79 LTD 1000 rim vs. 80 LTD 1000 rim...

Does anyone know if these rims are exactly the same or are they a little different. The reason why I am asking is that I bought tires, some nice Metzler Lazers and the back tire for whatever reason won't pop on to the rim. I think it may be to do with the castings inside and was wondering if this inner lip inside the rim might have something to do with it and if the 80 didn't have this inner lip the tire most likely would work nicely.
Just a shot in the dark for any of you kz gurus out there.

the only difference is the 79 is tubetype and the 80 is tubeless the tire should go on lube it up real good it should go.

Even the 1980 is tube type. Both 1979-80 used the exact same wheel.

The 80 i just sold had to have a tube. Roy

Ma Kawasaki lists the same part number for both mags. Both are tube-type.

That's odd, my '80 LTD rear wheel has "tubeless" cast into it. And as far as I can tell, it's all original. Maybe tubeless was incorporated later in the build year?

A friends '79 1000 Shaftys wheels have "tubeless" cast in them also. His front tire kept going flat and when the tire was removed (to put a tube in), the wheel did not have the cast in bead lock "bead" in the rim. That's the first time I have seen a "tubeless" rim with out the beads on the inside of the rim.

Well it worked with the 79 rim. I know they came stock with tubes but you can run them tubeless. Several people have told me. I guess the metzlers have a stickier rubber compound and so extra pressure with the air had to be put on them because one side didn't want to pop.
I personally don't like the idea of running tubless in those rims but I will try it. I guess the whole issue of balancing would be easier and slightly less weight on a rotating mass. I know the hole is a little bigger than the new rims but it works so I will leave it at that.
I have two sets of rims and I know the earlier rims looked similar but were different.
Thanks for the feedback.

Don,
Out of curiosity I looked on my 80 rims and did not see tubless written anywhere on them. Hmmm... That makes me wonder. I thought the rims were all the same but maybe not. I also heard that those rims the aluminum was a little more porous so that they leaked air. I don't but I guess I will find out.

My understanding is the ridges in tubeless rims help hold the tire onto the rim in event of a blowout. And that running without a tube on a tube style rim without the ridges risks the tire going off the rim in a blowout or even when hitting a really hard bump.

Imo, a tube should always be fitted in a rim without the ridges.

Good Luck!

[Click on image to enhance view]

That back rim looks just like my rim which is what the problem was with the tire because one side got hitched to the inner lip and wouldn't completely seat. I hope the front rim looks the same as back rim.
Thanks for all the feedback guys. I really appreciate it.

To my understanding I was told that there were two different suppliers and one of them put tubeless in to the rims and the other didn't but they were both designed to run tubeless. The kaw shop I once took my bike to to have an innertube installed because the stem broke and they told me I should run it tubeless.
I said I already had the tube and since it came that way it should stay that way.