Tires Foam in Tires

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

I'm working in a lot of hedge, multiflora rose, and locust. As a result, I've had 3 flats in 6 months. I wasn't sure how to proceed at this point and read here on TBN hoping to find the answer. Blue (or any other color) Slime seemed to be the cheapest route, but when I took the tires to the shop, they were too busy to do it for me that day. So I looked into filling with foam. It is hard to admit how stupid I must be, but I thought foam meant styrofoam and couldn't figure how it would help.

Well, I had my tires filled with foam and tried to take photos along the way. This first one is the sick Deere

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

That picture didn't post. I'll try again

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

When I talked to the tire shop about the foam, they showed me this sample. It is just the foam taken out of a small tire.

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

Here is a view of a core cut apart.

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

Here is a sideways view of the foam

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

They had this stuff that was just waste.

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

There is a small screw in each tire. I guess you can now say my tires are all screwed up /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

I believe this is where they injected the foam

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

This is the happy Deere.

The foam added about 80 pounds per tire and cost about $90 per tire. They promised me no more flat tires (at least on the front) and I can now believe it.

I hope these pictures and discussion will help others NOT make the wrong assumption about foam that I made earlier.

jwstewar · Jun 7, 2005

Just curious, can I ask why your tire is on backwards? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

slowrev · Jun 7, 2005

Just curious, can I ask why your tire is on backwards?
//

yeah me too.

Ben

johan3400 · Jun 7, 2005

I think because little brother was not there to keep it on the correct side of the tractor. I believe the other side is backwards too. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PineRidge · Jun 7, 2005

Looks like you have already been busted by the tire police. You need to reverse your two front tires so the bar tread is correct. Think of an arrow rolling forward, although you would get real good traction like they are in reverse. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I was told that tires are foamed by injecting the chemical directly into the valve stem. The hole is drilled opposite the vale stem to let air out and enable them to pump in more chemical. Once the tire is filled with foam a screw is inserted in the tire and the tire is brought up to the normal working pressure until the foam cures. After that the screw may be left in or removed since it no longer serves a purpose. At that point the tire is a solid foam and cannot leak.

I had the 4 tires on the RFM foamed but installed Multi-Seal in the tractor tires. No flats either way.

DHennet · Jun 7, 2005

I noticed that too. Maybe he does a lot of loader worker, and needs more traction pulling out of the pile?

Wesdor · Jun 7, 2005

well, all I can say that it was a bit dark and I had been working all day.

I think I'll have to put them on correctly. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

However, I was actually trying to show people what the foam was like. I hope the other photos are helpful in demonstrating the tire fix.

hobbyfarm · Jun 8, 2005

( can I ask why your tire is on backwards? )

Maybe, its the negative /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif...wait /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif, er.. digital pho /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif...er..um yeah, why is your tire on backwards? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

KenVT · Jun 9, 2005

Just got my 1st flat last night, I was using the loader full, and maybe was travelling a little too fast, I was so distraught I couldn't sleep.. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif , couldn't wait to get on the computer and check TBN for info on foam filled tires.....And here it was.. Great pictures!!

Thanks for all the info,
Ken

RobS · Jun 9, 2005

I have heard of people intentionally reversing their front tires just for that extra bit of traction backing out of a pile. So there you have it Wesdor, tell everyone you did it specifically to be smarter than the pile /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Indydirtfarmer · Jun 9, 2005

( I have heard of people intentionally reversing their front tires just for that extra bit of traction backing out of a pile. So there you have it Wesdor, tell everyone you did it specifically to be smarter than the pile /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Not realy aplicable here, but in the same line of reasoning, most combines nowdays have the steering axle "powered" to help navigate in the mud. Just about everyone runs the steering wheels "reversed". In most cases, when a combine is "getting stuck", the best course of action is to reverse direction, and back out. The reversed steering wheels help with the change of direction.