Gempler's tire guards

   / Gempler's tire guards #1  

Misterfixit

New member
Joined
Mar 10, 2009
Messages
8
Has anyone tried these? If so I was wondering if someone could tell me just how effective they are. We average a couple flats a week mowing interstates and highways, and if I knew for sure these would put a stop to it I"d give them a try despite the $400 price tag.

Gempler's tire guards

tire-guard-rear-TG83.jpg
 
   / Gempler's tire guards #2  
I would think for that price you would be getting close to the cost of foam filling.

MarkV
 
   / Gempler's tire guards
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I don't believe so. We've experimented with foam filling before and six 29x15 airplane tires cost us over a grand to fill, and I haven't done the math I doubt all of them combined would equal the amount it would take to fill one 18.4x30 tractor tire.

Also there are some other drawbacks to it. For starters it is extremely heavy. I don't know how much one of those batwing wheels that we had foam filled weighed, but on occasions when I had to remove one of them it was nearly more than I could personally lift without busting a gut, and I'm no weakling. I'd say it had to be well over 150lbs. Weight is a concern with us in the low spots too, since we operate in southern Louisiana and the soil can be pretty soft/muddy. We already have problems sticking 4wd tractors, so adding a ton or two of weight to them would only contribute to that. Also, consider what kind of effort you have trying to remove a foam filled tire that size from the rim once the tread is gone....:eek:

The other thing about these liners that I find appealing is that they are purportedly infinitely reusable. A tire doesn't last us very long for a couple reasons. #1 they run the tractors in 4WD quite a bit, and #2 they are constantly running up and down the highway on the pavement in high gear, and that tends to really do a number on aggressive tread ag tires (which for reasons previously alluded to is what we use). So I see these things as the potential gift that keeps on giving, IF they are what they're cracked up to be by Gempler's. But my expenditure budget as the fleet mechanic doesn't allow $1000 to be spent on a "might work" or even a "should work". If I spend that kind of money it had better work or I'll be the one to answer for it, not Gempler's.:eek:
 
   / Gempler's tire guards #4  
A tire doesn't last us very long for a couple reasons. #1 they run the tractors in 4WD quite a bit, and #2 they are constantly running up and down the highway on the pavement in high gear, and that tends to really do a number on aggressive tread ag tires.:eek:

The ad you linked to says

Note: Tire guards are not for highway use.
Tire Size: 18.4 x 30.

I think if a MFG told me "this won't work for your application", I'd take their word for it.
 
   / Gempler's tire guards
  • Thread Starter
#5  
"Highway use" in that context refers to high-speed operation of the tire guards.... 55 Mph or faster for example. When I first stumbled onto the product listing I was curious about that as well, but after emailing them I found out that it's a generic disclaimer put in there to keep someone from installing the smaller size tire guards in car and truck tires. It doesn't apply to low speed use of any sort, whether on pavement or not. Here's what the sales rep said about it:

Good morning,



The tire guard is not for use on highways in general. They are meant for off-road use only. That note is meant mainly to prevent people from thinking they can install the tire guards in car, trucks, trailers and such. A tractor in the ditch mowing at 25 mph is well within operational tolerances for the tire guards.



Please let me know if you have any further questions.



Thank you for the email,



Devon McWilliams

Gempler's Tech Services

Phone: 800-874-4755

I had told him 25 Mph top speed on the tractors, but it seemed he didn't understand that was with the wings folded up while the operators are relocating from one mowing section to another, and that we don't actually cut grass at 25MPH.:rolleyes: Nevertheless the confusion about the operating speeds was resolved.
 
   / Gempler's tire guards #6  
Those look kinda like the flaps that are run in the old 10.0R20 and 11.0R20 trucks tires that have tubes. We have fire trucks with that type of tire and run the flap or guards in them. As far as I know all the older tube type truck tires carry them.

Of course $400.00 seems kinda high. Maybe you can source them elsewhere. Do a google search for tire flaps. I don't have time right now, but am confident that you can find them much cheaper.

Chris
 
   / Gempler's tire guards
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Yeah I know what you're talking about. It's more of a liner put in truck tires to protect the tube from abrasion against the inside of the tire over time.

That's similar but not exactly the same as these things. These are apparently thick, high density rubber rings intended to slow down penetration of sharp objects and/or effectively increase the rubber depth on the tires, so that even if they do get punctured, it won't go all the way through to the tube.
 
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   / Gempler's tire guards #8  
I've been plagued with thorns mowing (for free) my old neighbor's 10 acres. I tried using piece of inner tube to keep the tube that much farther from the thorns but still get punctures. I pull 40-80 thorns out of the fronts and rears after a couple days' mowing. Once in a while a flat, but once is plenty for me. The Gempler's liner must be thicker.
I agree $400 buys a lot of tubes and tires, but not THAT many. If the guards work, they'd be worth it. Probably you can move them to a new tire when you wear out the old?
Jim
 
   / Gempler's tire guards #9  
Have you tried the ultra seal products gempler has?? I think it's supposed to seal up to a 1/4 inch hole. I used the regular sealer and haven't had a flat since. The ultra seal is a miltiary grade and is supposed to seal rifle rounds.
 
   / Gempler's tire guards
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Jimmy-

Yeah that would seem to be the case. It does say they virtually never wear out. I don't see why they would anyway. Maybe after a few years... I dunno.

Gerard-

Hmm, you know that may actually be worth a shot. The military grade stuff says it can plug a 1/2" hole. Some of the punctures we get are bigger than that (pieces of re-bar and other bits of scrap metal, broken bottles etc), but I am curious now that you have called my attention to it. I never even thought to look at the sealers because I had no idea they had any sealer that was that good.

Anyway, thanks for the input, ideas, and suggestions. This is a serious problem that costs thousands of dollars a year. If a practical, lasting solution can be found, I'm all for it.
 

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