Firestone Indys with a split, inner tubes or what?

[Nads]

I've got a pair of 12.50 wide Firestone Indys that are in great shape, but one has tiny little split in the sidewall. It won't hold air.
I'm thinking I know the answer already, but is it too dangerous to run tubes inside it?

Thanks.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

Maybe a patch inside and then a tube. My guess is that the sidewalls were porous as hell anyway.

Charlie

[Nads]

I've got these 10" slotties coming for my '34 and I'd love to run these tires. They're really cool looking, probably from the '60s. A lot of cars ran them back then.
I could call the dude up at Tropical Tires, he seems to know what he's doing.

[TV]

If you booted the tire in that area, it shouldn't be a problem, I've seen it done before.--TV http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[BigDdy31]

I think the patch then tube idea wouldn't be bad. But if you're gonna be hard on'em (smoke'em off, etc.) then I would expect an early failure.

[hotrodA]

Definitely a patch or permanent repair with the tube. Otherwise the cut on the inside can/will chafe or pinch the tube. How long is the cut? In what direction? If it is radial (perpendicular to the bead)it stands a better chance of enlarging as the tire sidewall flexes. Find a retread shop that can cure in a "section" repair. We do it every day.

[Nads]

hotroda, I never thought of that, we have a Bandag retreader in town and a truck place too. Thanks for the tip.
The tear is not vertical, it follows the direction of the lettering, it's about 1/4" long and there are some threads fraying around it.
I was told by someone that holes in the sidewall render them useless.
TV, what do you mean by booting the tire?

[Bruce Lancaster]

For what it might be worth, when I was very poor I once fixed a radial with a bad sidewall cut that no responsible tire shop would have touched by putting in a row of witches hat type patches and a tube. Potentially very dangerous and against published advice on all counts, but that tire lasted til it wore out.
Old racing tires, also usable only against all responsible advice, probably must have tubes anyway because of thin sidewall construction. Free advice from the insane to the insane...