Are All Kubota Front Wheels/Tires Garbage, Or Is It Me?

[chim]

We had all 4 tires on the Montana tractor at work due to the environment it is operated in. As others mentioned we had a choice of 3 densities. That was about 10 years ago and no problems.

We run foamed tires on our telehandlers and when we put new tires on them it does cost more because the tire shop needs to deal with the foam. We don’t need to replace tires often. Most common reason for replacement is when someone messes up and takes a big chunk out by hitting an I beam laying on the ground. We normally have the tire shop swap both tire and rim. Runs abut $1,800 each IIRC.

 

[galstaf]

The shop I used asked what density I required... they offered 3 basic choices.

Then they drilled holes in the sidewalks which let the displaced air out as the hot foam was injected under pressure.

The tires were also Branded... Foam Filled.

I wanted to take the tires home but was advised not too as they needed to lay on their sides until the foam set...

The owner said moving or bouncing the tire with uncured foam might be lumpy or out of round.

The foam added a lot of weight too.

Ahh right. That makes some sense but it seems like someone should be able to make DIY kit. I have used a number of two part urethane type products and you can tweak and modify them to different effects.
This sort of procedure (drilling and filling the tires) would be best done at the end of a work day so they can sit overnight. It is a total ballache to take off wheels.. drive for miles and leave them and then repeat the for the pickup. Inconvenient, expensive and you lose use of your tractor!

 

[k0ua]

Tire "foam" is a misnomer. The "foam" is an elastomeric polymer. Synthetic rubber if you will, and is available in 3 density's. The reason for wanting to start with new tires is to get the maximum wear time available by having new tread, and the fact that the "foam" process is quite expensive and time consuming. There are no DIY kits that I have ever seen or heard of. Everyone that has done it says it takes some of the "cushion" out of the tire, and of course it would, it is now a solid tire depending on which of the three densities you have chosen to have put in the tire, it will be more or less squishy. Of course the highest density choice will be the least "squishy" and weigh the most. When the tread is gone on the tire, the tires must be cut off of the wheel to remove them. That in itself is not a particularly easy job, hence the idea of starting with new tires. By the way they drill holes in the tires to fill them with the polymer to let the air out as the "goo" goes in. Then the tires need to sit flat for a time to allow the polymer to cure and harden. Hence the "time" required before the tire can be returned to service.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

it is important to have some resiliency in tractor tires for rolling over rocks and such. That is what my dealer shop foreman said when I was contemplating such after several flats. He recommended against it and recommended just tubes. He said they will not mess with tires that have been Gooped because of the mess they make. I now have tubes in all 4 tires and only problem is getting nails and such. We have a tire dealer in this area that fixes flats for no charge. Big sale builder I am sure. Been buying tires from them for over 50 years. They are only west of the Rockies, Les Schawb.

Ron

 

[galstaf]

Tire "foam" is a misnomer. The "foam" is an elastomeric polymer. Synthetic rubber if you will, and is available in 3 density's. The reason for wanting to start with new tires is to get the maximum wear time available by having new tread, and the fact that the "foam" process is quite expensive and time consuming. There are no DIY kits that I have ever seen or heard of. Everyone that has done it says it takes some of the "cushion" out of the tire, and of course it would, it is now a solid tire depending on which of the three densities you have chosen to have put in the tire, it will be more or less squishy. Of course the highest density choice will be the least "squishy" and weigh the most. When the tread is gone on the tire, the tires must be cut off of the wheel to remove them. That in itself is not a particularly easy job, hence the idea of starting with new tires. By the way they drill holes in the tires to fill them with the polymer to let the air out as the "goo" goes in. Then the tires need to sit flat for a time to allow the polymer to cure and harden. Hence the "time" required before the tire can be returned to service.

I totally get it! Believe it or not I have a masters of engineering in materials science (about 30 years ago!), so I had to learn polymeric reactions ad nauseum. ;-)

I was just hoping someone had formulated a compound that would gas up without requiring elevated temperature and pressure. Seems like a huge gap in the market for someone.
I make a lot of use of a 2 part urethane coating made by a company in Texas.. it is tough as nails and sticks to almost everything and is incredibly difficult to get off a surface once cured.
The best feature is that you can add increasing amounts of water to catalyze the reaction (we are talking a few drops per half gallon) and it will accelerate the reaction to the point it gets hot and off gasses enough to create a rigid foam. More water = Bigger Volume = Less Density.

It would be perfect for this tire application if it were flexible enough... If someone made a more "rubberized" silicone product with a range of shore hardness for rigidity that you could add a foaming agent to introduce varying amounts of gas into the cured product.
Maybe I should hit up the company in Tx to see if they would formulate something....

 

[ultrarunner]

It might be costly in terms of buying just the right amount to do it yourself... too little and a botched job and too much wasted product.

When my BX rears were done about a dozen tires were lined up...

I did not do the fronts because foaming is discouraged on BX fronts to avoid axle damage.

I slimed fronts and make sure to top off air pressure before loader work.

 

[galstaf]

I guess my dreams of a "Do it one time and forget it" fix are dashed.

Trying the tube plus latex sealant combo .. lets see how that goes. Tearing down a burnt house in the next couple of weeks, so plenty of nails to test that solution.

 

[ultrarunner]

I had two issues...

Loader work maxed capacity and sidewall damage/cuts from stones...

The rear being foam Filled cured rears of flats
... did notice tires much firmer.

The slime in the fronts really cut down on soft tires from air loss

Lots of tubes in my old vehicles and air loss over time greatly reduced.

I've used slime in wheelbarrows, hand trucks, kids buggies, etc...

 

[the old grind]

Doing demo work with FEL and 23x8.50-14 front tires sounds like a 'test to destruction' scenario. Just MHO.

 

[galstaf]

It is doing a fine job so far! Leaky tires aside. It is only a single story wooden building.

There is a place called Gensco that looks highly intriguing... Repurposing decertified aircraft tires. Go from 4 ply tires to 20 ply plus!

Check it out! Has anyone used them? Any comments if you have?


Super AG Tires