Mower Tires Crushed Flat for Shipment - Any Advise ????

[Gordon Gould]

Ordered a pair 13 X 5.00-6 tires for my self powered bush hog. They came crushed totally flat to minimize the air space from Asia I guess. What a different world it is now. I got them pried open and put a ratchet strap on them to try to get them into shape. They are very stiff and really want to remain in their deformed shape. I know from past experience that even with properly shaped tires it is a challenge getting them on the 6" rims and the bead seated. Has anyone dealt with these flattened tires and will air pressure actually force them into shape if I can get them seated ??? I could only find one source for this size tire which used to be quite common. They were only 5 bucks a piece which made me a little suspicious. Help if you can please. Thanks.



gg

 

[mini14]

yes, its happened to me, sometimes they wont seat. the ones that do don't stay deformed. ive had to send a few back, for the most part it looks worse then it is.

 

[ruffdog]

What the heck???? :shocked: I wonder if they even let the tires harden up before they squashed them? Note to self....spend a bit more so your tires don't look like a donut after a car ran over it.

 

[newbury]

OP - I notice your in NE Vermont. I grew up there and still own about 70 acres in Fletcher on route 108.

Have you tried a hot water bath? Down here in Mississippi almost all my tractor tires get real soft when the temp hit's 100 compared to them at 60.
/edit - bath for the tires

 

[ruffdog]

Remember to use plenty of bubble bath soap!

 

[oldnslo]

Cut a few pieces of wood to help hold them open and set them in the sun for a few hours. Like Newbury said, heat does help make them softer and yes the are a real PITA to deal with.

 

[BrkMstr]

I work in the Trailer Parts industry - although most of the trailer tires are sold as tire/wheel combo all of our tire only units look just like that, 2ply to 12ply doesn't matter, it saves space - when your dealing with container loads space is everything to them - they may look like they will never set up properly - but they do, setting them out in the sun, a few hits on the floor then using a strap or an air belt they shape / seal enough for high pressure and a little movement normally catches and they inflate - put air to them and no one will never know how they came in!!! If you do a lot of them an air / tire blaster cuts the job in half......

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks for the replies !!!! I feel much better now. I was just thinking maybe they were rejects because nobody wanted to deal with the hassle and that was why Surplus Center had them. They're in the sun and 90 degrees here, very hot for us. I will wrestle with them tomorrow with more confidence now. I miss the long gone days when they changed stuff to make it better.

gg

 

[grnspot110]

I just tube them, I've had too much trouble with small tires leaking air within a year or two if mounted tubeless anyway!

 

[newbury]

Thanks for the replies !!!! I feel much better now. I was just thinking maybe they were rejects because nobody wanted to deal with the hassle and that was why Surplus Center had them. They're in the sun and 90 degrees here, very hot for us. I will wrestle with them tomorrow with more confidence now. I miss the long gone days when they changed stuff to make it better.

gg

I don't know if I saw 90 degrees Fahrenheit more than once or twice a summer in Fletcher. Saw 40 below several times in the winter. That makes for hard tires