Wheelbarrow tires going flat

[Captain Dirty]

As a bicyclist I have a lot of experience with tubes. Most are made in Asia; I'll buy Taiwanese or Singaporean but not Chinese or Indian. The weight weenies seeking the lightest equipment available and who don't mind pumping their tires up every day buy tubes that are so thin they are permeable. The manufacturers were quick to learn that more tubes from the same amount of rubber equals more $$$.

You may be able to find a larger size tube that will fit your wheelbarrow tire and have a thicker wall and be less permeable when inflated.

 

[jmc]

I've had tubes added to tubeless tires on two different WBs at a tire store with good results. Maybe real tire stores have better tubes?

 

[Cougsfan]

Like Cyledude, I have used slime in small tubed tires with good success. I have had a couple of Harbor Freight hand trucks since I don't remember when. Every few years I have to put a little blast of air in the tires.
As far as the quality of rubber goes, I don't think where it is made is a sure tale sign of quality. It probably has more to do with how it is made and how much you are willing to pay. The Chinese, Indians, Taiwanese, or Americans are all capable of making quality or making crap.

 

[JasperFrank]

Why would anyone ever think they were going to change out a wheel barrel tire? Fill it with what ever goo, run flat, you want, done, forever on the life of that wheel barrel.

 

[ericm979]

Tubes can get tiny holes in them. You can dunk the inflated tube in water to find the leak.

Don't forget to check the inside of the tire and the rim for whatever caused the puncture. In my extensive experience with bicycle tires, when a tube is defective it rips open and it's real obvious what happened. Tiny holes are from punctures. The thing causing the puncture can be small and hard to find.

 

[MTGreen]

I have good luck with Slime. Some sizes you can get a tube for as well that also is helpful. Solids and the semi-solid squishy type flat free ones both have their drawbacks

 

[gstrom99]

Green (or other colors) slime works pretty good, even on the tubed tires. They make "special" stuff for tubed tires (why?). My wheel barrel tires have been good, but NOT the hand carts...

 

[bowenskye]

8 years ago, I had a kubota t1600hst mower whose tires were so cracked, you could almost see the air through them, but the treads were still good.. They would get get soft every couple of weeks. I bought a liter of slime, and put it in all 4 tires. I later sold it to my neighbor, and he says that he has never had to air up the tires.

 

[Hermio]

Why is it that small wheels with inner tubes keep going flat?

One of our wheelbarrows with a 13" wheel, with inner tube, just won't hold pressure. I've removed the tube, inflated it, and it shows no leaks. The valve does not appear to leak. But after re-assembly and inflating to 30 psi, next morning -- flat!

What's the go here?

That is why I replaced the tires with polyurethane. They will outlast the wheelbarrow.

 

[Hermio]

I'm kind of giving up on small air tires and going to solid where possible. I've done a retrofit on one wheelbarrow and getting ready to do it on another.


Side question .... Anybody using the dual wheeled ones? They look like they'd handle more load, but not corner as well.

I use the dual wheel ones for firewood, 10 cubic feet capacity. No cornering problems.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I switch to the solid rubber wheel that has the same demensions etc as the OE inner tube type. No flats.....but ....does not push as friendly as the pneumatic type tire/wheel.

Cheers,
Mike

Yeah, but I'm more friendly when I push it.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

As a bicyclist I have a lot of experience with tubes. Most are made in Asia; I'll buy Taiwanese or Singaporean but not Chinese or Indian. The weight weenies seeking the lightest equipment available and who don't mind pumping their tires up every day buy tubes that are so thin they are permeable. The manufacturers were quick to learn that more tubes from the same amount of rubber equals more $$$.

You may be able to find a larger size tube that will fit your wheelbarrow tire and have a thicker wall and be less permeable when inflated.

Have you sprayed tubes with Flex Seal ? Seems like the new rage.

 

[CaptFerd]

have lasted 10 years so far for me. Mine was an 8 inch rim.

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Tire-aid--Tire-inner-tubes-Tire-repair-Automotive-maintenance-Automotive/4294542212?refinement=4294742271

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

My dad tried and hung onto the idea of " Hey, this spray foam works great". But, all he had was a soggy wheel that leaked. I bought him a good solid one.

 

[Mudfarmer]

Pretty easy to put a little air in a wheelbarrow tire when it is getting low.

 

[jcman]

I'm kind of giving up on small air tires and going to solid where possible. I've done a retrofit on one wheelbarrow and getting ready to do it on another.


Side question .... Anybody using the dual wheeled ones? They look like they'd handle more load, but not corner as well.

I converted both my wheelbarrows to dual tires. They are a lot more stable but as you said they don't corner quite as well. You can turn them sharply if not moving forward.

 

[Tony H]

Today's rubber is garbage. Semi permeable.
I own 6 wheel barrows. Lots of projects call for 2 or three. A barrow tout dirt in, a barrow holding the plant and one with compost dirt to replace the junk I'm digging out. I bought a solid tire for one barrow. I don't care for it it is slightly thinner then the pneumatic tires and believe it or not, it doesn't float on top of the land very well. Not to mention after a wicked cold winter, it split in a few spots

 

[marhar]

Why is it that small wheels with inner tubes keep going flat?

One of our wheelbarrows with a 13" wheel, with inner tube, just won't hold pressure. I've removed the tube, inflated it, and it shows no leaks. The valve does not appear to leak. But after re-assembly and inflating to 30 psi, next morning -- flat!

What's the go here?

First check the valve stem. One can replace the inside of the valve stem if that is were the leak is. Second use slime tube. The stuff is great for wheel barrows and hand trucks. I would not use it on motor operated equipment but it has always worked for me on the small stuff. When using the slime tube overinflate and the slime tube will find the leak.

 

[marhar]

Today's rubber is garbage. Semi permeable.
I own 6 wheel barrows. Lots of projects call for 2 or three. A barrow tout dirt in, a barrow holding the plant and one with compost dirt to replace the junk I'm digging out. I bought a solid tire for one barrow. I don't care for it it is slightly thinner then the pneumatic tires and believe it or not, it doesn't float on top of the land very well. Not to mention after a wicked cold winter, it split in a few spots

That is garbage. Looking at the wheel it is evident you did not mistreat the tire.

 

[Alan46]

First check the valve stem. One can replace the inside of the valve stem if that is were the leak is. Second use slime tube. The stuff is great for wheel barrows and hand trucks. I would not use it on motor operated equipment but it has always worked for me on the small stuff. When using the slime tube overinflate and the slime tube will find the leak.

Thanks for the idea. Slime the hand truck tires!