be patched roadside if you get a flat.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Material | Natural rubber (Standard and Heavy Duty available) |
| Valve Stem | Threaded |
| Fits Models | CT90, CB100, CL100, SL100, CB125, CL125, SL125, CB175, CL175, SL175, CB200, CL200, CB350, CL350, SL350, CB360, CL360, CJ360, CB450, CL450, CB500T, CB500, CB550K, CB550F, CB750K, CB750F, CB750A |
| Sold As | Individual — order one per wheel |
Available Sizes
| Tube Size | Position |
|---|
| 17″ × 2.50″–2.75″ | Front / Rear (CT90) |
| 17″ × 2.75″–3.00″ | Rear (100/125 series) |
| 18″ × 2.25″–2.75″ | Front or Rear (100/125/175/200) |
| 18″ × 3.00″–3.50″ | Front or Rear (175/200/350/360/450 K0–K2) |
| 18″ × 3.25″–4.00″ | Rear (175 and up) |
| 19″ × 2.50″–2.75″ | Front (SL100) |
| 19″ × 3.00″–3.50″ | Front (CL350, SL350, CB450 K3+, CL450, CB500, CB550, CB750) |
| 21″ × 2.75″–3.00″ | Front (SL125, SL350 K2) |
Not sure which size you need? Check the Compatibility tab on this page — it shows the exact tube size for every model, front and rear.
Installation
Difficulty: Intermediate
Tools needed: Tire levers, bead breaker or mallet, baby powder, window cleaner or tire lube, air pump, valve core tool
- Break the tire bead loose from the rim using a bead breaker or mallet — work around all four sides.
- Spray window cleaner or tire lube on the bead area. Use tire levers to pry one side of the tire off the rim — start 180° from the valve stem hole.
- Pull the old tube out and remove the old rim strip. Clean any rust from inside the rim.
- Install a new rim strip — it protects the tube from the spoke nipples. Line up the valve stem hole.
- Inflate the new tube just enough to give it shape. Dust the tube and inside of the tire with baby powder to prevent sticking.
- Tuck the tube into the tire and feed the valve stem through the rim hole. Use a nut on each side of the rim to hold the stem in place.
- Work the tire bead back onto the rim using tire levers — use the very tip of the lever to avoid pinching the tube. Start 180° from the valve stem and work toward it.
- Inflate the tire and check that the bead seats evenly all the way around. Line up the balance dot on the tire with the valve stem.
If the tires are new, install the tire on the rim without the tube first to stretch it into place. Then pop one bead off, install the tube, and remount. This makes the final installation much easier and reduces the chance of pinching the tube.
Our full tire change tutorial walks through bead breaking, rim strip replacement, tube installation, baby powder technique, and proper bead seating on a CB360.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which tube size I need?
It depends on your specific model and whether it’s the front or rear wheel. Check the Compatibility tab on this page — it shows every model with the correct tube size for front and rear. If you’re unsure, check the size printed on your current tire sidewall and match the tube width range to it.
Should I get Standard or Heavy Duty tubes?
Standard tubes are fine for street riding — they’re lighter and work well for everyday use. Heavy Duty tubes have a thicker sidewall for extra puncture resistance and are recommended if you ride off-road or on rough roads. CL and SL Scrambler models that see dirt should run Heavy Duty.
Do I need to replace the rim strip too?
Yes. The rim strip protects the tube from the spoke nipples that poke through the inside of the rim. An old, cracked, or missing rim strip will chew into the new tube and cause a flat. We sell rim strips in all the same sizes.
Can I patch an old tube instead of replacing it?
You can patch a tube as a roadside repair, but tubes that are decades old should be replaced. The rubber hardens and becomes brittle with age — even if you patch one hole, the rest of the tube is just as fragile. New tubes are cheap insurance.
Can I run tubeless tires on my vintage Honda?
No. Spoke wheels cannot seal air because the spoke nipples penetrate the rim. You must run inner tubes with spoke wheels. Only cast or mag-style wheels (not used on these models) can run tubeless.
You Might Also Need
- Rim Strips — replace every time you change tires (protects tube from spoke nipples)
- Tire Lever Kit — 16.5" tire levers with outer rim bead holder tool
- Tire Tamer Tool — makes installing the tube and feeding the valve stem much easier
- Balance Bead Kit — dynamic balancing beads that go inside the tube
Last updated: March 2026
