Can't Find Tire Leak

[Biscuit Barrel]

does it consistently bleed down, or sometimes? Sometimes leaks can be dependent on the load on the tire - especially at the bead.

RE: Slime: Myself and a garage mechanic friend have never had any success with Slime. It may stop a leak but in weeds or months, it's back. I had cans of Fix-a-Flat for a cross country drive and decided to try. Success. Friend had the same experience. The substance in FaF is complete different from S, FaF looks like a latex rubber base. If you buy at Walmart, instore $12, online $5 something. Yes they honor their online price in the store. Beware, almost everything is cheaper online nowadays: carb cleaner $3.29 instore, $2.89 online.

 

[ILENGINE]

I replaced all the tires on my old Dixon, 8026D, with Carlisle tires. After 3 months or so, I had a slow leak in a rear tire. I went through all normal trouble shooting. I finally submerged the whole thing in soap water, still nothing. Took it out of water and went to lunch. When I got back to the tire, it looked like little bits of foam around all lettering and numbers on the side wall, it leaks everywhere, very slowly!
I slimed it, added extra slime, made sure the sidewall’s were covered. Still leaks just a little slower. My 1st and last experience with slime… Will not buy Carlisle tires again.

That is not a Carlisle tire problem. That is a doesn't matter what brand of mower tire they all get cracks and leak in strange patterns, Even an outline of the letters. Some of the tires I have been seeing the last couple years have insides that looks like a net with all the string strands pulled out of the rubber.

 

[Gord Baker]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

Mike:
Remove the tire from the wheel and do a Haynes Test. Slowly wipe a nylon around the inside of the tire. It will catch on the smallest protrusion. When you are satisfied there is nothing inside, note the Tire and Rim size and get a Tube for it.
This gives you an new valve as well as eliminating any rim leaks/dry rot etc. Some air may be trapped in the annular space so press the valve in to allow it to escape momentarily.

 

[StarTech]

But there are different grades of tires. Carlisle tires are usually very good. And only seen one tire with the string problem IL described.

But I do know tires for the hand cart are lousy from Harbor Freight but the more expensive ones I finally replaced them with have good for the last three years not 90 days.

 

[MikeH62]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

Why don't you just put an inner tube in it and be done with it.

 

[RevB]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

Submerge it. There are plenty of places unless you live in the Atacama desert. Make sure you remove the stem cap before.....

 

[wesw]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

I seem to have issues like this with almost all my lawn equipment. I put Flat Out Off Road Sealant in them (has a kevlar additive) and tires that used to leak sometimes don't even need filling season to season.

 

[Boomer49]

I've used Stan's No Tube in car, motorcycle, and now bicycle tires. It doesn't cause rust and Amazon has given it a 4.7 based on almost 14,000 reviews. It needs to be reapplied about every 6 months, for a lawn mower tire like you described about 2 oz per tire. They have a small syringe kit with a 5 or 6 oz capacity with a detachable hose. If you still haven't found a solution, researching Stan's No Tube won't be a waste of time. https://www.amazon.com/Stans-No-Tubes-ST0062-NoTubes-32-Ounce/dp/B000XSJIMA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DN08R5D4GKXV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.p3xEIcnd9xqEPJLNcXw5xOBTcglVj1r_-5QaTDnjQkSEL43PaGW1qvkSaarKMetGxNBqtgv9XRMtf_toe-4p3T5A_74dF7xtAwPBFz7X1eOArW9-y7JFkviq2qexSS_R83WtPCKAyZBR6r42HEb_ThiY8U3fzzJM1qosSLu8RSvFnj436CZ0k6cxdgZ-K1_pUGIbVxjtCTabD_yA2B-ZZ5LAst9_3Qt-shR22LJJXX7UtMPDemdlV1EiHgD52gGV7AB2SEWjOQJkcA_YTt-oSR2fgU7C58cK8Byu1ZrZQtDN3NOIpU_yHCECLR9g-LKDE_20WCBo8SjLoKr1rdxoZKIOwa3-70Ku4hn5tlHF-LI.3olOCk7tFiQcmgS17KFBcaaAdXgwyJNIBCfbn6DaDWA&dib_tag=se&keywords=stan's+no+tubes+tire+sealant&qid=1737218222&refinements=p_123:390126&rnid=85457740011&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=Stan's,aps,143&sr=1-1

 

[Forest#2]

Whip out the plastic and go get a NEW MOWER. Seems to be the norm now days.

Every time the wife gets a flat tire she wants to go buy a NEW vehicle. After she calls me to come install her spare. (and I most generally fix my own flats)
We live on dirt/rock roads and have to use at least 6 ply tires, 10 ply even better and flats are not a uncommon thing.

She does not seem to understand that most generally NEW vec's OEM tires are not good quality thing for dirt/rock roads. I tell her to go get a job first, get out the plastic and don't ask me to co-sign.

 

[jactwo]

Hey Everyone,

I am embarrased to ask this. I have a slow Leak in a Rear JD D130 Tire. It takes 2 days to go completly flat. I've taken it off the mower. I can't see anything in it and I have gone over it multple times w/ soapy water and I still can't find the Leak. I also soaped up the valve stem and bead but nothing. Tire is in great shape. If I find the leak y thought was to use a plug.

Any other ideas? All the lawn shops around here won't repair will only replace the tire. I thought about filling the bathtub up w/ water and checking it that way, pretty sure the wife wouldn't like it but I'm losing ideas.

My last resort, which I don't want to do is add slime. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MIchael

Are you sure it’s the tire and not the rim? Inspect rim carefully and wherever any rust color hit it with wire wheel. You will be amazed at extent of damage not visible until you check those areas if there are any. Air can be seeping out the tiniest rust pinhole.