cracked rusted tires

[maxamillion125]

I'm buying a Ford 1710 tractor and both back tires need to be replaced. The tractor only has 500 hrs on it and the tires have plenty of tred left but the sidewalls are starting to crack and there is a good amount of rust in and around the valve stem which also is leaking. Do I need to replace both tires or is it possible to throw a tube in there and replace the valve stem? I'm not sure what new tires would cost but I'm sure its more affordable to put a tube in there if it will hold.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Tubes work fine if the rim is not rusted to much so that it will cut the tube, I have seen cracked tires run for years, many years and do just fine.

 

[maxamillion125]

Thats what I was hoping to hear, thanks Ed!

 

[Egon]

Depending on the crack location and size is it possible to weld the crack and clean up the rust with a wire brush?

Smoothing out areas could be done with fiberglass?

 

[Walkin Horse]

On my backhoe it looks like the original tires. I knocked a valve stem off and had to have a tube put in. When we got the tire off it had several patches inside the tire sidewall. The man said these were boots. It is keeping the tube from bulging like a hernia.

 

[maxamillion125]

Has anyone tried filling the cracks with Permatex RTV black silicone?

 

[Gary Fowler]

I don't think filling the cracks would help prolong the life of the tire. If it is just outside cracking, I would remove the CaCL (likely what is in it which is causing the rusting of the rim) rinse really well to remove any residue, buff out or grind out all the rust, patch if necessary, repaint then put in a tube and refill with non-corrosive ballast.

 

[maxamillion125]

I don't think filling the cracks would help prolong the life of the tire. If it is just outside cracking, I would remove the CaCL (likely what is in it which is causing the rusting of the rim) rinse really well to remove any residue, buff out or grind out all the rust, patch if necessary, repaint then put in a tube and refill with non-corrosive ballast.

I was thinking the silicone would protect the tube from getting pinched in the cracks? Great info though, thanks.

 

[Kernopelli]

I had a similar problem, I eventually had to replace the tires but I went yrs. with weather cracked tires. The rims started rusting around the stem hole and I cleaned the rust off and used my wire welder to build the area around the valve stem holes back up. Redrilled the holes, ground it smooth, repainted and put tubes in......rims have been fine since.

 

[GManBart]

First off, welcome to TBN!

You can normally run cracked/checked tractor tires for years before they get bad enough to replace....seriously, they can look ugly, and still work fine.

I actually used to live in Great Falls (left there in 1996)....I really miss Montana! I can't even count all the "quick trips" I took out to Belt Creek to get in some fly fishing before it got dark....good times.