Flat Proofing Does Lock Air corrode the rubber?

check · Jun 9, 2018

Here's one for you. I have a 2009 Kubota BX25, and the front tires were notoriously leaky back then, so I tried tubes and then finally in July of 2013 I got new tires/rims and put in 22 lbs. of a a product called "Lock Air" (dark grey, goopy stuff), which worked fine for almost 5 years. Then all of a sudden both tires blew a tear in the side wall within about 2 weeks of each other, and of course this goopy stuff started squirting out until I was able to rotate the leak to the top of the tire whereupon the rest of the air came out.

I called the tire store and they assured me that this stuff (unlike calcium chloride) was non-toxic, but the tires are now ruined because you shouldn't try to repair a sidewall and in any case I am suspicious that the Lock Air caused the rupture in the first place.

So, does anyone else have any experience with this stuff? The tires are 5 years old anyway, and I have already purchased new, but I am reluctant to put that stuff in again. Also, the dealer told me that Kubota has rectified the leaky front tire issue, so maybe there is no need.

So what do you guys think? Should I risk it? And does anyone with newer BX front tires have leak problems? Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Gary Fowler · Jun 9, 2018

Never heard of LockAir but if both of your tires blew out on the side wall, I would be suspicious of it. Tires should last much longer than 5 years. Unless you damaged the tires by running flat or ran over something that cut both tires, I would say that the Lock Air is likely the culprit.
Just leave the chemical out of the tires and see if they hold air. I have a 2009 B26 and my tires hold air very well, maybe once a year I will check them and top off as needed.

oosik · Jun 9, 2018

Wholly Carp - my 2009 Kubota M6040 has OEM tubeless Titan front tires and they dam well better last ANOTHER FIVE YEARS, at least. I've never heard of LockAir either.

My previous tractor, purchased new in 1982, Ford 1710 - had Goodyear front tires that were still in very good shape when I traded it in in 2009.

The big bug-a-boo here is - - keep the tractor and its very expensive R-1 tires OUT OF THE SUN when not using the tractor.

Mount the new tires on your 2013 rims and FORGET the grey goopy stuff. Sounds like a snake-oil product to me.

the old grind · Jun 9, 2018

Our tires are stressed much differently, more severely when we reduce volume by adding fluids. Pressure spikes when going over bumps are sharper and peak 'higher'. Side-walls get their worst when we load heavily (for pressure).

Was pressure monitored during the entire 5 years, or was the 'juice' relied on to maintain air fill? We usually think our lug nuts are tight until a wheel falls off. (BTDT

) It's not always easy to analyze causes once all the air is let out.

Something about the coincidence in 'time-to-fail' says there is likely something besides material properties at work, and I'm not in any way suggesting operator error. As an aside, using a backhoe can really toss a machine around (ie: this week on a T5C) and we often work our 'little guys' as hard as their bigger brothers.

The least thing I'd expect is a material fault with the sealant, but one often wonders anymore what recycled chaff is mixed in when molding tires. Ever noticed how many leaky 10" OD Asian pneumatics (HFT) are cracked/crazed while still on the store shelf? (The rumor of 'coal dust' ingredient has merit.) Could this be as simple as a typical lifespan for these tires when worked to their utmost?

Gary Fowler · Jun 9, 2018

I don't think a properly inflated tire would fail because of heavy loading. Assuming the OP keeps the air at max or nearly max inflation pressure, filling the FEL full of any thing that it can lift isn't going to affect the tires negatively so as to cause premature blowout. Tractors aren't like car tires in that an underinflated tire will cause the rubber to get excessively hot and fail. It is not easy to see when a tire is a bit low if carrying a heavy load when R4 tires that are 6 ply or more are used. They just don't flex much like an R1 does.

Likely not checking the air pressure is the most least checked items on a tractor. Still I don't think running them low would cause twin blow outs within a week of each other.

Oldpath05 · Jun 9, 2018

One tire, one tube is all that's needed and works the best on my L3400 front AG tires, if this dont work then there is something else going on that is causing leaks. Lock Air, even google doesn't know what that is besides an air chuck that locks on valve stem. I wish when posters talk about a product they'd put a link up so I can see/find what they're talking about.

CincyFlyer · Jun 9, 2018

Perhaps he meant "Air Lock", which was (maybe is) a tire sealant product.

check · Jun 10, 2018

Actually, The guys at at the tire store miss spelled it. It is actually called Lok-Air, made by Lok-Air Inc. in Guelph, Ontario. For a description of the product, go to quemont.com, a Quebec company.