To Tube or Not to Tube

[Skippydiesel]

I am contemplating replacing the warn out front tires (13 x 6.50 - 6) on my Hustler Super Z .

Do you recomend;

• Tubes or tube less??
• 4 ply or 6ply ??

 

[StarTech]

Really depend on the current tire condition and much you are willing to part with. Tubes are the cheapest route.

As for tires you need to decide first the thread pattern. For me the RIB thread is the cheapest in a 4 ply tubeless.

Then there is the flat free tires which are a pain to install. Requires a cone, a good hydraulic press, a hydraulic jack, silicone lube, and at least 8 inches of spacers. Plus you might need new bearings. How do I know this? It because I mounted two of these back in August. And they can be expensive. I charged 131.58 each with new bearings.

Now removing the old flat free was the real challenge. They are bear to cut off.

 

[Skippydiesel]

Current tubeless tires have had it - need to be replased.

Have decided not to go with "flat free"/semi solids. Pneumatic tires give a much better ride (bit of suspension).

I have always found that small tires like these, appear to lose pressure much quicker than larger. Makes sense when you consider the air volume ie a small loss in a large tire, may not be measurable but in a small tire can be many psi.

• Could an inner tube slow the rate of air loss ?
• The question is do I fit tubes in the new tires or not?

 

[Auto Doc's]

Why not check into solid airless tires? They are being made for many zero turn mowers these days. You will need to take measurement of your old tires and rims along with the axle shaft diameter.

eBay and Amazon have a variety.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Another option that I have used is to drill 4 small holes in equally space areas of the tire, near the rim, then fill the tire with canned expanding spray foam and tape over the hole until the foam cures solid. There are examples online for reference.

The rims are likely no good to try and mount new tires on anyway and tire shops hate trying to install tubes on these small tires.

 

[Skippydiesel]

"The rims are likely no good to try and mount new tires on anyway and tire shops hate trying to install tubes on these small tires."

They don't look the best externally. I will know how good they are when I take the old tires off. Just bought new bearings for them, so hope I havens wasted my $$$$.

I have always done my own tire replacements for this sort of job.

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

I am contemplating replacing the warn out front tires (13 x 6.50 - 6) on my Hustler Super Z .

Do you recomend;

• Tubes or tube less??
• 4 ply or 6ply ??

Buy flat free/run flat/solid tires and rims. Do not try to take off or mount these tires. This is the only way to go. Many new mowers come with flat free tires. Never have to worry about front flats again. Buy a suspension seat to improve the ride quality. Front tires with air in them help very little with ride quality.

Installing inner tubes in any tire, especially smaller tires, is a nightmare. Usually end up puncturing the inner tube during remounting the tire. Plus, as soon as you hit something and puncture the inner tube, you are back to square one.