Looking for good tube brand or type

[tagpop]

For years I have been putting tubes in old riding mower tires. Today these tubes do not hold air for a year. Any advice is appricated. 4 inch snapper tubes are a challenge but I get it done with a bench vise, 2 pair channel locks and 2 flat screw drivers or car brake adjusting tools. Of course I use the cheapest tubes but I would be willing to pay more for quality.

 

[Rivets]

I don’t think you are going to like this, but I’ve found that putting in tubes in a 4” tire is a waste of time and effort. I now recommend that you replace the tire and if needed rim. I know this is not cheap, but when you include my labor the cost in the long run is better. The only thing you might try is getting tubes with sealant in like these, but you may end up replacing them also. https://www.grainger.com/product/SLIME-Inner-Tube-1MRF1?opr=PDPRRDSP&analytics=dsrrItems_1MRF3

 

[SeniorCitizen]

For years I have been putting tubes in old riding mower tires. Today these tubes do not hold air for a year. Any advice is appricated. 4 inch snapper tubes are a challenge but I get it done with a bench vise, 2 pair channel locks and 2 flat screw drivers or car brake adjusting tools. Of course I use the cheapest tubes but I would be willing to pay more for quality.

You certainly know how to challenge yourself.
I've no idea why a 2 piece wheel / rim isn't made for a tubed tire but they aren't to my knowledge. That would be too simple I suspect.

Through the years I've learned that a floor model drill press works well to hold small wheels. For starters, the inspection of the inside of tire for foreign objects is a challenge and secondly installing a tube in those tires without pinching it with a tire iron is another challenge. I wish you well in your efforts and I buy my tubes from my Farmer's Co-op, but I'm a country kid.

 

[bertsmobile1]

So you spend 2 hours of seat & toil only to sue a 2 bob tube that fails in service
If you are going to the effort of changing a tube in a 4" rim, then use a good tube like a carslile

 

[Daddio7]

I use a product called Slime in my mower tires. Perfect for small punctures and tubes that won't hold air. It comes in small squeeze bottles and large jugs with a pump. You can get it at Walmart, it is not expensive.

 

[qmark]

I have found, on recommendation, that antifreeze works quite well as a sealant. For tubeless tires it washes out easily when repairing them.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

If i tube a tire i use either Carlisle or Kenda tubes. If the tubes fail in one year something else is wrong. I won't tube 4 or 5 inch tires. Depending on what the customer wants i will either slime it or mount a new rubeless tire. I don't give any guarantee with slime. A lot of folks complain cheap mower tires "just leak" when they have not prepped the rim properly to seal the bead.

 

[VRR.DYNDNS>BIZ]

I don’t think you are going to like this, but I’ve found that putting in tubes in a 4” tire is a waste of time and effort. I now recommend that you replace the tire and if needed rim. I know this is not cheap, but when you include my labor the cost in the long run is better. The only thing you might try is getting tubes with sealant in like these, but you may end up replacing them also. https://www.grainger.com/product/SLIME-Inner-Tube-1MRF1?opr=PDPRRDSP&analytics=dsrrItems_1MRF3

Good advise, and I would add that fix a flat fixes 70% of slow side wall leaks if you apply and spin to spread it on the sidewalls everywhere by going for a ride. Cost of complete wheel is almost always cheaper - period. Life is to short!

 

[Hammermechanicman]

A word of caution. The brand Fix a Flat tire inflator is basically what amounts to latex paint. It is designed to be a TEMPORARY fix for a flat tire. If left in a tire it will separate into rubbery crap and water which will rust the crap out of a rim. I have dismounted dozens of tire with some type of snot sealant in them and Fix a Flat is the worst for rusting rims.

 

[bertsmobile1]

A word of caution. The brand Fix a Flat tire inflator is basically what amounts to latex paint. It is designed to be a TEMPORARY fix for a flat tire. If left in a tire it will separate into rubbery crap and water which will rust the crap out of a rim. I have dismounted dozens of tire with some type of snot sealant in them and Fix a Flat is the worst for rusting rims.

I am yet to find any tyre goo that does not lift the powder coating and rust the rims which is why I never use any of them unless specifically asked to and then I make the customer specify which goop they want me to use.
Then when a new tyre gets fitted they wonder why it keeps on going down , which is because the rim is rusted so bad it can not make a seal against they tyre
So in order to sae $ 40 on a tyre they end up spending $ 150 on a new rim.