Tire Question

[Cycledude]

Was mowing some brush with Bush Hog type mower, knew perfectly well I was driving over stuff I shouldn’t be driving over, after the job was completed I wanted to to wash the mud off everything that’s when I noticed some fluid had leaked out and the piece of brush stuck between rim and bead. It didn’t seem to be leaking anymore but I wanted that stick removed so took a ride to local tire dealer and showed them the picture. They said they had another tire job in my area today and could also stop to fix mine, cost me $180 but I’m thankful things didn’t turn out a lot worse !

 

[hayden]

After around 16 years I started to have trouble keeping air in my front tires. I had plugged punctures a number of times over the years, and it just wasn't holding air. So I replaced them.

One thing I did differently is switch from the factory 6 ply Ag tires to 8 ply tires. They are more rugged in general, and carry the weight of a full loader bucket much better. No regrets.

 

[LouNY]

Yeah I've still got good tread, it's just that I've started picking up tire punctures that I've never had in the past... Made the mistake of having a mobile tire jobber out to repair a rear tire & got slammed with a $450 bill.... Won't make that mistake again...

Wow! I would never have thought such would be so expensive.

But their time is calculated to include to and from the shop and then the "incidentals" add up fast.

Myself I would not switch to tubes, when a tubed tire gets a leak it is much more trouble to break it down and patch the tire and likely boot the tire.
The "off road" stop leaks are very effective it does take a considerable amount but it is a once and done thing.
With many of them being able to seal a 1/4" or larger puncture it should eliminate most tire repairs.

A while back I had a reasonably priced mobile tire guy come out to dismount 2 front tires (11.2-24) and mount the new tires of the front of my Branson 8050, the good guy price because I actually help was only $200 the original quote was $200-$400 depending on how it went. Later on the rears were $400.

 

[ultrarunner]

Having 2 tractors helps… not only for backup but also a loader or hoe to move the tire needing repair around.

 

[ConawayFarms]

I usually start thinking about replacing mine when I see a lot of cracking in the sidewalls, regardless of tread depth. If you're getting flats, the rubber's probably just getting brittle with age. I'd say it's time to start shopping around for some new ones.

 

[Zork]

My B3200 is 15 years old with 850 hours, always in a heated shop, now about those tires... They are still in very good shape but I'm starting to get flats... How often do you replace tires?

When the flat starts becoming an inconvenience you can no longer tolerate. My tractor has 450 hours now, but I had two flats on the right front within no time after purchasing it. Jagged metal fence posts were just below the grasses and sliced a tread on the front and rear. Later, one of them punctured the RF tire. I removed the RF tire from the rim and installed an inner patch-plug, complimented with liquid rubber tire. This tire started giving me problems once in a while about a decade later and finally replaced both fronts due to dry rot.
Get the best ply tire you can reasonably afford, my original tires were 4(?) ply RATED and replacements were 6(?) ply but

My B3200 is 15 years old with 850 hours, always in a heated shop, now about those tires... They are still in very good shape but I'm starting to get flats... How often do you replace tires?

When the flat starts becoming an inconvenience you can no longer tolerate. My tractor has 450 hours now, but I had two flats on the right front within no time after purchasing it. Jagged metal fence posts were just below the grasses and sliced a tread on the front and rear. Later, one of them punctured the RF tire. I removed the RF tire from the rim and installed an inner patch-plug, complimented with liquid rubber tire. This tire started giving me problems once in a while about a decade later and finally replaced both fronts due to dry rot.
Get the best ply tire you can reasonably afford, my original tires were 6(?) ply RATED and my replacements were 8-ply and felt like twice the quality of the originals. I went with 8’s because I was changing them by hand and I heard anything above would typically require more tools than I had or a machine.

 

[Bentrim]

Personally I would recommend tubes or repllacing the tires. If you decide to use any of those liquid tire sealers (Slime etc) be sure you are the one that dismounts the tire and cleans up the mess, or be ready to pay someone else to clean it up. Yep learned from experience, customers bought tires full of slime, mess on tire changer, mess on floor, and rusted rims.

 

[LouNY]

Personally I would recommend tubes or repllacing the tires. If you decide to use any of those liquid tire sealers (Slime etc) be sure you are the one that dismounts the tire and cleans up the mess, or be ready to pay someone else to clean it up. Yep learned from experience, customers bought tires full of slime, mess on tire changer, mess on floor, and rusted rims.

And if you get a flat with a tubed tire you have to break it down to patch the tube and then boot the hole in the tire. I would not consider Slime but other quality sealants work good and can extend the life of a tire considerably.

 

[Bentrim]

Why not tube it and put your sealer in the tube? Save the rim and will seal small leaks. Even a small amout of water and anti freeze will seal small holes. Unless you cut a chunk out of the tire a blowout patch (boot) is not needed. Used to be a place local that would vulcanize a tire if you had a cut in it.
As for breaking down tires I can't do it anymore -- too old and decrepate -- but I do know the work involved. Try a 23.1 x 26 12 ply logger special. Changed it twice before the fellow decided to tighten the wheel properly. Also hate those little 4 and 5 inchers on lawn equipment.

 

[olenjohn]

Replace them when they are worn out or damaged beyond repair. It may be less than 2 months or even more than 20 years. Somewhere in that timeframe.