Leaky tires

rd_macgregor · Feb 27, 2017

Last fall we bought a used 2009 RTV1100 with about 450 hrs on the clock. A couple of the tubeless tires have had slow leak-down; one requires re-inflation every few days. I've been putting up with the nuisance of reinflation until the weather gets better, intending to take the tires in to a shop in the spring.

This weekend it was wet with snow-melt when I was inflating and I noticed that the air was escaping through the sidewall in several places! This leaves me with three choices, as I see it: I can buy new tires, I can slime the tires or I can tube the tires. I was shocked at the price of new UTV tires, so I'm not eager to replace them... plus the existing tires still have great tread.

Is the best solution sliming or installing tubes, or, given their age, am I better off biting the bullet and springing for a set of new tires?

Thanks.

Ed L · Feb 27, 2017

Slime won't help, it only works on the tread surface and only for a limited time. It's not meant as a permanent fix.

Tubes will only buy you time....IME, the sidewalls on UTV tires aren't that strong.

Ed

JRobyn · Feb 27, 2017

FIL had leaky tubeless tires on his Tractor Supply Special UTV. He installed good-quality tubes about a year ago. No trouble since. He used these - Amazon.com: 2 Firestone 25x12-9 24x11-1 25x11-1 Multi Size ATV Inner Tube with TR6 Valve Stem: Automotive

PILOON · Feb 27, 2017

Hey,
Any Chinese tire is going to leak!
Fact of life.

kevin37b · Feb 28, 2017

I just bought some Tire Ject I saw on another site . Much thinner vis than slime and is supposed to seal any leak . Also easy to clean up . We will see .

Shaneard · Feb 28, 2017

If the tread is good put tubes in, they will last a long time.

jeff9366 · Feb 28, 2017

Is Prince Edward Island rocky?

If the sidewalls have sustained damage during your ownership, consider installing TIRE LINERS between the new tubes and tires. With liners, tubes last a very long time.

LINK: ATV TIRE LINERS - Google Search

rd_macgregor · Feb 28, 2017

Thanks for the responses. What rocks there are here are sandstone, so not very sharp. It seems that everybody has gone to tubeless tires, so none of the ATV/UTV dealers or tire places have the tubes I need; I'll have to order online...I guess I can handle another week or two of tire pumping. Putting in tubes is worth a try given how much replacement tubeless tires cost!!!

Sawyer Rob · Feb 28, 2017

I'd Slime them, it works for me on EVERY leak, bead or other wise, as long as the leak isn't huge.

I use it on any off road tire with VERY good results.

SR

rd_macgregor · Mar 1, 2017

I decided to go with tubes. I must have spent two hours calling every place I could think of that might carry tubes, but couldn't find one locally. I was surprised that it was a bit of a challenge to track down a Canadian supplier on-line, too!!
A couple of tubes are on the way to me now, though, so I hope that will carry me for a few years at least.