Tractor Tire Liners

[Robert walker]

I have an dea but want to get y’all’s thoughts. I mow where there are a lot of honey locust trees and am tired of getting flats. I have a Kubota L3400DT with 11.2x24 tires. I am thinking about buying a roll of 12” wide roof flashing and repair my inner tubes and put the roof flashing inside my tires like a liner to keep the thorns from giving me flats. I think the flashing would conform to the tire when it is aired up. What are y’all’s thoughts on doing this. I found one company that makes liners but they didn’t have my size listed and they never replied to me whether they carried them.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Some years ago, when I also had the thorn tree problems, I had read about the highway departments doing exactly the same thing you're considering. The idea sounded so great that I too decided to do exactly that.

Unfortunately, that didn't solve my problem. The liners would seem to slip around, allowing the thorns to invade again. On a normal week I was experiencing something like 15-20 thorns per day. That of course, was unacceptable.

My solution was to buy 18 ply recapped airplane tires for the fronts. Back then they were something like $85/each including rims for my Fordson-Dexta. That was the END of the thorn problem; no more flats. In fact, I don't think it mattered one iota whether the tires had air in them or not. They ran the same either way.

I think the same company is still in business in Houston, Texas.

...just a thought.

 

[mikester]

Have you tried adding tire slime to seal up punctures while you drive?

Tire foam may be in your future...

 

[Have tractor did travel]

Robert, Your subject brings to memory from years and years ago, that tires used to have tire liners - woven cotton. If you use roof flashing, be sure to glue the liner to the inside of the tire. Keep it smooth - no overlapping. The liner is not so puncture resistant - not so tough - as another ply of tire. Gem99's idea of airplane tire would serve you much better. Look also at front end loader tires and of course, any solution you could pour into the tire - like Slime, etc.

 

[Robert walker]

Have you tried adding tire slime to seal up punctures while you drive?

Tire foam may be in your future...

It’s my rear tires with inner tubes. Will the slime seal the inner tubes you think? Might try that but didn’t think it would work.

 

[Robert walker]

Robert, Your subject brings to memory from years and years ago, that tires used to have tire liners - woven cotton. If you use roof flashing, be sure to glue the liner to the inside of the tire. Keep it smooth - no overlapping. The liner is not so puncture resistant - not so tough - as another ply of tire. Gem99's idea of airplane tire would serve you much better. Look also at front end loader tires and of course, any solution you could pour into the tire - like Slime, etc.

The tires I have on the tractor now are 6 ply. Thought about going to 10 ply to see if that would help. I thought if I put the flashing in the tire I would put silicone on the tire and put the flashing on it to help it from sliding around.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I have an dea but want to get y’all’s thoughts. I mow where there are a lot of honey locust trees and am tired of getting flats. I have a Kubota L3400DT with 11.2x24 tires. I am thinking about buying a roll of 12” wide roof flashing and repair my inner tubes and put the roof flashing inside my tires like a liner to keep the thorns from giving me flats. I think the flashing would conform to the tire when it is aired up. What are y’all’s thoughts on doing this. I found one company that makes liners but they didn’t have my size listed and they never replied to me whether they carried them.

We made an effort to remove all thorns on over 100 acres. There were many but are gone now. Big 4" long shiny thorns.

 

[Robert walker]

I have a pasture about 15 acres and another one thats about 20 acres that have a bunch of them. I sprayed and killed a lot, went back and cut them down and piled to burn. I still mow around the rest until I can cut them down. Thinking about renting a dozer for a week and push them all up and then spray to stay on top of them. It’s leased pasture but I still would rather have gras than thorns. Going to buy one place next year.

 

[jeff9366]

Tire foam may be in your future...

Polyurethane Foam/Flat Fill
This ballast method is essentially a run-flat polyurethane fill that is injected into the tire through the valve stem. Two liquid components are pumped into the tire and they react with one another so that 24-36 hours later, you are left with a solid rubber core – the air inside the tire is completely displaced. The term “foam” is a bit misleading – the core is actually very much a black solid. It is sometimes called foam because air bubbles are injected into the mix to control the density of the end product.

This ballast method obviously adds serious weight gains to each tire and also has the nice benefit of eliminating flat tires and associated repair costs. Because the tire is run-flat there is no risk of corrosive/toxic ballast spraying all over your tractor and scorching vegetation if you do spring a leak. You will have to find a dealer near you that performs this service (Brannon Tire in Stockton, California for example).

• Advantages
  
  
• high weight/volume ratio (about 20-50% more than water depending on type of fill)
• cannot freeze
• tire is run-flat
• simple – have it done once, ballasted forever
• 
  
• Disadvantages
  may not be available in all locations
• high cost – prices range around $0.95-1.25 lbs injected, or $300+ per tire
• tire must be cut off rim after tread wears out – best for new or nearly new tires
• if performed on steering tires, heavy duty weight gains will put more stress on steering components
• no air in tires to absorb humps and bumps so you will get a very rough ride – could be jarring for long distance travel

 

[millertire]

Check this, can be made in your size for about $225 each

.Stop Flat Tires - m. e. MILLER tire