No where near a motorcycle tire question

[Yammer Dan]

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???

[eusa1]

tire slime!

[bongobobny]

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...

[eagleeye]

Tubes-Of course you already knew this and probably already have it done.

[Flyinfool]

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.

[sleepy2]

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.

[slowrollwv]

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.

[Trader]

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

[midnightventure]

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.

[djh3]

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.

[Freebird]

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.

[Air Ready Auto]

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.

[Doug royal86]

Tubes work great. But a new mower works better

[Yammer Dan]

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:

[Dano]

chances are you are not gonna die from a blowout...

 

You forget how Dan takes the turns...

[bongobobny]

Uhhhh, good point Dano...

[Dano]

Occasionally I have some prudent knowledge...

[Yammer Dan]

You can Drift that mower on some of the banks I got...