Tire foaming question(s)....Has anyone here done it?

[chim]

Where I worked, we had all 4 tires filled on a new Montana back in '08 or so. The vendor we used in Harrisburg PA had choices in different weights and densities. He guided us based on information we provided. The tractor had a very stiff ride, much like the R4's were inflated to the max. Bright side was even the worst of our people couldn't hurt them. I can't say if the tires developed flat spots because we didn't run it on nice smooth surfaces.

The first foam-filled tires I remember seeing were on a telehandler we were using on a project back around 1990. This machine ran over all sorts of construction debris, rebar, stakes etc. One of the tires had a chunk missing that was about 1/2 on the tread and 1/2 on the sidewall. No part of the tire remained in that roughly 6-8" diameter area and the foam fill was sticking out a bit past flush there. It looked like there was a foam pillow trying to escape. Of course the foam was many times more dense than pillow foam.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I am considering doing this to a problematic tire on my Yamaha Rhino.

But I was wondering if I do it, can that tire ever be replaced if it wears out?

I have also read about getting a "flat spot" if it sits too long. Is this true?

No flat spots
When the tire wears out, you fill either have to physically cut the tire and foam off the rim as it will be stuck to everything, or as most do replace the rim with a new one.
I'll caution you, the ride will suck, as it makes the tire about 3 to 4 times stiffer than air filled.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Front tires on my BX23s. Very happy I did it considering I blew two ($138ea) tires in a week with big holes in the sidewalls. I can now run them bald till I hit the foam, about a year here. I was kinda surprised at how heavy the tire were when done. From 20# to 60# ish each

Did you notice an "appreciable" ride quality difference?

 

[Scm]

Did you notice an "appreciable" ride quality difference?

You definitely feel more bumps, but it is a tractor.

 

[Donystoy]

I have never had any tires foam filled but I did try Kelver liners on my old B7200. I was frequently getting flats on my front turfs from hawthorns. You used the liners in conjunction with inner tubes. Bad idea as with the flexing it would cause the inner tube to get pinched on the edge of the liner and rupture it. I ended up just going back to tubeless where I could easily plug it from the outside. Very costly venture as the liners were not cheap. I think contributing to the issue is that the thickness of inner tubes has gotten thinner.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

...I had an ongoing issue on with a couple tires on an older ATV. Plugged multiple holes, used bead sealer, but kept leaking down.

Turned out to be a whole bunch of micro holes. Not sure how that happens....

I had a similar issue with tires being "too porous" and looked into it. It turns out inexpensive Chinese rubber doesn't cross-link well and breaks down in 1 to 2 years, like the "soft rubber" on consumer products that turns gummy/sticky in 1-2 years. As my tire rubber aged it became softer instead of harder and micro-channels developed which let the air slowly work its way out. I added FlatOut which plugged the holes in the tread portion and the problem was significantly reduced, though I suspect the sidewalls are still leaking.

I've had similar problems with Chinese innertubes, going with better rubber solved the issue.

In the big picture, many people want to get the same product for less money, and this situation is pretty much that. I've heard low-cost/lower-quality rubber from India can be much the same, and if your labor cost is near free then "cheap rubber" makes total sense--just inflate it more often. I know both China and India can (and do) make excellent products, they just cost more--and that may or may not be a good value compared to local products when shipping and import costs are added in, so no hate from me towards any manufacturer meeting a market demand (but the 2-year-plus picture is something to consider when buying imports off Amazon or elsewhere).

 

[drygulch]

...As my tire rubber aged it became softer instead of harder and micro-channels developed which let the air slowly work its way out...

In my case they were/are stock Polaris tires. But I don't doubt your analysis. The holes were too small and too numerous to be literal pin holes, so seems like a failure in the tire.

Greg

 

[JRHill]

I have used machinery with foamed tires. I loved 'em. But these were all heavy, low speed material handing and construction units. @chim in post 21 is spot on about various foam weights and densities. And the smaller the diameter the lower the max speed.

You don't just drop set of tires/wheels off and tell them to foam them. Properly done the tires can still have a squish. And it can be pricey.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

In my case they were/are stock Polaris tires. But I don't doubt your analysis. The holes were too small and too numerous to be literal pin holes, so seems like a failure in the tire.

Greg

I've worked on a bunch of Polaris Slingshots, motorcycles, and snowmobiles, it seems everything they can get from China is from China and quality in those parts is pretty low. I don't know where they source their rubber from, but given it has Polaris brand on the sidewalks I can only guess.

 

[Riding a Relic]

Can you expand on why you think this?

Like I eluded too earlier, this is not a 'priority", I am just fishing around for ideas and thoughts.

on a four wheeler the balloon tires act as a shock absorber so you would be affected on front end control of the handlebars without the air cushion under the front end.

 

[airbiscuit]

Try this?