Tire repair

[HGM]

Hey guys,
I've got a question since my bushhogging the neighbors briar patch....

I went out to the shop today and have a flat L/F tire. Its a typical 2wd paper thin tire. I cant see any holes though I removed a couple of small(I would say) briar spurs. To be honest I havent even added air yet to find the leak.

But my question is, do you guys just fix em as you go or have you used the slime to continuously fix it?

I remember a friend of mine always had truck tires on the front for that reason, that might be an option, but it'll look funny on my little Yanmar.. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Anyhow, as always I appreciate your input.

Greg

 

[DK35vince]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But my question is, do you guys just fix em as you go or have you used the slime to continuously fix it? )</font>

I fix tires as needed. I never use slime.
For smaller holes I have good luck using a plug.
In my opinion the problem with slime is if you have a larger hole that the slime will not seal, the tires would be difficult to repair or patch with slime in them.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue">the tires would be difficult to repair or patch with slime in them. </font>
Why would you say this? Remove the tire, clean the Slime off with water and patch it.

 

[RickB]

The following is one man's opinion.
Tire repair is by nature a disagreeable chore.
Repairing tires that some well-meaning person has impregnated with some miracle cure mixture of snake oil and snot makes it just that much worse.
Buy a higher ply rated tire, or foam fill tires to avoid flats.
Using slime-type sealants is a crapshoot at best. The upside is that it is cheap, and most folks will pay someone else to swear at it when it doesn't work.

 

[Bird]

Mike, I think what RickB is referring to is the fact that some of the products like Slime are water soluable and will wash out while others are not. And even if it is water soluable, washing it out makes an extra step; i.e., more work, for whoever fixes it. Having been in the tire business a bit, I can tell you that tire men hate to see one with any of that stuff in it, although some are worse than others. However, I've used some in lawnmower and tractor tires myself, knowing that if it ever had to be broken down and fixed, I'd be doing it myself. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[HGM]

I have used fix a flat before and have seen the horror.. I've been in the auto biz for many years and wouldnt use it on a car for the same reasons listed. Plus balance issues.

I have added the slime to a 4wheeler as the lazy way out but have never had to do a real fix. My thinking was that it wasnt as bad as the early stuff. Do you guys know if it is as nasty?

I am curious about the foam suggestion. Can you provide a little more detail?

Thanks again..

 

[Soundguy]

I agree.. the issue with slime.. is that if it is a hole that needs a plug.. ya gotta dismount the tire to clean and fix it.. vs just plugging it.

Course.. if it is a tube type tire.. gotta dismount it anyway.

Most tire stores in our city have a sign that explains that they won't work on slimed tires.. etc.

Soundguy

 

[MikePA]

Now I understand.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[normde2001]

Remove the wheel, take it to a service station, go drink a soda pop while they fix it, or drop it off, pay the $10, and get on with your life.

 

[tkcomer]

I’m one of the ones that use slime in the front tires only. With the rose bushes I have, that front tire would look like a knobby tire if I didn’t. I don’t seem to have a problem with the back tires.

 

[HGM]

Thats what brought the question. I have the resources to fix it, just wonder if its worth it.. Since most of you guys think it would make for difficult clean-up, I definatly question if it is worth it...

 

[mrcaptainbob]

I was never a believer in Slime until.....I started fixing front flats every time I mowed at the 'new' house. It was tiresome enough unspooling the hidden-in-the-grass barbed wire from the deck spindles /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif without having to repair tires every time I mowed! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gifI read a LOT of posts in the various tractor sites about Slime and finally broke down and tried it. Very pleased. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif At least on the tire category.

 

[VAChesterfield]

After reading numerous posts about the best way to handle front wheel flats and for preventing them, I took the Slime plunge. I decided the best way to deal with a very small leak in my left tire and a small stick with leak in my right tire was to Slime them both. I purchased a gallon jug from Tractor Supply for $20 and serviced both tires in less than 30 min, and I ended up with some left over that I plan to use on my lawn tractor.

2 days later, and after bush hogging a heavily rutted 2 acre field, both tires are holding their pressure. Bottom line -- I like Slime.

 

[RobJ]

Changing tires not that big of a deal. I had to swap out a tube yesterday. I got a piece of wire in the rear a month ago. One of the holes was right at the tube seam, small cheapo patches wouldn't cover enough. Bought a new tube but still wanted to fix the other as a backup. Installed the new tube and put a bigger patch over the old leaking patch. Overnight it's shes holding. Just a couple $6 tire tools to get the job done. Key to an wasy tire pull is break the beads on both sides. Get the tire in the middle of the rim where it's smaller. I use the block to hold it up on one side. It'll come right off. The new tube was $25. If I have a lot of this I may try the slime route (admit I'm not a big fan). I will not use it in my ATV. I did it once and when I changed out the tires a couple years later the rim was rusted out from the inside with the water base product.