You may be jumping to conclusions Forest#2
. I am also 6'8" tall. That's me on the Hustler in my Avatar. I had to buy handle extensions to fit my legs under the steering arms. Yes, I could use to lose a few, but it ain't what it seems.
For what it's worth, I do have a push mower that I use in the ditches they have around my house. North Carolina's solution to drainage, but you won't catch me out there with the temps in the 90's and me in my mid 70's doing the rest of the property without a riding mower.
It is the rear tire. I check the tire pressure regularly. Hustler calls for between 10 and 12 PSI. I have a measurement between the mower frame and the floor so I'd notice even a slight loss of air pressure. It isn't tire pressure, it just goes pop. I fill it back up and it's good to go for at least a few mowings.
I'd certainly go for a inner tube before investing in solid tires. Solid tires in that size would be very expensive, if they even make them.
Small correction, the manual calls for between 8 and 12 psi, I keep it between 10 and 12.
Here's an excerpt from the manual:
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It is important for level mowing that the tires have the same
amount of air pressure. The recommended pressures are:
Drive wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 psi (55-83 KPa)
Front wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 psi (55-83 KPa)