Foam filled front tires?

[TmbrWlkr]

I am soon to take possession of a new Kioti DK5010. My property has lots of Hawthorne trees, which in the past have punctured the front tires of my Kubota l3400. I plan to wage war on these obnoxious trees with a Titan tree puller.
My question is - thoughts on filling the front tires with foam ( has worked well for me with skid steers on demo sites).

Benefits I can see are puncture proof and possibly increased loader capacity. Downsides are cost, and when they wear out you need to buy new rims.

Am I missing something?

 

[Doughknob]

My bobcat owner's manual says not fill front tires with anything and not to fill rears with foam. Kioti is the same tractor. Check manual for warranty issues.

 

[IndyJay]

This is what I am running on my DK4510 (I have Locust trees).
I use the regular kind in my front tires, the "ballast" version for my rear tires.

Liquitube - LiquiTube Tire Sealant

LiQuiTube offers total tire protection with a simple, one time application. It repairs punctures in the tread area of industrial tires.

liquitube.com

 

[TmbrWlkr]

My bobcat owner's manual says not fill front tires with anything and not to fill rears with foam. Kioti is the same tractor. Check manual for warranty issues.

Thanks - will check on that. I know that it increases the wheel weight substantially - maybe that’s the issue.

 

[4570Man]

They’re going to ride quite a bit harder and the hard ride could negatively affect the front axel.

 

[IndyJay]

Thanks - will check on that. I know that it increases the wheel weight substantially - maybe that’s the issue.

The regular Liquitube isn't a fill, it is like Slime but I believe is a better formula. I used Slime in my old tractor, originally wasn't going to add ballast to rears on my new tractor because of the issue with the Locust thorns, thinking you couldn't use sealant with ballast. I stumbled across Liquitube and felt that was a good solution. They have a version for both ballast and non-ballast. For my DK4510 it took 1 gallon of the Premium Sealant for front (1/2 gal each tire), 10 gallons of Ballast Seal for rear (5 gal each tire). I used RV antifreeze for ballast; non-toxic, less messy.

 

[Mrsig]

I keep running over stuff clearing a section of my land and after my 3rd plug I went to slime.
I have been running Slime in my front tires for a wile now and I have not had to plug my front tires ever since.

 

[Henro]

I have been running foam filled tires (on the front) happily for 19 years and 1800+ hours on my B2910 Kubota. Fair amount of loader work during that time. And 18 years on the front of my smaller BX2200.

Would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have foam in the front tires of my tractor and my backhoe. I went from using slime, which is great for awhile, but eventually breaks down and ruins the tire for a patch, so I went to tubes, which where OK, but I still got flats fairly often.

I'm on my second set of tires for the tractor. The foam causes them to wear out faster. These are R1's and that might contribute to it. My backhoe is 2wd and the tires are smoother. There is no wear on the backhoe tires. The cleats crack and start to fall apart afte7 years of use. They used the same rims when they foamed the new tires.

The foam makes the tires super heave. I think this increases traction on my tractor. the backhoe doesn't matter since it's 2wd.

The ride is the same in my opinion.

The weight of the foamed tire is on the ground, and the weight of the tractor is on the tire, so there is no additional weight to the tractor, unless you count the effort to make them roll, which is insignificant in my opinion.

I have not lost a day to a front tire going flat since foaming them. Before, it could be as often as twice a month. I've had a few flats in my rear tires over the last 15 years, but they are both still the original tires and I'm guessing I've only had half a dozen flats on both tractors rear tires combined.

 

[TmbrWlkr]

I have foam in the front tires of my tractor and my backhoe. I went from using slime, which is great for awhile, but eventually breaks down and ruins the tire for a patch, so I went to tubes, which where OK, but I still got flats fairly often.

I'm on my second set of tires for the tractor. The foam causes them to wear out faster. These are R1's and that might contribute to it. My backhoe is 2wd and the tires are smoother. There is no wear on the backhoe tires. The cleats crack and start to fall apart afte7 years of use. They used the same rims when they foamed the new tires.

The foam makes the tires super heave. I think this increases traction on my tractor. the backhoe doesn't matter since it's 2wd.

The ride is the same in my opinion.

The weight of the foamed tire is on the ground, and the weight of the tractor is on the tire, so there is no additional weight to the tractor, unless you count the effort to make them roll, which is insignificant in my opinion.

I have not lost a day to a front tire going flat since foaming them. Before, it could be as often as twice a month. I've had a few flats in my rear tires over the last 15 years, but they are both still the original tires and I'm guessing I've only had half a dozen flats on both tractors rear tires combined.

What is the % mix of pavement/dirt that you are running your tractor on - and what implements are you using?

 

[EddieWalker]

100% is off road. Dirt, grass and brush. I have Black Locust trees and their thorns are brutal, but I also bush hog small trees and their spikey little stumps probably cause most of my flat tires.

I mostly use the tractor for mowing. It has an auger on it right now, but I never had a flat from drilling holes, just mowing with the tractor or clearing the and with the backhoe.

 

[Smokeydog]

On my Kubota B20 had problems with front flats. HD loader and small tires didn’t help. Talked to the Bobcat dealer owner about foam fill. She told me beware there are several kinds of foam and varying techniques. Recommended only one installer and that’s what I used. The filled tires were heavy but surprisingly bouncy off the tractor. More bouncy that the air filled tires. No difference in operation or feel. Enjoyed over twenty years of flat free performance till I upgraded tractor. Cons are price, but paid for over time and a few days for the procedure. They recommended doing new tires.

 

[Aquamoose]

On my Kubota B20 had problems with front flats. HD loader and small tires didn’t help. Talked to the Bobcat dealer owner about foam fill. She told me beware there are several kinds of foam and varying techniques. Recommended only one installer and that’s what I used. The filled tires were heavy but surprisingly bouncy off the tractor. More bouncy that the air filled tires. No difference in operation or feel. Enjoyed over twenty years of flat free performance till I upgraded tractor. Cons are price, but paid for over time and a few days for the procedure. They recommended doing new tires.

Which foam & installer was used?

 

[Midniteoyl]

LOL.. My weekly plug for FlatOut

https://smile.amazon.com/MULTI-SEAL-20134-Sportsman-Off-Road-Only/dp/B07NQCCQLP

Works in inch long locust thorn cuts that no other sealer would touch, no problem. Put it in every tire now, even the ones that have tubes - and those also have Slime still in them, worthless that it is

There is a ballast filled tire version as well: https://smile.amazon.com/MULTI-SEAL-PRO-2500-Agricultural

 

[Smokeydog]

Which foam & installer was used?

Wish I could remember specifically…30 years ago. A lot grey hair since then. It was by weight or density. They prepared tires and foamed only on Thursday. Could pick up Friday but not to be installed till Monday. Foam machine quite costly to start, stop and clean. Remember the shop did a lot business on big tires. Smelly business.

The Bobcat dealer was adamant about the having the right kind of foam for their customers. Hard foam was hard on equipment and operators. Forklifts, tele-handlers and maybe scrapyards use a higher density foam? I know I would have to again contact the local Bobcat dealer as to where to go. See a lot foam filled skidsteer tires on eBay now.

I run Gemplers bulletproof sealant on the fronts now with good success.