Tires Foam filled tires

[Oldpath05]

I have never noticed any difference in winter vs summer with foam filled tires. Better than air filled tires under heavy load I think. Tire change: only necessary when tire are worn more than you find serviceable. Cost? Do not know today but a LOT more expensive than air! :laughing:

No difference in ride in winter............. Better when having a full bucket of dirt................ Cost of replacing a filled tire in 5-8 years, unknown.................... The first foam filling of a 7-16 AG tire, still unknown We need to nail down this unknown, nothing is more scary then the unknown.

What we all know so far and can come to some sort of consensus is, AIR is cheap, but depending on how fast one wants to fill his tire with air, the initial cost can be pricey.T prices of air can range from $20.00 to $1000.00, I'm in the 4-500.00 60 gal club.

 

[Brimfield]

I got my front tires foam filled and it is great. They ride better over rocks and no more flats hauling firewood out from the woods. I always chain up in winter with air filled of foam so no opinion on that. The foam fill is not a rock solid foam so it's a nice ride. The cost was worth it.

 

[fried1765]

No difference in ride in winter............. Better when having a full bucket of dirt................ Cost of replacing a filled tire in 5-8 years, unknown.................... The first foam filling of a 7-16 AG tire, still unknown We need to nail down this unknown, nothing is more scary then the unknown.

What we all know so far and can come to some sort of consensus is, AIR is cheap, but depending on how fast one wants to fill his tire with air, the initial cost can be pricey.T prices of air can range from $20.00 to $1000.00, I'm in the 4-500.00 60 gal club.

My pretty blue, 80 Gal 20CFM 175 psi 2 stage, pressure lubed, Quincy....lot more $ than that, and I bought it 30 years ago.

 

[Oldpath05]

My pretty blue, 80 Gal 20CFM 175 psi 2 stage, pressure lubed, Quincy....lot more $ than that, and I bought it 30 years ago.

I'm not familiar with Quincy, but you most likely have a much air compressor.

 

[Oldpath05]

I got my front tires foam filled and it is great. They ride better over rocks and no more flats hauling firewood out from the woods. I always chain up in winter with air filled of foam so no opinion on that. The foam fill is not a rock solid foam so it's a nice ride. The cost was worth it.

How much and what kind of tire? My 16" AG's with full bucket load squat down a lot, dont like that.

 

[Grumpycat]

I looked into this not too long ago, but decided against it. I was told it essentially makes a solid tire that has to be cut off the rim if the tire ever needs to be replaced.

Yeah. So? When the tire is done the tire is done.

In summer of 1978 I worked for a tire shop who sold a product called "Mitco-fil" mostly to coal mines. Was urethane but not very foam. I spent a lot of time cutting mining tires off rims. Sidewalls were often over 1" thick. Even 10" wheels cost $100 or more (in 1978 dollars) to fill.

A real foam fill would be interesting for a tractor. I suspect the quality of ride depends on how much pressure was used.

Also, scream bloody murder if they try to fill the tire on the tractor. The tire needs to be laying on its side when the foam sets so as to have a round tire.

In the dirtbike world a foam insert known as a mousse is becoming popular. $125 for a typical 4.00x18 tire. Placed in the tire then the tire is forcibly mounted on the rim.

Must consider the foam fill might wear out before the tire does. Foam flexes but eventually weakens and turns to duest.

 

[EddieWalker]

After multiple patches, commercial grade slime and more new tubes then I can remember, I foamed the front tires of my small tractor.

It's 37hp 4x4 that I mostly use for mowing.

There is no difference in how it rides.

Traction is better.

I never miss a day or any time due to a flat tire any more.

I would not own a tractor without foam in the front tires again.

my backhoe has the front tires foamed too.

 

[crashz]

I have been having a very slow leak in one of my fronts for a while (loses ~20 psi over a week). So I pumped a gallon of The Berryman's Tire Sealant into each front for the sealing effect and a little ballast. Tire guy is gonna hate me, but so far the leaker is no longer leaking. And I might have some protection from a flat on a job now.

 

[rodneyn]

You can place inner tube rubber in tires I had same issue with tires leaking air. The inner tube addressed this no more air leaks. Typically you replace front tires 2:1 ratio to rear. They wear out faster on compact tractor due short turning radius and FEL usage. Foam is a extreme measure and can reduce trade in value. If you plan to keep unit forever you can justify foam.

 

[Smokeydog]

If cost wasn’t an issue I would foam fill all my tires. No problem with the added weight or performance from my experience. Ag tires wear out much faster than R4. Don’t see as
many ag tires foamed. Cost effective for new tires so worn tires are rarely filled. Add cost of new rims when replacement is due. Down time for tire repair is offset and that can easily be justification for the initial cost. See some tire dealers selling new foam filled tires and wheels cheaper in a select few sizes than I can get my own foam filled. I only have a few of the dozens of tractor and equipment tires filled with foam.
Used to be several places within a few miles that repaired liquid ballasted tractor tires. Now 27 miles away and expensive.