Leaking front tire

JerseyMike · Dec 2, 2010

This is my second post and second tire question

I have a John Deere 3005 with R4 tires. my left front tire is leaking air. I went to a tire shop and he said it was the valve stem, which I paid to replace and it's still leaking. Looking at the tire there is a gash along the inner sidewall that extends to the bead and is fairly deep. I suspect that it is the cause of the leak.

My question is, do I need a new tire (which would mean two new tires so that they are worn the same) or can I do one of the following:

1. Slime the tire

2. get an inner tube installed in the tire

any help is appreciated. BTW the tires are Titan 25x8.5-14 6-ply R4's

-Mike

Ken · Dec 2, 2010

A boot inside the area weakened by scratch then a boot would extend the time before the tires needed replacment.
ken

jimmysisson · Dec 2, 2010

I'd sure fix it, maybe at a truck tire shop. Patch tire from inside, add tube. Maybe your valve stem AND the gash were both seeping air.
Jim

Egon · Dec 2, 2010

You could try slime and if that don't work install a tube.

jinman · Dec 2, 2010

Mix up some dish soap in a spray bottle so you can wet down the tire while looking for bubbles to find out where the leak is in the tire. "Fixing" a leak that may or may not be there is a sure formula for frustration. The first step is to be certain where the leak is and then fix it based on that. A leak around the tire seating bead at the wheel may not be fixable with slime. It may require breaking down the tire, cleaning the area, and using some bead sealer. If the leak is somewhere away from the gash on the bottom or shallow sidewall, slime would be a good solution. If the leak is in the gash, then a boot inside the tire or a tube would be best. If you put a tube into the tire, be sure to run your hand around the inside to feel for thorns or other sharp objects that may puncture the tube. You don't want to have to pull the tire again to fix a problem right after putting in the tube.

teg · Dec 2, 2010

If it's leaking at the bead, you would have to fill the tire with slime to make it works... and slime doesn't last... at least for me

Thomas · Dec 2, 2010

If slow bubble leak and gash not to deep or long I'd tube it,but if long gash tire low in couple days I than would replace..you maybe distance from your home or in mud etc. when tire goes flat quickly,and that can be long wasted day.