Tires WHY do tires go FLAT every winter?

[Bob_Skurka]

I simple don't get it.

Every year the tires on my tow behind chipper go flat. Every year at least one tire of my tiller goes flat. Every year the tires on my small utility trailer go flat. They are stored in an unhead garage.

Is there some way to prevent this from happening?

 

[mathey]

actually, my sons 4 wheeler tires went flat constantly until this winters long cold snap, now they appear to be holding air just fine...go figure

have you tried the liquid tire "slime" that you squirt into the tires?...just a thought

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> I simple don't get it.

Every year the tires on my tow behind chipper go flat. Every year at least one tire of my tiller goes flat. Every year the tires on my small utility trailer go flat. They are stored in an unhead garage.

Is there some way to prevent this from happening? </font>

Bob, you forgot to put change over to winter air. I'll have Junkman explain it all to you... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BigAl]

I had the same thing happening until I started parking the equipment away from each other . Turns out they were talking to each other at night and causing me fits ! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Big Al

 

[PineRidge]

Why do tires go flat? because they can. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob most any liquid tire sealant will eliminate that annoying little problem for you. I see even Harbor Freight now carries Slime in LARGE bottles. Putting this stuff in my kids bicycle tires is what initially sold me on this stuff.

 

[yellowsocks93]

That used to happen to our iragation gun reel until we started to jack it up off the ground to release the weight off the tires. That may work for you if they are not in service year around.

 

[Junkman]

Are they flat on only the bottom or the top and bottom? If it is only the bottom, then just turn them over. It might be your just not giving them enough attention. You need to go out and talk to them. Let them know that you appreciate them and make them feel wanted. How would you feel if the "old lady" left you out in the cold? After all, you are there "old man". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rockinmywaypa]

Osmosis...the movement from a high concentration to a low concentration. works the same with information on this site.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

My wife only lets me visit this site because there is USEFUL information here that actually HELPS with the chorese around the house.

She is now beginning to wonder if I should spend time looking at **** instead of spending so much of my time on TBN. I think her logic is **** would only last a couple of minutes.

 

[RoyJackson]

Losing air pressure in cold weather is the norm. Air contracts as it cools (as does everything else except water when it freezes).
Every tire I've ever worked with (including Military aircraft tires on the ramp) loses a certain amount of pressure. As the season transitions from warmer weather to colder weather, you'll see this phenomenom. You'll probably need to adjust pressures until the temperatures are down for the season.

Just add pressure with your compressor. Another thing is to keep an eye on your valve cores. They need replacing every now and then.

 

[PineRidge]

I have never added air to my automobile, or tractor tires and they don't go flat in the winter.

Bob mentioned that his tires were going flat not losing air. There is quite a difference. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Roy & Pine . . . never a problem with the tractor or car tires, just with the little tires on small equipment like my small tiller, my small utility trailer and my tow behind chipper. They simply lose enough air in the winter that they go completely flat. From spring to fall they hold their pressure with no need for additional air, so there is no slow leak. But they simply go flat in the winter.

 

[RoyJackson]

"Bob mentioned that his tires were going flat not losing air. There is quite a difference"

Unless Bob has solid tires, he'd have to be losing air pressure for his tires to go flat.
Now, soft compound tires can develop flat spots if they set in one position for an extended period. The way around this is to pump up the pressures during times of inactivity.

As an example, I had a Porsche for years. I always stored it during the winter months. The tires were quite grippy for auto-crossing and other sporty type events. The down side of a grippy tire is they're a softer compound. If I didn't up the pressure to around 45-50 PSI, they'd get flat spots...definititely a bumpy ride for the first few hours I drove them after storage.

I've no idea of the compounds used in tractor tires although since they are also used for high traction, I'd guess they're fairly soft. Also, tractor tires are low inflation so any loss in pressure makes the loss due to cold weather worse (then an automotive tire pressurized to 30-40 PSI).

Speaking of low pressures in tractor tires...might want to increase the pressures in the front tires when you're using your FEL. I've almost rolled mine off the rims when moving a load close to the loader's capacity limit.

 

[PineRidge]

Bob for the couple of bucks that it will cost I would still throw some Slime in those puppies. What if anything could it hurt? Good Luck......

 

[RobertN]

I'll go out on a limb...

These are smaller tires with a smaller volume of air. All tires will leak some amount of air. The "rubber" compound in the tube and/or tire has some small amount of porous property to it.

The smaller tires have a smaller volume of air; as this leaks/transpires through the tube/tire, and maybe valve stem, it has a larger affect on the overall loss. Add to this that the air will condenses/contracts as it cools, lending to the low air pressure in the tire.

Second, these utility tires are generally less expensive lower quality "rubber". Most likely they have a higher percentage of air loss when compared to a higher quality tire/tube.

There is probably a spec for permeability of the rubber for different classifications/grades.

Now, the other flat, bias ply tires do not seem as supple as radials, and will develop actual flat spots that go away as the tire warms up.

 

[BigAl]

Ok ,I think i know what is going on . Rubber Worms ! If you equipment/tractors and stuff are parked on dirt floors the dang Rubber Worms are drilling up through the bottom of the tire . Be carefull using Slime in the tired as it has a tendency to make the worms drunk and that is a whole another problem .
I had a bad bout of grease worm attacks on my bearings last year.Kept eating all the grease out of the bearings and wear points . I just had to keep refilling the bearings till the little monsters had there fill and exploded from over stuffing themselves .
If you do in fact have" Rubber Worms " try to catch some . The Bass fishermen love to use them for bait and will pay big bucks ! If you do try to catch some ,make sure you have proper protection for the face and hands . They can be vicious if bothered during the mating season .
Big Al /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> Are they flat on only the bottom or the top and bottom? If it is only the bottom, then just turn them over. </font>

Is that what they mean by "tire rotation"? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Bob for the couple of bucks that it will cost I would still throw some Slime in those puppies. What if anything could it hurt? Good Luck...... )</font>

Why do you call tires "puppies" not "kitties"??????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[frank_f15]

remember , small tires have a very low voulme of air, cold will make them seem low and just a tiny little leak over months will make them go flat.

 

[PineRidge]

<font color="blue"> Why do you call tires "puppies" not "kitties"???????

</font>

Meoowww /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif