3 Ways to Repair Your Lawn Mower Tire. Lawn mower tires replacement

Ways to Repair Your Lawn Mower Tire

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Getting a flat on your lawnmower tire can be such a pain. And repairing the tire can be even more of a pain! There are plenty of options to find out how to fix a tire online, but the sheer amount of options from YouTube to forum sites may cause a headache. To help ease your brain from ensuing headaches, I have compiled a list of three ways to repair a tire and the types of equipment you will need to repair your tire. This will put you on the right track. For every tire, including lawnmower tires, there is a point of no return when a tire cannot be repaired. It is essential to know the difference between what can be fixed and what cannot be fixed. That’s why this article has a section dedicated to what tire damages and mishaps cannot usually be fixed using these three repairing strategies.

Using Tire Sealant to Repair Your Tire

If there’s a small hole caused by an impaled object on your tire, one of the best ways to repair it is by using tire sealant.

Types of Tire Sealant

Using sealant to repair a lawn mower tire is ideally a straightforward process. But there are a few different types of sealant to choose from, so knowing the right one to choose is vital.

Pressurized Tire Sealant

Pressurized sealants cost around the 6-12 range, so you won’t have an empty wallet trying to look for one. Pressurized sealants are cheap and only made for one-time use.

Liquid Tire Sealant

Liquid sealants, which pour into the valve stem of a tire wheel, cost a little bit more, around 9-12. You will need a compressor or portable tire inflator for the liquid sealant to work correctly.

Tire Sealant Kit

Tire sealant kits come with a compressor, and they can cost in the 30-80 range. I would recommend getting a sealant kit over the other options. The kit provides the compressor that liquid sealants need and inflates the tire unlike what most pressurized sealants claim they do. If you need recommendations on what type of tire sealant is the best, check out Consumer Reports’ tire sealant review page. Consumer Reports gives excellent micro-reviews on which sealants are capable of filling 2.4 mm and 5.8 mm tire holes. They also list the price of each sealant, so you don’t have to look it up.

How to Use Sealant to Repair Your Lawn Mower Tire

This video here from TireJect explains the process step by step.

Plugging a Tire by Using a Tire Plug Kit

A tire plug kit is another way to fix a hole in your tire. Usually, tire plug kits come with a reamer/plug tool, some plug wires which block the hole, and some contact cement.

To plug a tire, the tire needs to be removed from the car, so a floor jack is necessary. Here are some of the tools you will need to patch up the tire.

• Tire Plug Kit – A good tire repair kit is the one from Bould Tools that can be found on Amazon. It conveniently also includes a Valve Stem Tool and everything you need to have to plug your tire. So you’re pretty much good to go.
• Soapy Water
• Valve Stem Tool
• Razor Blade
• Pliers
• Floor Jack
• Jack Stand
• Wood Planks
• Tire Inflator or Compressor

If you don’t have a tire repair kit, make sure to have these individual items on hand:

Removing a Tire from a Lawn Mower

To plug the tire, you’ll first need to take it off the lawn mower. Follow the directions below to ensure you properly remove the tire, which will also help make sure it goes back on properly.

• If you are working with a front tire, use wood planks to block the rear tires from rolling. If you are working with a rear tire, use wood planks on the front tires.
• Place the jack underneath the frame of the mower and jack up the riding mower to raise the front wheel.
• Place a jack stand under the frame to support the riding mower and remove the jack.
• Pull off the tire’s axel cover, remove the retaining ring, and pull off the washer.
• Now you can remove the tire from the mower.
• Pull off the back washer from the axel.

Plugging the Tire

Now that the tire has been removed from the mower, it is time to patch the tire using a tire plug kit.

• If you cannot find where the leak is, pour a soapy water solution on the tire. The air from the leak will make bubbles from the soapy water, showing you where the leak is.
• When you find where the leak is, use some pliers to remove whatever has caused the leak if it is still there.
• Remove the valve stem cap and core from the tire. This allows the tire to deflate and accept the patch.
• Use one of the tools from the tire plug kit, the reamer, to open up the hole a bit more by pushing the reamer inside of the hole, twisting it, and pulling it out. This may take a few tries to get the hole to a size large enough for the plug to fit in, so do not stop at just one push inside the hole.
• Use the contact cement to lubricate the hole by pouring the cement over the hole. This will make it easier for the plug to fit in the hole.

Helpful hint… I have seen videos on YouTube where people have poured the contact cement on the plug after inserting the plug in the plug tool. This also works.

• Insert one of the plugs into the plug tool and push the plug into the hole. This requires a bit of strength, so firm pressure is necessary. Like what you have done with the reamer in step 3, make sure you use a lot of force to push the plug into the hole.
• Pull the plug tool out of the hole, and the plug should naturally stay inside of the hole.
• Use a razor blade to carefully trim the plug as it might stick out of the tire a little bit after pulling the tool out.
• Reinstall the valve stem core
• Use your tire compressor/inflator to inflate the tire with the correct amount of air pressure.

This video here expains the process quite well:

• After you are done patching up the puncture on your tire, reinstall the tire on the mower by following these simple instructions.
• Reinstall the valve stem cap.
• Insert the back washer on the axle.
• Insert the wheel back on the axle.
• Snap the retaining ring back onto the tire using your pliers.
• Reinstall the washers.
• Reinstall the axle cover back on the wheel.
• Push the jack under the frame, raise the riding mower, and pull out the jack stand.
• Lower the riding mower from the ground and remove those wooden planks from the front or rear tires.

Patching a Tire

Patching a tire is considered the most efficient way to truly repair your damaged tire and can usually fix larger holes than plugs and sealant. The reason why patching a tire is considered the most efficient is because patching doesn’t just check the outside of the tire, but the inside as well.

Can You Patch the Sidewall of a Lawn Mower Tire?

When a tire has a hole in it and begins to lose air, the sidewall starts to deteriorate, leaving black dust from the sidewall on the inside of the tire. This can be prevented by patching a tire.

If you plan on patching a tire, prepare yourself. Patching a tire is easily the most challenging tire job out of the three ways to repair your tire in this article. You know the saying: hard work produces the best results.

But, the sidewall itself can’t be patched. Any damage to the sidewall itself, whether it’s from an outside source of weakening from within, will require a new tire.

Much like using the tire plug kit, patching a tire requires a floor jack to remove the tire from the lawnmower. Patch kits take things one step further, though. Removing the rim of the tire is a crucial step. You will find out how to do so here!

Tools Needed:

• Tire Patch
• Floor Jack
• Soapy Water
• Tire Crayon
• Bead Breaker Bar
• Heavy Hammer: Optional depending on the Bead Breaker Bar you have. Usually, the costlier bead breakers do not require the hammer as they have a built-in tool that breaks the bead.
• 2 Pry Bars
• Tire Patch
• Patch Roller
• Rasp or Diamond-grit sandpaper
• Reamer
• Contact Cement
• Razor Knife
• Compressor

To save you some more time, we’ll start these directions after removing the tire from the lawnmower. Look back at the directions for “Removing a Tire from a Lawnmower” to learn how to do that properly.

• If you cannot find where the leak is, pour a soapy water solution on the tire. The air from the leak will make bubbles from the soapy water, showing you where the leak is.
• Using your Tire Crayon, mark where the tire puncture is. Also, mark the location of the valve stem on the sidewall as well. It will come in handy when you reinstall your tire.
• Remove the valve stem cap and the valve stem core using your valve stem core tool. Let the air leak out of the tire until its flat.

Using a Bead Breaker Tool

• Lay your tire flat on the ground and place the beaker bar under the lip of the rim on top of the tire. Put your foot on the rim of the tire to hold it still.
• Pound on the bead breaker with your heavy hammer.

Helpful hint: Not all bead breakers are the same. Some may require a hammer to break the bead while some do not.

• Continue step 2 around the rim, not just at one spot, or else the bead will not fully break.
• Flip the tire around repeat steps 2 and 3.
• Place one of your pry bars under the lip of the tire against the rim and pry it upward.
• Use your other pry bar to pry around the rest of the bead until it is sufficiently above the rim. The second lip of the tire should come off quickly.

Patching the Tire

• Locate the hole on the inside of the tire opposite of the crayon mark you made on the thread.
• Use the reamer to open up the hole from theinside of the tire, pushing the reamer inside of the hole, twisting it, and pulling it out. This may take a few tries to get the hole to a size large enough for the plug to fit in, so do not stop at just one push inside the hole.
• To rough up the inside of the tire, use a rasp or diamond-grit sandpaper to rough up a spot more significant than the patch area. Brush away any of the loose rubber.
• Add a layer of rubber cement and brush the cement over an area barely more significant than the patch
• Pull the protective backing off the patch and push the plug part of the patch into the puncture hole from the inside of the tire.
• Insert the wire at the end of the plug and push it as far as you can.

• The plug needs to go deep enough that the patch rests wholly on the inner tire liner.

• The hole might be very tight to push the plug all the way through, so a pair of pliers might be necessary. Use the pliers to pull on the wire part of the plug.

• Seat the patch with a patch roller.
• Use your razor knife to cut the protruding tire plug thread.

Reinstalling the Tire Back on the Rim

• Find your valve stem marking and line it up with the right side and position on the rim.
• Install the tire on the rim.
• If necessary, use the bar to pry the rubber back under the rim.
• Install the valve stem core.
• Inflate the tire by using a compressor or tire inflator. Make sure you use the correct amount of air for your tire.
• Pour the soapy solution all over the tire to check for any more leaks or if the patch is incorrectly installed in the tire.
• Look back at my “Reinstalling the Tire” directions to reinstall the tire back on your lawn mower completely.

When to Get Your Tire Replaced

Lawn mower tires tend to last five years. Sealants, Plugs, and Patches are all perfectly fine ways to repair and expand your tire’s life expectancy (though I believe patching to be the most efficient).

But, there are points where tires have reached the point of no return. Car owners need to know when that point has been reached. Look below for more details!

Some Things Aren’t a DIY Repair Job

• Tires with holes that are larger than 1/4 th of an inch.
• If the puncture is in the sidewall of the tire
• No, patches will not fix the sidewall of the tire.
• If your tire has two holes in it that are less than 16 inches apart from each other.
• If your tire is showing signs of dry rot
• Loss of traction caused by dead tread

To check for dead tread, insert a penny into the groove with Lincoln’s head right side up. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, you should probably replace your tire.

The Verdict

You can fix a flat lawn mower tire on your own, as long as it’s not too far gone. Using sealant, plugging, or patching a lawn mower tire are each effective in their own right. It’s essential to fix the flat tire before any permanent damage is done.

The sidewall can become damaged if there’s a leak in the tire, and that is not a DIY fix. Keep an eye on your lawn mower tires and be ready to replace them about every five years.

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Does Discount Tire Fix Lawn Mower Tires?

Tires have reached the point in society where they are an essential commodity, and the FOCUS is so often on cars, trucks, SUVs, and van tires that no one even considers whether or not a tire store, such as Discount Tires, would service something like lawnmower tires.

Does Discount Tire Fix Lawn Mower Tires?

The good news is that Discount Tires considers lawnmower tires and has prioritized them. Not only do they service lawnmower tires (by “re-upping” them, according to Discount Tires), but they also sell them and mount them for you.

If you visit their website, Discount Tires has a page dedicated to lawnmower tires and the different sizes that they offer, along with mounting services. In addition, they have several lawnmower tires available for purchase, including 8″, 10″, and 12″ sizes.

Most discount tire places service your standard car tires while offering a selection of used and new tires for you to buy. However, Discount Tires recognizes that we have tires on more than just our daily vehicles, and we need a service source for these as well.

Can Lawnmower Tires be Repaired?

The only thing that separates lawnmower tires from the tires on your car is that lawnmower tires are smaller. The technology behind them is much the same. However, fixing and repairing them is also much the same.

Of course, if your lawnmower has solid rubber tires, that’s a little different, but we’re talking about regular tires here, the kind that can get nails in them and go flat just like a tire on a Toyota Tundra.

Discount Tires conducts tire repairs just like you would for a car. First, the tractor is jacked up on stands, the tire removed, inspected, and the puncturing mechanism removed. Then the tire will be patched or plugged accordingly and remounted onto the lawnmower.

You can remove the tires yourself and bring them in for repair, or haul the entire lawnmower in, whichever you prefer.

Additional Services Offered by Discount Tires

Lawnmower tires are not the end all be all of Discount Tires’ alternative tire services. They also offer a wide array of tires for different vehicles and equipment you can use around your home.

Golf Cart Tires

Discount Tires works with businesses and individuals to produce and sell golf cart tires. According to Discount Tires, they understand that not everyone uses golf carts for riding around on a golf course.

So, Discount Tires offers golf cart tires with various treads for various uses, including shuttle services, short-length transportation, and tire treads designed for riding around on the different topography of maintenance grounds, even your backyard.

Wheelbarrow Tires

Not all wheelbarrow tires are solid through and through, though some are, and Discount Tires offers both. Not only do they sell them, but they’ll also install them for you as well. So all you need to do is bring in your wheelbarrow, and Discount Tires will take care of the rest.

Mounted Lawn Mower Tires

Discount Tires will mount and install your lawnmower tires, so you don’t have to do any hard work once you’ve selected the tires you want to buy.

Of course, buying tires from Discount Tires may take a while because their selection is pretty varied, especially when it comes to just lawnmower tires. However, all you need to do is bring your lawnmower to Discount Tires, and they will do the rest.

You can do this in one of two ways. You can either call Discount Tires and schedule an appointment or simply bring your lawnmower in to get the work done.

They have a well-stocked supply of lawnmower tires to select from, so when you bring your lawnmower in, be prepared to take the time to pick the right ones for your lawnmower. Discount Tires will have someone who is familiar with lawnmower tires there to assist you.

They can also tell you which types of tread will be best for the various uses you will put it through. So whether you are mowing your lawn, the local football field, or the local golf course, different treads are needed depending on which one.

Once you choose the tires you want to go with, they will remove the old ones and mount the new ones on the same day.

Store Location Feature

You may not have heard of Discount Tires, and if this is your first time dealing with a DIscount tire retailer and you need work on your lawnmower tires, you will want to use their Store Locator to find the nearest Discount Tires to your location.

Follow the link above, and it will take you to a page where you can enter your city, state, or zip code to get a location near you. You can also set the range from 10 to 75 miles out from your location.

Once you’ve entered your information, you will see if there are any Discount Tires near you and if so, how many. You can also select the direction button, and you will get a detailed map directing you to the nearest store based on Google Maps.

How to Make an Appointment

There are two ways to set up an appointment with Discount Tires. You can either call them by calling one of their regional offices or go online and set up the appointment.

• Go toDiscounttire.com/schedule-appointment
• Select your store or your location may automatically do that for you
• Select Continue
• On the following page, enter your vehicle information or “Continue Without Vehicle,” which is the choice you should make since you are there for a lawnmower.
• Check the services that you want to receive during your appointment
• Fill in any additional information that you want Discount Tires to know
• Select Continue
• Select your appointment date and time
• Select whether you will “Wait in Store” or Drop off My Vehicle.”
• Create an account on the next page or skip if you already have one
• Review your appointment
• Confirm your appointment

According to Discount Tire, you will experience a 30% shorter wait time if you schedule an appointment, including all of the information that you can detail on the appointment “set up” page.

When creating an account with Discount Tires, you will have to fill in all relevant information, including your name, email address, and phone number. Discount Tires will also need your address, including the city and state.

Once you have created your account, future appointments will be much easier to make. Also, Discount Tires will be able to compile a history, making it easier to maintain your lawnmower tires or make future appointments.

Conclusion

Discount Tires offers services for lawnmower tires and several other vehicles, including ATVs, golf carts, and wheelbarrows. They’re one of the more well-equipped tire stores when it comes to maintaining tires of all sizes and types.

It’s easy to set up an appointment with them, so you can choose the time and date you want to get your tires replaced, repaired, mounted, or installed. Fortunately, Discount Tires will do most of the hard work for you. If you purchase the tires, Discount Tires will do the rest.

Don’t forget to ask them about their free rotation services. They’ll be able to tell you everything you need to do to make your tires last longer.

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• Do Lawn Mower Tires Have An Inner Tube?
• Why Do My Lawn Mower Tires Keep Going Flat?
• Does Walmart Mount and Sell Riding Mower Tires?
• Can You Plug A Lawn Mower Tire?

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Easy Tips for Replacing Lawn Garden Tires

Buying lawn garden tires for your ride-on tractor, mower, ATV/UTV, wheel barrow or hand cart, or other small equipment is likely not something you do very often. In fact, unless the equipment is used for commercial purposes or you have very large acreage, these tires are replaced less frequently than your car or truck tires. To help guide you through the many options for replacing lawn garden tires and small specialty tires, we put together the information you need to make the decision a little easier.

Finding the Size of Your Lawn Garden Tires

In almost all instances, lawn garden tire buyers are looking for the exact same size tire as the tire that came on their equipment when it was new. On ATV and Golf Carts, owners will occasionally change out the original tire for a different size for aesthetic or performance reasons. With lawn mowers, wheel barrows, hand carts and other garden equipment, the tire size was very purposefully picked by the manufacturer for optimal service and performance. Rarely would a changing a tire size improve the efficiency or performance of the equipment.

The tire size is easily found on the sidewall of the tire to be replaced or in the equipment’s Owner Manual. Mowers and other lawn and garden equipment tire sizes are always in inches. The most common sizing system is a series of 3 numbers separated by an “X” or a “/”. Occasionally you will see only two numbers separated by a dash. Following are a few examples

Tire size is clearly shown on the tire sidewall.

A popular size of tire for ride-on mowers and garden tractors is 18 X 9.50-8. This means the overall diameter of the tire is 18-inches with a width of 9.50-inches, fitted on a 8-inch rim.

4.10/3.5-4 is another common size on smaller garden tractors. In this case, there is a “/” instead of an “X” in the size description. When you see the back-slash, the order of height, width and rim is a little different. The first number is the width of the tire, and the second number after the dash is the height of the sidewall (not the overall diameter). The third number is the rim diameter. To get the overall diameter you need to do some math! 4 (rim diameter) 3.5 (sidewall height) X 2 = 11 inches total diameter.

Wheel barrow tire size example.

Push carts and equipment like wheel-barrows, tillers, mowers and power washers often follow a two number system. 5.30-12 means the width is 5.30 inches wide on a rim that is 12 inches in diameter. With this sizing nomenclature there is no indication of the sidewall height or overall diameter of the tire.

Also, occasionally you will see odd ball numbers like “1111”, or “400” after the dash. Typically, the manufacturer has simply omitted the decimal point. So these numbers would equate to 11.11 inches, or 4.00 inches. If you have any doubt about the tire size, the Tires-easy Customer Service Team is a great resource and would be very happy to assist you at 1-855-978-6789 (5am-5pm PST Mon-Fri) with any tire or tire size or tire use related questions.

Once you have found and noted the numbers and any special markings that accompany the size, the rest of the lawn garden tire replacement buying process is easy.

Picking the Tire Tread Pattern for your Lawn Garden Equipment Based on Intended Use

There are three main classifications of tread pattern types for tractors and lawn garden equipment: mixed-use turf tires, knobby all-terrain tires, or ribbed tires.

• Turf tread patterns are most common on ride-on tractors and carts. They usually have circumferential rows of chevron shaped tread blocks. These are designed to provide some traction on slick pavement and grass, while not digging up and damaging the turf. If you are replacing one tire, you can usually find a tread pattern that is identical, or close to identical to the pattern on the remaining tires, or what came on the tractor or cart when new.
• Knobby, all-terrain tire patterns typically have large tread blocks and deeper grooves to provide traction in loose surfaces like dirt, sand or mud. These tires sometimes have a herringbone tread pattern similar to what you see on farm tractors. They feature a high void area (space between the blocks) to evacuate debris from the tire. On ATV/UTV tires, the actual casing of the tires with these tread patterns are typically reinforced with a thicker sidewall to reduce damage from hazards such as sharp rock or impacts that could lead to tire failure. If you are satisfied with the type of grip your tires have provided you, consider replacing the tires with a similar looking tread pattern.
• Ribbed tread patterns are most common on utilitarian wheel barrows, hand carts and power washers. These consist of circumferential grooves and straight ribs that are either flat or slightly scalloped. These patterns provide some lateral stability to keep the tire from sliding sideways, but are primarily designed to roll easily and last a long time.

Often all an old hand cart or wheel barrow needs is a new tire and wheel to work like new

Where to Buy Your Lawn Garden Tires:

Now that you have the size and the type of tread pattern, you are armed with the information you need to find the right replacement tires for your lawn and garden equipment. We carry a great selection small equipment specialty tires to suit a wide range of small equipment, ATV/UTV and lawn garden equipment.

Simply visit tires-easy.com and enter your tire size in the red tire selector on the left of the screen. A photo and a general description of all the available tires will be listed. You can filter on a particular brand or style, or sort by price to find the tire that best fits your application, and your budget for lawn garden tires.

Getting into the Weeds: Lawn Mower Tire Solutions Add Opportunity For Profit

F or landscaping companies and homeowners alike, creating that perfectly landscaped lawn begins with the purchase of the right equipment – the lawn mower.

But just as a lawn needs upkeep, so do the machines that keep it looking pristine. And that’s where you – the tire dealer – come in to be the solution for your community’s lawn mower tire woes.

“Lawn care professionals can’t afford downtime, so having a solution for them on your shelf simplifies the buying process,” says Brian Preheim, market segment manager for outdoor power equipment and agricultural tires at The Carlstar Group, which manufactures Carlisle-brand lawn tires. “Taking the time to learn more about the product and understanding its intended use can help assure customers are maximizing their investment.”

As a tire dealer, building your expertise on lawnmower tires can be an add-on to the services you already offer. And if your shop is equipped with the right products, it can become the go-to place for your community’s tire needs – both residential and commercial.

To integrate this segment into your business – and better understand the specifics of lawn mower tires – we’ve talked to the experts about what you need to know to make sure your customers keep their mowers performing at their best.

Taking on the Terrain

The power lawn and garden equipment industry is projected to grow 2.5% per year through 2021, according to research from The Freedonia Group.

That means this segment offers a revenue opportunity for tire shops across the country. But in order to offer an effective lawn mower tire program, partnering with a good distributor or tire manufacturer is key, says the team at Kenda Tires, manufacturers of tire and wheel assemblies for lawn mowers.

“The good quality tires make customers come back, and great variety will turn your store into a one-stop shop,” the Kenda team says.

To make your store that one-stop shop, Kenda recommends educating your salesforce in specialty tires.

“It is a good customer service and generates additional business,” the team at Kenda explains. “Customers may come in for a car tire but conveniently have their lawn mower tire replaced, too.”

Marketing this service – for example, placing posters around the store to make customers aware of the lawn and garden tires your carry – allows your customers know that you’re knowledgeable about turf tire solutions, Kenda says.

In addition, Preheim recommends stocking the original equipment brand, size and tread pattern to simplify the tire-buying process for customers.

Dial Down to Application

Once a shop creates a lawn mower tire program, employees need to know how to match customers with the right product. Justin MacLanders, business development manager for Michelin Tweel Technologies at Michelin North America, which manufactures the airless X Tweel Turf, recommends determining the type of mower and how customers are using it.

“Is the mower being used for commercial purposes? Or if the consumer does not want to worry about flats or pressure maintenance, is it being used under conditions where it may be experiencing flats due to debris, field conditions, high usage, etc.?” McLanders asks. “Is it difficult to change flats where the equipment is being used? Are flats causing the owner-operator or crew downtime?”

Preheim also recommends shop employees start by asking customers about their overall satisfaction with the tires they have. Then, make a recommendation from there, he says.

To make the right one, technicians and service advisors need to be sure the replacement tire is of comparable or the same size to the OE tire.

“There is some variation from manufacturer to manufacturer for a given nominal size in bias ply manufacturing, so it’s important to make sure a replacement tire doesn’t create an interference or a deck-height issue,” says David Dahl, research and development manager for OPE, HST and AG SP tires at The Carlstar Group.

Another consideration is the traction requirement that comes from the tread design that certain applications require.

“Tires with deeper tread depth like the Carlisle branded Turf Master, Multi Trac C/S and Turf Smart tires are preferred by those who provide lawn care services for a living,” Dahl says. “The deeper tread depth provides the durability and traction needed for extended use required by professionals. Typically those heavier machines use 4-ply-rated constructions to handle the load requirements. The popular Turf Saver tire, with its classic chevron pattern, is designed for the needs of homeowners who have front-engine riders and smaller zero-turn mowers.”

Dave Paulk, field technical manager for BKT Tires, says a large percentage of mowers come with a turf-type tread design as an OE fitment. This type of tread offers less ground compaction, soil disturbance and grass disturbance. Unless the soil is wet, turf-type treads leave virtually no tracks or ruts, and traction is not a priority.

Alternatively, a tire that has a bar-type tread design is used to deliver traction even in loose soil, making it a good choice for garden or lawn tractors, especially those that need to maintain sideways stability on hillsides.

Dahl says more biting edges or distance between the tread elements will provide better traction, but that comes with a trade-off in protecting the lawn. A customer’s experience with the OE tire can help determine if that traction and lawn protection balance is where they need it to be, he says.

Another factor tire dealers and shops need to consider is that lawn tires are made in several different ply ratings, Paulk says.

“Most mowers come from the factory with a 2-ply rated or a 4-ply rated tire. Some sizes are made in a 6-ply rated and 8-ply rated tire,” Paulk says. “The heavier ply ratings give the tire more weight carrying capacity. They also have slightly thicker casings that can help with puncture resistance from thorns and sticks.”

Upkeep and Storage

When landscaping companies perform their end-of-year or end-of-season checkup on lawn equipment, their inspection should include the tires, The Carlstar Group’s Preheim says.

During colder months or when inactive, mowers should be stored inside, Paulk says.

“Not only will you protect your mower from the elements, you will also protect your tires,” Paulk says. “Sunshine and ozone are the enemy of rubber products. These will cause tires to weather crack, sidewall crack and dry rot prematurely.”

Recommend that your customers store lawn mowing equipment in a cool, dry place and out of direct sunlight is important to make sure that tires do not go completely flat while in storage for winter. The wheel will damage the sidewall plies if it sits on them for a long duration, Paulk says.

Before taking lawn mowers back out again for use, Paulk recommends tire dealers teach their customers to check their lawn tires’ air pressure since most lawn tires have lower ply ratings, which means they’ll lose air in their inner liners if the tubes aren’t used.

The Kenda team recommends that customers consult manufacturers’ recommendations for proper inflation and that they monitor their tire pressure closely. Overinflation, Kenda says, may not get the traction that a certain tire is designed to have. Under-inflation may cause the cutting deck of a mower to sit unevenly, resulting in an uneven cut.

Tech Talk: Replacing Lawn Mower Tires

Replacement tires should be selected based on application, the Kenda team says.

When lawn mower tires need to be replaced, the wheels first need to be inspected to ensure they aren’t bent and that the tire will properly seat on them, says Dave Paulk, field technical manager for BKT Tires.

A wire brush may be needed to clean the wheel to ensure a good bead seal. If the tires are tubeless, Paulk recommends replacing the valve stem, which is made of rubber and affected by the same elements as tires. If tubes are used, Paulk advises to put a new tube in a new tire to save problems down the road.

When mounting, some type of lubricant should be used on the bead of the tire to allow it to easily slide over the edge of the wheels. This will minimize mounting damage to the rubber that covers the bead and helps to seal the tire to the wheel. The bead can also be kinked or bent if mounted dry.

If replacing the complete wheel assembly, Kenda advises to consider the wheel placement (drive wheel or idler wheel), proper rim size (diameter and width), style and size of bearings, proper hub length and offset.

Going Airless with Michelin X Tweel Turf

New technology has flooded the tire industry, and that’s no exception when it comes to the turf tire segment.

Last summer, Michelin North America put its airless Tweel tire technology to work in launching the X Tweel Turf tire for zero turn radius mowers.

The Michelin X Tweel Turf is designed to perform like a pneumatic tire, but without the risk and costly downtime associated with flat tires and unseated beads, says Justin MacLanders, business development manager for Michelin Tweel Technologies at Michelin North America.

“High performance compounds and an efficient contact patch are designed to provide a long wear life that is two to three times that of a pneumatic tire at equal tread depth,” he says. “Once they are bolted on, there is no air pressure to maintain, and the common problems of unseated beads and flat tires are completely eliminated.

The tire also has consistent hub height, which helps the mower deck produce an even cut. They can be used on John Deere, eXmark, Scag, Gravely, Ariens, Hustler, Kubota and many other commercial mowers.

Retreading Your Lawn Mower Tires

With proper care and maintenance, a good lawn mower can last for decades. This means your machine will long outlast the tread on your tires, making your once self-propelled mower a push mower and making your job much harder. Here’s a simple trick to retread your mower tires and keep your mower running like new. All you need is some basic tools and a used bicycle tire, which you can probably get from a local bike shop for free.

You can do the same thing with any solid tires.

Step 1: Prop Up the Mower and Measure the Tire

This whole thing is much easier with the rear tires off the ground, so prop up your mower. I used a stool.

You’ll need to measure your tire. No need to get technical here. The easiest way is to wrap a string around the tire and then either cut it off or hold your thumb at the length once it is all the way around.

Step 2: Cut the Bicycle Tire

First, cut the tire to the length of the string. Then cut the sides off so the bicycle tread is the same width as your mower tire.

Step 3: Screw the Bicycle Tread on to the Mower Tire

Put two screws into the end of the tread to start. Then wrap the tread around the tire, putting in a few screws as you go to hold it tight. Once you get to the other end, trim any extra and add two more screws. I ended up with seven screws total: two on each end and three spaced out around the tire.

Step 4: Repeat for Second Tire and Get Mowing

Once both tires are retreaded you’ll be amazed at how much better your mower pulls. If you live on a mountain, this is going to be very important. Of course, the next step is to find a gullible neighbor child who wants money more than free time and will mow your lawn for you.

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Комментарии и мнения владельцев

The OP is retrofitting an old mower of the same manufacturer that I bought new this summer. My mower came with plastic wheels with molded tread attached to a plastic hub. It’s a great mower but the ditch slope in the front yard along the street is greater than 20 degrees and the wheels lack traction even with it being self-propelled. After calling the manufacturer, there’s no retrofit rubber tire to replace except the same wheel. The OP’s retrofit may be worthwhile and could create a safer mowing environment. I would have to attach the bike tire tread with a stout rubber cement and a clamping strap to keep water and debris from collecting between the added rubber and the wheel. I think it would work well glued to the flat top surface and possibly without the need of flat-head screws.

My Toro Recycler 20331 came with rubber tires but now all they make is plastic tread tires for it which wear out in 1 season (both OEM and aftermarket, they are all plastic treads for my model). So I did this retread instead because rubber grips the turf SO MUCH BETTER THAN PLASTIC TREAD. I have a bank to mow and a good grip (which only rubber tread provides) is essential! If this retread method cost me 100, I would still do it because it would keep me safe on the bank and would work so much better. And if mounted to the tire well enough it should last a long time and would save money in the long run. So far it’s been 2 seasons and still holding up well for me. But I used DAP Flexible CLEAR Sealant as a glue as well as screws and I also used the sealant to caulk around the edges of the tread to keep dirt out.

I have found that a little bit of glue is a great addition to this retread.

My mower is front drive and I was worried the screws wouldn’t be enough so I used contact cement and screws. I was concerned when sideways pressure was applied the tread would slip off. Mowed today with it and worked fine.

Great idea for larger tires, but 3 inch to 5 inch tires usually don’t cost that much. Besides, extra rubber meeting any surface means extra friction as rolling resistance. There is already far too much rolling resistance in small tires.

Too much thought. Self tapping screws would be all that’s needed truthfully

Good idea, I have a entire jar of those.

I had the same idea myself but was planning on gluing on the tires. Think I will use glue and screws. Using string to measure is a great idea. I just need to find some good scissors or exacto to cut with.

Used mountain bike tires for my grandkids PowerWheel Car so he could ride in the yard and not the street.(too fast for street) was fun to do. The Dad sold it in garage sale last summer. Car was 4 years old when it sold. Love the DIY Re-Tread

Hardwood75 beat me to it. Powerwheels are begging for this treatment, as is my front wheel powered mower. Thanks!

A great use for old bicycle tires, and a neat solution to a vexing problem! Well done!

THIS is one of those “why didn’t I think of that?” moments. Kudos!

Im gonna do my hand trucks with this technique. thanks

Great idea! I’m going to use this on my kids powerwheels too.