Foam filled tires too full?

[Kioti Dave]

Was tired of getting front flats on B7800. Had front tires foam filled. I think the tires were overfilled. Tire tread now rounded and there is no give. I've been having driveline trouble since. I have broken front u-joint on shaft. When in 4wd there is "tension" in driveline. I think rolling circumference on front tires well above factory and now an issue when in 4wd. Anyone else experience this?

 

[ovrszd]

Bummer. That's gonna be hard to fix.

 

[JimRB]

I drove the neighbor's tractor that had foam filled tires. I did not enjoy the ride as it was harsh. Tires are your shock absorbers unless they are filled with foam, too much fluid or too much air.

 

[oosik]

All I've ever heard is that foam filled tires give a harsh ride. Although, way back in my memory - somebody indicated that there was a foam product that does not set up so bloody hard.

A "rounded" tire could have a significant different diameter than an air filled tire. That's probably the root of your problem.

 

[dragoneggs]

Sorry to hear, Dave. I quickly found out my fronts on my BX would not hold air due to the harsh turning and FEL pressure I was putting on them. Thought about sliming, and did a little reading here on TBN and went with tubes. Les Schwab knocked them out quickly when I rolled in with both and it was about 20ea installed I recall. Not an issue since!

 

[Texasmark]

There are 2 numbers on circumference and have to be considered when running 4wd machines especially on hard surfaces like industrial applications where "Industrial R4s" are normally used...or cleaning poop out of your concrete floored barn/milking parlor. In tire discussions others have mentioned that they run their tire pressure on their equipment where the edge of the tread touches the pavement for a softer ride. It hasn't been mentioned, nor have I found where the load/tire pressure numbers for a given tire support the posted circumference, vs the "rolling circumference".

The point here is that once you deviate from the tractor designer's tire matching circumference, you mess with the tractors established gear ratio and as a result you put pressure on one of the drives and the weakest (obviously) is the front axle. In working my 2400 for a soft ride, I experimented with which axle was pushing and which was pulling with different types/sizes of rear tires run at varying pressures. As to which is best, I feel......gut feel, not verified by any broken parts, that you probably never will have the two perfectly matched and the "pusher" in the direction you normally run needs to be the rears with the heavier gear train. Had a friend put Monster Mudders on his Ford 4wd P/U and in a hard 4wd engaged turn, on concrete, the front would actually hop....how long that lasted I don't know but going to lunch one day he showed it to us.

Different numbers out there on recommended fills because you need some room for air. Max I've seen was 75% and I don't know if that's by volume, or height....didn't specify. HTH.

 

[Ford850]

It seems like you'll wear the 'round' off the tire centers since that's the area contacting the surface. Eventually they will wear to make full contact, going from () to [] , but can you wait for that or will something break?

 

[Jchonline]

Sounds like you are going to be buying a new set of front tires. If you can try to get a discount/compensation from the company that overfilled them.

 

[Oldoak]

Sounds like you are going to be buying a new set of front tires.---------------------------------

That is the only "fix" there is. And I wouldn't wait too long being you think those foam filled tires are creating a lot stress and mechanical issues already.

The corporation I worked for had to purchase new tires and rims. Although that was because the rims cracked in about 3 years after being filled with foam. They were industrial tires and just road too hard without any cushioning affect.

 

[Kioti Dave]

Filled with foam because of branches poking into tire from brush hogging. It really did make the ride worse. I think I might have to go do some doughnuts at the local Walmart parking lot to wear out the crown. Either way will have to rectify as I plan to sell B7800. Will not foam fill new NX4510. Thanks for all the input.