mower tires - always losing air

[ravenclaw]

I have a John Deere zero turn mower that I use around my farm. It does a great job but I have problems with the front tires getting low and coming off the rim. Then I have to get the tire repair place to come out. This happens at least once every summer.

In May of this year, it happened and the tubes (inside the tires) got replaced. About a week ago, a tire was low and off the rim again. It got fixed today. The guy said the tube had a hole. This time, I used a different tire company and the guy told me that front mower tires are pretty thin and they can get little holes and get low.

Does anyone have suggestions to prevent this from happening? I have an air compressor…should I check the air and fill them up on a regular basis? I always check them before I mow but maybe I need to do it more often.

[Scarlet_Gilia]

The tire on my wheelbarrow was always losing air. I finally replaced it with a solid tire; problem solved!

It looks like solid tires are available for some zero turn mowers, so that would be my suggestion. I have no idea if they would make the mower very uncomfortable to ride, though.

[Scarlet_Gilia]

The tire on my wheelbarrow was always losing air. I finally replaced it with a solid tire; problem solved!

It looks like solid tires are available for some zero turn mowers, so that would be my suggestion. I have no idea if they would make the mower very uncomfortable to ride, though.

[Equibrit]

I had the same problem with my zero turn. I bought solid flat free tyres on ebay, which came already mounted on wheels. No difference in ride and no worry running over stuff.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro…tires&_sacat=0

(Check the size on your current tires)

[ravenclaw]

Thank you both! Solid tires sound good to me. A lot lower maintenance. I’ll look into getting a set.

[endlessclimb]

At any rate, you don’t need to call someone out to get the tire back on. Get the tire back on the rim, put a ratchet strap around it and tighten it to get the tire on the bead, then put air in. Voila. A seated tire.

I’ve always just put a can of fix a flt in the small tractor tires and it seems to work.

[ravenclaw]

@endlessclimb

At any rate, you don’t need to call someone out to get the tire back on. Get the tire back on the rim, put a ratchet strap around it and tighten it to get the tire on the bead, then put air in. Voila. A seated tire.

I’ve always just put a can of fix a flt in the small tractor tires and it seems to work.

Oh, thanks! I knew the forum would have good ideas. Between your ideas and the solid tires, maybe I won’t need the tire repair guy anymore

[Bluey]

There is this pea green product called Slime that you put in the tires thru the valve steam, then air them back up and drive it around and it seals the tiny holes from the inside.

We don’t have low tires in our zero turn, but for other small wheels that have pneumatic tires, that is what we have used.

I am surprised that your tires keep having flats, ours have never had any and we are in rough, gravelly, stoney places with them.

Maybe our zero turns come with a better grade of tires?
If so, if solid tires are too rough riding for you, maybe consider upgrading tires?

[ASB_Stars]

I am a HUGE fan of Slime. I like it in the really BIG jug. It will instantly fill a small hole- like from a nail. The stuff is truly amazing, and if you have tires with some dry rot, it would hold them together beautifully. It is NOT good if you get a big hole in a tire. Then again, not much is!

[ravenclaw]

Where can I get Slime? Does Lowe’s or Home Depot have it?

The tires on my zero turn don’t go completely flat. They just lose enough air that they come off the rim (usually on one side). My ex-husband told me that when the tire comes off the bead, the tire repair place has to “blast” it back on. If and when it happens again, I will try endlessclimb’s suggestion to put it back on. I like being able to fix things myself instead of waiting for someone to come out and paying them to do it.

[Bluey]

@ravenclaw

Where can I get Slime? Does Lowe’s or Home Depot have it?

The tires on my zero turn don’t go completely flat. They just lose enough air that they come off the rim (usually on one side). My ex-husband told me that when the tire comes off the bead, the tire repair place has to “blast” it back on. If and when it happens again, I will try endlessclimb’s suggestion to put it back on. I like being able to fix things myself instead of waiting for someone to come out and paying them to do it.

You can buy Slime or other similar ones, one is light bright pink, in any hardware store, even big box ones, your local garage, on the internet, Walmart:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Slime-Tub…iABEgIdFfD_BwE

You do have a tire stem valve pulling tool, don’t you?

You will need a real one, not the cheapies that come with some of those products.

[Bluey]

Here is how to remove the stem with a valve tire tool and what that little silver thingamajig looks like:

https://www.familyhandyman.com/proje…re-valve-stem/

[endlessclimb]

@ravenclaw

Where can I get Slime? Does Lowe’s or Home Depot have it?

The tires on my zero turn don’t go completely flat. They just lose enough air that they come off the rim (usually on one side). My ex-husband told me that when the tire comes off the bead, the tire repair place has to “blast” it back on. If and when it happens again, I will try endlessclimb’s suggestion to put it back on. I like being able to fix things myself instead of waiting for someone to come out and paying them to do it.

He’s describing the scary way to do it. You use a little aerosol starting fluid, spray some inside the tire and use a lighter. The rapidly expanding air from the heat of the flame will reseat the tire.

It will also remove all your arm hair if you sprayed a little extra.

I just use the ratchet strap, haha.

[Zu_Zu]

@endlessclimb

At any rate, you don’t need to call someone out to get the tire back on. Get the tire back on the rim, put a ratchet strap around it and tighten it to get the tire on the bead, then put air in. Voila. A seated tire.

I’ve always just put a can of fix a flt in the small tractor tires and it seems to work.

[B]^ This !!! before you go crazy …

• Slime … get a couple of the larger bottles !!!

yes keep an eye on … check with gage … fill before it becomes an issue ~

GOOD LUCK ~ you’re on the right road now ![/B]

[ASB_Stars]

@Bluey

You can buy Slime or other similar ones, one is light bright pink, in any hardware store, even big box ones, your local garage, on the internet, Walmart:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Slime-Tub…iABEgIdFfD_BwE

You do have a tire stem valve pulling tool, don’t you?

You will need a real one, not the cheapies that come with some of those products.

I’ve been using the valve stem tool that comes with the Slime for over 20 years. Works fine. Just remember righty tighty, lefty loosey, and you’ll do fine.

[ravenclaw]

Thanks everyone!! I really appreciate all the ideas and encouragement. Sounds like all of you have a lot of experience with this and now (like Zu Zu said) I’m on the right road.