Tyres - all kinds

NJBill · Mar 21, 2005

MR Because of your excellent pics of the slime situation, I have always avoided any similar magic potions.
Just a couple of points which I have found to be fairly foolproof. even though I speak from the automobile trade, they've worked.
Tires kept at 5 lbs higher than posted on the door jamb, will give you better steering control, and usually show a better wear pattern.
Another forgotten item which varies by time in different parts of the States. At the first sign of morning frost, that's October around here, add 5 lbs to each tire, they automatically loose pressure in the cold and give you a feeling of an unbalance condition. This could also happen to the PT tires.
You don't have to let the five out in the warmer days it takes care of itself.
This next item is applicable to our P T's The low pressures of 7 and 11 which Fourteen has found to be satisfactory could be the reason for many leaks, so try this.......
Make sure the tires and rims are clean and as smooth as possible, fine emery cloth if there on any lumps usually caused by using tire lube for installation. after installing the tire, inflate to maybe about 20/25 lbs and leave that way as long as you can, preferably in the sun or warm building, Then bring the pressure down to whatever pressure you have found to work for you. This should give you a well seated tire to rim. Remember. a low pressure which allows the tire to track "flat' will always give you the best traction in the mostly soft areas you usually work.

Thanks for letting me bend your ears,
Bill

MossRoad · Mar 21, 2005

Good information. Thanks. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

The reason mine was leaking like that is because I spun it off the rim while beating the living heck out of some tree roots in sand. Once the sand got in there, I limped it back to the van and used a portable mini-compressor to fill it. I went back to work for a while, but spun it off again. I brought it home, cleaned the edges a bit(admittedly, not too well) and proceeded to spin it off the rims in the back yard during heavy excavating. The last time I spun it off, I had the wires sticking out of the side walls.

My solution was to remove the tire, clean the rim thoroughly and have a tire shop install a tube before putting on a new tire.

On the subject of tires, I bought a turf tire at TSC and after having it mounted, found out it is different than the other three that I currently have on the tractor. I'll post some pictures of the differences in this thread a little later this week.

pajoube · Mar 21, 2005

I have a left rear tire that keeps losing air over a period of time. The last time I filled it with air I added an additional 10 psi and so far it has not lost any pressure. I normally run 10 PSI all around. I suspect I have a slow leak either around the stem or rim and the additional 10 PSI is causing a better seal.
PJ

MossRoad · Mar 22, 2005

If it continues to be a problem, I recommend putting a tube in it. I will do this each time I lose a tire as life goes on. I'll probably do it for the implement tires, too.

SnowRidge · Mar 22, 2005

If it continues to be a problem, I recommend putting a tube in it. I will do this each time I lose a tire as life goes on. I'll probably do it for the implement tires, too. 

I'm with Moss on this.

We're at 100% tubed on bolt-together wheels for the mowers. Any flats on the main wheels will be tubed too.

J_J · Mar 22, 2005

I am totally against tubes for several reasons. Once you commit to tubes, and run over a thorn , a piece of glass, or nail, you are stuck with pulling the tire, fixing the tube with all the labor involved. Most people can not do this in the woods. With a tubeless tire, a good seal is important. Dry rubber on a dry rim with maybe some bead sealant. If you get a flat, a good slime will usually take care of most punctures. A plug kit is a valuable asset to keep on the PT.
A small air compressor is also a handy item. Once you break the bead on a slimed tire, and reinstall it, slime is on the beads now and the tire will probably spin or come off again.

Some people play with tire pressure hoping to get maximum traction, but if you look at your tires as you let out the air, you aren't gaining a whole lot. My 1445 has 26X12X12 tires, at 21 psi, with slime. Works good for me

This is just my humble opinion

FOURTEEN · Mar 24, 2005

( Some people play with tire pressure hoping to get maximum traction )

Through serious experimentation, not play, I have determined that the correct tire pressures for the PT-425 are 11# Front and 7# Rear.
These pressures provide full contact, loaded and unloaded, without excessively flattening the sidewalls, or transferring undue shock to the wheel motors (or my butt). On flat surfaces these pressures provide a larger, softer footprint and wear the tires more evenly. While in the woods they provide better traction by forming around obstacles and maintaining fuller contact. The larger footprint is also less likely to damage the sod.