Tire Repair? Replace?

[Anonymous-0]

I have a flat on a rear 20.8x38 tractor tire. I found a cut about 3 inches long at the base of where the cleat begins on the side wall. Our local repair man said that repairing it probably would not last and I needed a new tire. The tire is in good condition other than the cut. I sure hate to spend $1000 plus on a new tire but may not have a choice. Do any of you have any experience with putting a boot or liner patch on a tire this size? Thanks for your input.

 

[kyhayman]

I'd sure try a boot, maybe even two boots over the hole. I had a half dozen put in 20.8x38's over the years; and 40's/42's. Anything to keep from shelling out that kind of money. A thousand bucks? is it a radial? I got a Alliant brand last rear I had to buy. It was a 34 but cost 313 tire, tube, and service call. Seems to be a good tire, real heavy made. Almost too heavy to get it to seal the bead.

 

[Randy S]

Id boot it for sure, wont hurt to try. Put in a extra large boot and get some pan head bolts(i think thats what theyre called, the ones with the round smooth heads) drill all round the cut(not too close to the cut mind you) and put the smooth head on the inside and the nuts on the outside with some good size washers, snug up and grind the excess bolt down to the nut. Then put another boot of a little smaller size over the bolts and off you go. Ive seen skidder tires done this way for years and they seem to last, and these tires take a beating in the woods pulling logs.

Just my 2 cents worth.
good luck
Randy

 

[rrlund]

That's all fine and dandy if you want to be riding on pins and needles waiting for it to blow out. With a tire that size,I'm assuming you're sitting on at least 15000 puonds and 150 hp. That's a lot of strain on a tear and a boot. I wouldn't throw my money away on 2 service calls.

 

[Walt Davies]

A lot of tire shops have used tires I got two for my Cockshutt for $301 mounted. I would sure look into that before putting a brand new one on.
Walt

 

[kyhayman]

Thats true, there is some risk to a blow out though since 1982 I've never had a boot failure on rear tire a tire failure. I usually have them put a small one, then a large one over it. I honestly dont know how many I've got on the place right now, 3 in the 7610 low profile on the right side, and 2 on the left 3 on the right on the 7710 with the cab. Cant count how many are in the two 7600 Fords, but I do know that the one without fluid doesnt have any in the left side since its got the new Alliant tire. When I was mowing interstates and road sides some times I had two/three service calls a day but never for a boot failure.

As to size, 38's is the biggest Ive got now but the are in Ford 7610 and a Ford 7710 with cabs. Came on them out of Canada. Biggest tractors I've ever had were 108 hp Cases, had 40's and 42's on them respectively.

 

[T_Bone]

If it was mine it sure would have a boot in it.

The odds of getting hurt from a low pressure blowout is pretty slim to none.

T_Bone

 

[RayP(MI)]

Had a nasty sidewall gash in a tractor tire, threads were showing. Took it to a tire dealer that specializes in truck tire repairs. They put a boot inside and vulcanized the outside. After about 4 years, the patch is visible, but at first I had to look real close to even find where they patched it! It has held up fine. Charged me $68 - money well spent!

 

[Iowa_tire_guy]

The question is whether it is a cut or a break. Did it come from the inside or the outside. I ask that because where you say it is,that is where a tire will break down because the torque is transfered to the lug there. That is a tough place to hold a boot because it flexes there every time around but I would boot it if you wanted to and not really worry about the repair holding. But if it is a break from the inside then the tire is breaking down and in time another place will break also. At some point you will be spending far too much for an old tire that is breaking down. If it is a cut then the tire isn't breaking down and probably will hold. Also $1000 seems plenty even for a radial mounted, but haven't priced that size for a while.

 

[Leland]

find someone that is able to section the tire cheap fix compared to a new tire ,www.tiretown.com has several tires they have repaired and the do sell cheap .