Tires I need info on foam filled tires

DmansPadge · Apr 6, 2005

I've changed tons of tires using tire irons... trailer tires, car tires, etc. The hardest part normally is getting them to air up. Just be careful not to tear up the bead of the tire. You might use some liquid soap and water to make them slide off/on easier. Remove the valve stem core to help in airing up the tires.

stevenf · Apr 6, 2005

Dmanspadge, I don't know what happened to my answer but no there is no mistake in the 0's in either figure. There is someone that posted some charts about the weights of different compounds in tractor tires hopefully they'll chime in. I got my weights from the dealer who was filling them as even different foam has different weights.
Steve

tinytractors · Apr 7, 2005

Still haven't made the final decision about getting the tires for my L3430 done.
7x16 R-1 front $125 each and adds #125...
12..4x24 R-1 rear $445 eachand adds #356

The process has a trade name of "Synair" and gives a firm ride comparable to calcium loaded tires, but absorbs shock like an air filled tire would. The process doesn't bond to the rims so no damage there. Recapping can be done also. The dealer was recommended by several farm and heavy equipment firms in the Tidewater area of VA. The company also does flatproofing through a selfsealing urathane coating.
Used by the military.

Didn't realize the cost would be so high, but in the long run it would probably save if you have new tires. I had tube type R1's on the front of my B7200 with FEL and over the years of playing in mud, a lot of water got sucked in between my rims and the tube. Rusted out pretty good... but only noticed it when I replaced worn tires. Pulled the tube off the rim where it had "bonded" and there was daylight all arround.

Pete.

EastTexFrank · Apr 7, 2005

My record is 13 flats in one year on the front tires of one of the farm tractors, all from thorns. If those tires were new I'd have them foam filled in a minute, irrespective of cost. I must admit, that was a bad year but every time I walked through the door of the place I have them fixed the guy used to give me all kinds of good natured grief. He even thanked me for his vacation and putting his youngest son through college. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Now, I have a tube installed and whenever I have a flat, I Slime it. It's worked pretty well for the last couple of years. I use it both at the farm and at home. Slime makes different stuff for tubed and tubeless tires. I'm not sure what the difference is but maybe Henro's explanation is correct. Other makes say they work on both. It's the best solution I've come up with for preventing flats. Messing with those tractor tires is a chore.

RalphVa · Apr 7, 2005

I've only had my JD 4010 since October. Got a flat on the front about a month ago. I slimed both the fronts. You can do it for about $10 worth of Slime. The one that was flat hasn't gone down since.

I'm still waiting to see how long I go before getting one of the filled tires flat. At that point, I may be evaluating whether there's a foam dealer in the area who will come out and do it. I certainly don't want to handle those rear tires myself. There are outfits that will come out and repair and refill (with liquid) on site 7 days a week here. Might do that. Slime doesn't work on liquid-filled tires.

Ralph

DmansPadge · Apr 7, 2005

( Dmanspadge, there is no mistake in the 0's in either figure. There is someone that posted some charts about the weights of different compounds in tractor tires hopefully they'll chime in. I got my weights from the dealer who was filling them as even different foam has different weights.)

Steve... that really surprised me to see your post! I'm sure it is well worth it for you but I just can't justify it. I just can't beleive the weight it adds! Henro said that I would be amazed... he's right! I don't really want to add any weight to my machine anyway to keep it light on my lawn.

It just so happened that today a co-worker was calling around getting some prices on tires for his old tractor. I told him to ask about foam filling them just to get an idea on what the prices are running. The quote for 4 tires (Don't remember what size) was around $597. When he asked him about the foam fill he gave a round about price of... "It'll about double the price." Ouch!!

Thanks Steve

DmansPadge · Apr 7, 2005

Thanks to everyone for them input on this. I have good news to report! I took the tire off yesterday and brought it to work with me today. I aired it up and started looking for the leak. I took a bottle of soapy water and started spraying it down. I turns out, I guess I shoved some dirt in between the bead and the rim. I took the tire off... cleaned everything up and I'm now leak free! Went ahead a threw in a new valve stem for good measure. I do think I will try the slime in the future. Seems like a small price to pay to save problems down the road.

Thanks guys.

tc18ny · Apr 9, 2005

What ever happened to keeping a plug kit in your toolbox? I have added slime to my tires, but I have also plugged one or two. Takes about 2 minutes to install a plug and about $5 for the kit.
Dave

PineRidge · Apr 9, 2005

Saw on the news just the other day that some of the new Hybrid autos don't have spare tires as a weight saving measure. They do have a 12 volt air compressor and a can of liquid tire sealant in case of emergency.

DmansPadge · Apr 9, 2005

( What ever happened to keeping a plug kit in your toolbox? I have added slime to my tires, but I have also plugged one or two. Takes about 2 minutes to install a plug and about $5 for the kit.
Dave )

I do have a plug kit. I didn't have it with me, but, the tire wasn't down until the next morning. Lucky for me it was just some mud compacted in between the rim and tire bead!