Too Many Flat Tires

[Melvin Ware]

I have a 1951 Farmall M tractor running 6.50 x 16 tires on the front that are probably around 15 years old. These are 6-ply tires with tubes. The problem is, the tires are constantly going flat. My tire guy says there are lots of thorns in the tires that keep working their way inward until they puncture the tube. The thorns are probably from locust trees in a pasture I was bush hogging some years ago when the problem began. I’ve since eliminated all locust trees and need a permanent solution to keep from having so many flats. So what is my best option?

1. Install “Tire Gard” liners in existing tires?

2. Use “Slime” in existing tubes/tires? Don’t want to go tubeless since rims aren’t the best.

3. Fill existing tires with foam?

4. Install new tires and tubes - would steel belted tires be any better?

5. Any other suggestions?

 

[old]

I have a 1951 Farmall M tractor running 6.50 x 16 tires on the front that are probably around 15 years old. These are 6-ply tires with tubes. The problem is, the tires are constantly going flat. My tire guy says there are lots of thorns in the tires that keep working their way inward until they puncture the tube. The thorns are probably from locust trees in a pasture I was bush hogging some years ago when the problem began. I’ve since eliminated all locust trees and need a permanent solution to keep from having so many flats. So what is my best option?

1. Install “Tire Gard” liners in existing tires?

2. Use “Slime” in existing tubes/tires? Don’t want to go tubeless since rims aren’t the best.

3. Fill existing tires with foam?

4. Install new tires and tubes - would steel belted tires be any better?

5. Any other suggestions?

I would line the tires and also fill the tube up as per institutions with slime

 

[Duner Wi]

Any other suggestions?
What I have done is line a tire with a bias ply tire. 5:00 x15 or 16 might work. Find the most wore out motorcycle rear from m/c shop. They are happy to give them away so far. Cut the beads out with sawzall at and angle . Cut tire so now you have a liner. Taper the ends that should overlap a bit. Have fun explaining this to your tire guy. I am my own tire guy so not a problem. I learned this from someone I think in Texas. Seems they have some pokies there.

 

[farmersamm]

My thinking would be to simply replace the tires. Fifteen years is a good long run for a tire. I'd imagine the sidewalls are about shot at this point. I know I can't get 15yrs out of front tires.

 

[Jim.ME]

You have run the tires 15 years, you know they have thorns in them causing continuing issues.
Each Tire Gard liner looks like it will be about $75 plus shipping.

It's not just the condition of your rims the fact is the rims on your tractor were not designed to use tubeless tires anyway.

Slime or other sealer working in tubes is a works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't.

I would replace the tires and tubes (8ply if available). Dismount and mount are a wash if you install liners, it might even cost more to mount with liners. If the tubes have been patched it would be wise to replace them even if liners are installed. It looks to me like using liners would put you over half the price of new tires and tubes.

 

[Charlie M]

I had the same problem with one front tire from locust thorns on my H. Finally gave up and replaced the tire. Locust thorns are like nails in a tire and unlike nails almost impossible to remove completely.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

If the locust trees are gone mounting the cheapest new tire I could find would be the solution here

 

[560Dennis]

Wilson found the Town ship installed solid tires on the road ditch mowing tractors .
why aren’t having same issues with rears ?

 

[sotxbill]

I have a 1951 Farmall M tractor running 6.50 x 16 tires on the front that are probably around 15 years old. These are 6-ply tires with tubes. The problem is, the tires are constantly going flat. My tire guy says there are lots of thorns in the tires that keep working their way inward until they puncture the tube. The thorns are probably from locust trees in a pasture I was bush hogging some years ago when the problem began. I’ve since eliminated all locust trees and need a permanent solution to keep from having so many flats. So what is my best option?

1. Install “Tire Gard” liners in existing tires?

2. Use “Slime” in existing tubes/tires? Don’t want to go tubeless since rims aren’t the best.

3. Fill existing tires with foam?

4. Install new tires and tubes - would steel belted tires be any better?

5. Any other suggestions?

Call " 1 800 no flats"... gensco tire company.. they get 22 ply aircraft tires, cut the 2 inch beads down, and mount them on ag rims with a guard around the valve stem... I have used them for over 40 years now with success. The first pair finally rotted apart after 40 years of use so they are not perfect. On the our loader tractors,, when the tires starts to squish a bit, it means its out of air, so you have to stop and air them back up. This happens every couple of years. Great for us in the mesquite country.. we have them on the balers, rakes and even the discs. You can get them win the aircraft tread or where they retread them to a farm tread. https://www.genscotire.com/agriculture.html

 

[Watthour]

Cool. I never knew that was a "thing" for tire replacement.

 

[scootergmc]

Cool. I never knew that was a "thing" for tire replacement.

Nor did I. Thanks for that info.

 

[Tgrasher]

I've taken a wore out rear tube and cut liners out of it. Had the same problem with a 730 Case I bought and it had good tires on the front.

 

[J.Wondergem]

I just replaced the tires. Worked best for me.

 

[Non-farmer]

My experience with Slime is that it might work.

 

[Mule Meat]

My experience with Slime is that it might work.

 

[Non-farmer]

Last week, I ran over a piece of glass and put a hole in a rear ZTR tire. I didn't even think of sliming it for a moment. I took it off and had a tube put in it.

Luckily for me, the broken glass (which has been cleaned up thoroughly) will not continue to regrow and haunt me repeatedly

 

[MSD]

I was mowing some year old cornstalks one year with my 720. Next morning I had 2 flat front tires and lots of sharp little thorn like pieces sticking in the tires all over. I ended up putting new tubes in the rear as they started going flat also.

 

[Non-farmer]

I was mowing some year old cornstalks one year with my 720. Next morning I had 2 flat front tires and lots of sharp little thorn like pieces sticking in the tires all over. I ended up putting new tubes in the rear as they started going flat also.

The thorn-like pieces were from the cornstalks? Ouch.

 

[sotxbill]

Every now and then, I get a tractor in that has " rice " tires on the rear... Due to the extremely long/tall O lugs, these rear tires are almost immune from getting thorns close to the carcass. So I will try to swap them to one of my "ranch" tractors. One tractor had a set of kevlar forestry tires... These tires are worth $1200 or more each, and pretty much indestructible.

 

[sandcastle1]

15 years seems like a good long life for front tires, I would replace the tires and the tubes.