Tires Foamed fill tires?? Are they worth it ?

[BigAl]

I hear a lot about foam filling tires . I assume this is to lessen the risk of Flats and not a ballast issue .Is the tire ruined after foam filling where it needs to be removed off the rim ,should it ever have to be removed for any reason ? I assume this makes for a much rougher ride since any air cushion has been removed ? Is there a "do it yourself kit" or is this something only a tire shop can do ?
I would like to try this on my old wheel barrow tire that likes to go flat whenever I go to use it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. We have "Air Worms" who constantly get in my wheel barror tire and eat the air out ! Unless I use that wheelbarrow 24/7 those little buggers crawl and eat there way into my tire ! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Does anyone have there tractor tires done this way and how do you like it ?
Thanks Big Al

 

[jjcc246]

I had all 4 tires of a riding lawnmower filled with foam. Awesome, just awesome. No more flats and the weight helped on hills and such. I also had the front tires of a Ford 1320 tractor foamed. Again awesome. Again no flats, little stiffer ride but 99% of the time your on dirt so that doesn't matter and added a little weight (about 45lbs per side) which helped for traction. The only down side is that on very muddy roads because of the skinnyness of the front tires and the weight they do create a rut, but not very bad. I have my garden trailer done now (which got a million or more flats a year) and no more problems. As far as taken the tire off, I believe they do have to be cut off, but the only reason you would take it off would be if the tire was bald and at that point who cares? Recommended, Highly. I will have my tractor tires (at least the front) done right after the first flat.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Every single hardware, big box, etc store Ive been in for the past few months seems to have a display of foam filled wheel barrel tire/wheels @ $30-$40. Maybe a quick solution to that prob for you.
Cheers!

 

[Darren]

I run the heavy weight foam in my L3710 tires. On the highway you'll notice a difference in the ride. It's not particularly bad. I did it as much for the ballast as for the ability to run over anything without getting a flat. The foam added another 600 to 800 lbs. to the rear.

 

[PineRidge]

Used to get flat tires on the finish mower all the time . Then I had all 4 tires foam filled and that was the end of the flat tire problem, period. A professional tire repair shop charged me 12 bucks apiece if my memory serves me correctly, worth ever penny IMHO.

The 40D tires are filled with Multi-Seal, no flats there either. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[stevenf]

Bigal, I had my m9000 tires filled from day 1, our ranch is in the Texas hill country and I haven't regreted it for a second. I abuse my tires every week working on the ranch and the tires are almost as tall as me I can't imagine having to try to change one singlehanded so it just made sense to me. I checked into the tire companies before I did it and the best price for them to come to me and fix it was $200. I figured I'd have at least a flat every other month $1200 per year to repair. The cost to solid foam fill them was $2900. so I figure about half way thru my third year I'll be saving money and it added a lot of weight/stability to my machine as a bonus.
Steve

 

[EastTexFrank]

My record for flats was 13 in one year. Luckily only one was in a rear tire. Those honey locust thorns will get you every time. When it comes time to replace the tires, I'll probably get them foamed. In the meantime, I have the tires tubed and fill them with "Slime". It has worked pretty well for me.

There is nothing I hate worse than wrestling with a flat tractor tire. Our local tire places won't come out and fix them on location anymore because of insurance reasons, or so they say. Just one battle removing, transporting and reinstalling a flat rear tire will convince you that foam is a worthwhile investment. It's not cheap but it's a lot less expensive than a chiropractor to fix your back.

I'll also share some words of widom from a guy I know who does commercial pasture mowing: "The 2 greatest innovations in tractors in the last 20 years have been air conditioned cabs and foam filled tires". Now that be the subject of a new thread.

 

[gav64]

When I bought my skidsteer (used) it came with foam filling, I ran those tires down to the foam it was amazing, when the casing shredded the foam finally came out, boy those tires were heavy. Since the skidsteer now has an easy life i opted not to have the foam filling but have had three flats that i would not have had to deal with, in most situations i think it is worth the money, try jacking up the rear of a skidsteer or large tractor in the woods, safely, and carting the tire out to your dealer cause his service truck cant get in there. sounds like i have been there, some people are slow learners. My tire guy says that you can cap a foam filled tire on the rim if you can wait a week.

 

[BigAl]

Thanks for all the replys ! I am going to have to try it out . I had no idea that they would add the weight they do .
BigAl

 

[daTeacha]

All the Amish folks around here who belong to orders that allow tractors have to have theirs filled with foam. There is something in their religion about riding on air, but I'm not sure what. Fluid filling is more common here among the English, but that doesn't do anything for flat resistance.

Either way, make sure you have good springs in your seat if you fill the tires. Constant jouncing while sitting is hard on your back over time.