Well I returned to collect my tyres and fortunatly I was able to speak to the only person at the tyre place that knew what he was talking about.
He clarified a few things.
He said that he had no problems/concerns fitting the tubeless tires to my rims.
He agreed that they are designed to take a tubeless tyre but they just don't have a safety bead. He said he thought safety beads started to become more common in the late 70's.
He also said that a tube should not be fitted into a tubeless tyre as the interior of tubeless tyre is often rough and damages the tube.
He explained that one of the reasons some tyre shops have a policy of not fitting tubeless to a old non safety rims is that there is OH&S issues related to the technique of seating the tyre with a sudden high pressure burst of air or the use of a bead seater. New tyres often arrive squashed out of shape in storage and a high pressure burst is needed to seat them. Apparently the safety bead helps to hold the tyre lip in a better position prior to seating.
Apparently there have been some nasty accidents even deaths relating to fitting tyres to old, rusty or poorly made rims that predate the safety bead.
Really annoying that so many people in industries like this don't have a clue. I spoke to 6 different fitters at three different tyre shops before I found someone who actually knew what he was talking about.
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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)
