Yammer Dan Posted August 5, 2016 Share #1 Posted August 5, 2016 OK I have a Cub Cadet mower that is a few years old but runs great. My trouble is the tires on it are cracking in the sidewalls. Cracking is getting so bad they are leaking air. Tread is not bad. Tubeless tires. My thought_ Buy some tubes to put in them and see if they will outlast the mower?? Or go ahead and find some tires? These stupid things cost almost as much as a car tire!!! Tubes can be had for less than 1/2 what tires will cost me. Just wondering if anyone had tried anything like this. Will the tubes just pop or would they last a few years like that? The mower is a 50 inch cut, runs great, uses no oil. Tubes or Tires??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eusa1 Posted August 5, 2016 Share #2 Posted August 5, 2016 tire slime! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bongobobny Posted August 5, 2016 Share #3 Posted August 5, 2016 Well Dan, to save money I would go with tubes. If and when the tires disintegrate and you have to finally replace the tires, you will still have the tubes for the next time providing THEY don't dry rot as well!! If the tires are dry rotting already, I somehow think your mower is more than "a few years old!" I'm thinking SEVERAL years old is more appropriate! Myself I would just replace the tires and be done with it but that's me. It's just a mower, not a car or motorcycle, chances are you are not gonna die from a blowout... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eagleeye Posted August 5, 2016 Share #4 Posted August 5, 2016 Tubes-Of course you already knew this and probably already have it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyinfool Posted August 5, 2016 Share #5 Posted August 5, 2016 If a cracked sidewall rips and blows out, the tube will just bulge out of the hole and pop. Either way when the sidewall lets go you will be buying a new tire. I would get the new tire and they will outlive you and can be someone else problem some day when you are gone. So it kind of depends on just how bad are the cracks, light surface cracking, don't worry about it, deep cracks where you can see cord at the bottom of the crack, the tube will not help or delay the inevitable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepy2 Posted August 5, 2016 Share #6 Posted August 5, 2016 Try tubes as mentioned. I have just bought a Husquavarna 12hp tractor with the same situation and I have put tubes in all 4 tires.Done this before and worked fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowrollwv Posted August 5, 2016 Share #7 Posted August 5, 2016 Dan if you plan on keeping the mower go ahead and put tires on it. you will need them in a year or two anyhow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader Posted August 5, 2016 Share #8 Posted August 5, 2016 Almost every small engine repair guy has an inventory of scrap lawn tractors. Check a few of them and see if they might have some in better condition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midnightventure Posted August 6, 2016 Share #9 Posted August 6, 2016 I have put tubes in 30 year old tires on a Murray mower that I inherited from my Dad. The tires were pretty cracked and I ran it for several years. The tires never failed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djh3 Posted August 6, 2016 Share #10 Posted August 6, 2016 I would put some tubes in them. When you dismount one side to get tube in, as long as there is not a crack all the way thru the tire that would pinch the tube I'd say your good. We had some sort of old Cadet on my uncles place tires were sad shape. 12 or 13 inch jobs, but they wanted a lot of coin at the time for them. We went to Western Auto (remember them) and got a couple small car tires that were close and called it good. Might have even been snow treads I dont remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freebird Posted August 6, 2016 Share #11 Posted August 6, 2016 The tires on my old John Deere that I use mostly for the snowblower had cracked tires when I bought it several years ago. The owner had already put tubes in them or maybe they came with tubes, I don't know. I used it that way for probably 6 or 7 years before they finally cracked on the tread and the tube was actually starting to stick out of one of the cracks. Actually used it for an entire winter with the tube sticking out that way before finally replacing the front tires last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Air Ready Auto Posted August 6, 2016 Share #12 Posted August 6, 2016 Most lawn tractor tires do not have metal cords in them. I would go with tubes. They can be a bear to get in but will work fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug royal86 Posted August 6, 2016 Share #13 Posted August 6, 2016 Tubes work great. But a new mower works better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yammer Dan Posted August 6, 2016 Author Share #14 Posted August 6, 2016 Humm I think Bob may be right. Looked at papers on it. I bought it when it was 2 yrs old. In 2004..... No wonder they are cracking!!!:bang head: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano Posted August 7, 2016 Share #15 Posted August 7, 2016 chances are you are not gonna die from a blowout... You forget how Dan takes the turns... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bongobobny Posted August 7, 2016 Share #16 Posted August 7, 2016 Uhhhh, good point Dano... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dano Posted August 7, 2016 Share #17 Posted August 7, 2016 Occasionally I have some prudent knowledge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yammer Dan Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share #18 Posted August 7, 2016 You can Drift that mower on some of the banks I got... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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