Sliced tread - grrrr

[Will]

I managed to slice the tread of one of my R4 tires. It isn't bad enough to cause a puncture, but I don't want it to get worse. Is there some sort of goop that should be put in there?

 

[Bird]

I'll sure be watching to see what kind of response you get to this one, Will, because if there's anything that works, I never heard of it; unfortunately./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Bird

 

[DarrylG]

I would try some flexible urethane. It's worked great on everything I've tried it on. It can be found at camping supply shops under the name of Seam Grip. Then there's always duct tape

Darryl

 

[Thomas]

ouch Will.
Have you check to see if a tube will fit?

Not sure how bad you puncture a hole,but maybe you might want to replace the tire just in case..

Another killer on tires would be thorn apple branches.

If you should locate a tire fixer let me know.

Thomas..NH

 

[TomG]

It probably won't get worse, but there is likely to be less puncture protection in the area. A long time ago, I used to hear people saying things like: 'Just put a boot and a tube in it.' I never was sure what a boot in a tire was, but it apparently was a solution for people with damaged tires. Of course, back then retreading was a solution as well.

 

[MarkV]

Will-I wouldn't worry to much about it. My R4's have had tread slices for years and no problem yet. That said, I'll go to work today and have a flat.

 

[Bird]

TomG, you say you never were sure what a "boot" was in a tire; it's nothing more than a very large patch. And if you didn't have such a patch, you could make one out of another old inner tube. Biggest problem with that was the fact that the edges would not be tapered. I've put many a boot in tires, both for cars and tractors when I was a teenager working in my dad's service station.

Bird

 

[W5FL]

A boot is simply a patch applied to a tire rather than the tube. All tubeless tires are SUPPOSSED to be fixed this way. Plugs are used too often and ruin a lot of passenger tires; however, plugs are a way of life on Ag tires. (cheap and quick) /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[W5FL]

I thought all tires had cracks and slices in them until I got a new tractor and found out they don't come from the factory that way! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

If it were mine and it didn't leak, I would drive it until it did. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif However, in the construction business the downtime may be more costly than a new tire. How often do you get this kind of damage?

 

[MChalkley]

There's also something called "TyrLyner", or something like that, that is a shield to prevent thorns from getting through to puncture tubes. Gempler's sells them. There are other brands as well. I've heard them referred to as boots.

I wouldn't worry about the slice, though. They're inevitable and don't usually cause any problems.

Mark

 

[TomG]

Thanks guys. Guess I'm lucky I've lived this long without knowing about boots. Of course, my tractor is at our house demolition site, and the contractor eventually will do me the favour of actually starting my job.

I suppose there will be nails everywhere, and it's very likely I'll quick boot education. Ah, life in the country, the nearest tire shop is only an hour away, but at least there's fewer blackfly there.

 

[W5FL]

If they are not already filled with water, put the recommended amount of tire sealant in them. They will fix themselves. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[gordon]

Why do edges not being tapered hinder the patch? Does it cause it to tend to roll up? Thanks
Gordon

 

[Bird]

Gordon, using a piece of an old inner tube without the edges being tapered usually was not a problem, but remember most of my experience with using boots in tires was 40 years ago (with the last time being 1972 enroute to Alaska) and it was mostly on cars and pickups and some of the old tubes back then weren't the best in the world either and given enough time and flexing, sometimes the edge of the boot would chew into the other inner tube and you had another leak. The real boots that we used in the service station were big patches with tapered edges and had cords in them similar to the cords in the tires back then instead of just being rubber and they were a harder rubber than an inner tube. Of course the only time you used a boot instead of a regular patch was when the tire had broken or separated cords, usually an "X" break on the inside. If you're old enough to have used them, you know it also took a large chunk of lead to balance a tire with a boot in it, too. Or does anyone still use such things?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[gordon]

Ok I'm with you now the innertube chafes into the boot. I bet it did take a chunk of lead 6-8oz. easy. Thanks for the info.
gordon

 

[TomG]

Thanks. Think I'll go forward and see if I can collect and nails in the front (unfilled) tires.