Replace Lawn Tractor Tires By Hand
The more difficult it is to remove and install a small tire, the more difficult it is to do so.
Remove Wheel From Lawn Tractor
If you have a lawn tractor lift, this part is simple; if not, use a scissor or hydraulic jack to jack up the corner to be worked on, and place a jack-stand or log of wood underneath as a safety precaution, just as you would when working on your car. Heavy-duty lawn tractor wheels are held on by lug nuts and bolts; light-duty lawn tractor wheels are usually held on by an E-clip, which is located just behind the rub rail.
Remove A Stuck Wheel From Lawn Tractor
When it came time to remove the second wheel, it wouldn’t budge. It was stuck to the axle, probably because it hadn’t been removed in years. I carefully smacked the back of the steel rim with a punch and hammer, turning it 1/4 turn before the next smack. This will ensure you don’t inadvertently damage the axle.
Tools Needed To Mount/Dismount A Small Tire
Two tire irons Two large C-clamps Valve stem core removal tool Tire valve puller tool (optional) If you don’t want to spend the money on a tire valve removal tool, here’s an old trick: find a nut that threads onto the valve stem, and then grab it with a Vice-grip and pull it through the rim.
Tire Irons
Tire irons, also known as spoons, are inexpensive and work well without damaging the tire; the best size for small tires is 18″ to 24″ (not too big, not too small). If you’re worried about scratching your rim, place a piece of rubber between the rim and the spoon.
Breaking The Bead
After removing the old wheel, clamp it to a sturdy workbench or work on the floor. Tightening a couple of large C-clamps placed on different parts of the sidewall should break the bead. Putting a small piece of wood under the C-clamp can sometimes help break the bead.
Remove Tire From Wheel
Stick a tire spoon in between the bead and the rim with the tire in front of you, then bend the spoon over. Grab the second tire spoon and repeat the process a few inches away. You should be able to take the first spoon out and move it to the other side of the second spoon. If you’re right-handed, you’ll probably be working clockwise, but it doesn’t matter.
Cut Tire Off Rim
I couldn’t break the bead on one of the old tires, so I used an air grinder and a wiz wheel attachment to cut it off; this is only recommended as a last resort because cutting through rubber and steel band takes a long time. Tires should be a little smaller than the rim they’re being mounted to to ensure a snug fit; otherwise, your tire won’t hold air under weight.
Install Tire On Rim
I found it easier to start the tire mounting process with the rim in my workbench vice, but I’ve also mounted tires on the garage floor. Using the tire spoons, mount the bottom of the lubed tire over the top of the rim, working the spoons around the bead until the tire is completely over the rim.
Keep The Bead Lubed
The bead must be kept lubed while mounting the new tire. Tire shops use a specialty tire grease, but other types of lube will work, too, such as liquid dish soap or Gojo (without pumice). I imagine axle grease could be used, but it would be messier. If the lube dries out or is absorbed by the tire bead, it will become sticky instead of slippery.
Final Mounting
Use a spoon to pry the top part of the tire onto the top of the rim. Work the spoons around the bead until the tire is over the rim. A pair of vise grips on the rim will keep the bead firmly in place.
Mounting A Crushed Tire
Knowing that a squashed tire like this would never bead up, I needed to figure out a way to restore it to its original shape, which I did in one of several ways.
Getting The Tire To Bead Against The Rim
If the tire beads up, quickly replace the valve stem core and inflate to 10-15 pounds, being careful not to over-inflate.
Installing A Tube To A Lawn Tractor Tire
Remove the old tubeless valve stem from the rim first. The center of lawn tractor rims are generally made equidistant from the front and back. Trouble is, tire tube manufacturers usually make the valve face one direction, slightly off-center, which is sometimes a problem with lawn tractor rims.
Shop: Inner Tube with Straight Stem Valve
When mounting the tire, be careful not to pinch the tube with the tire iron; baby powder sprinkled on the tube will help prevent pinching.
Does Walmart Mount Lawn tractor tires?
Walmart does change and install RV tires, which is a very convenient service for campers and other types of vacation or leisure vehicles.
Are tractor tires DOT approved?
Despite the fact that some agricultural tires are DOT-compliant (speed limited), tractor tires will never overtake the light-truck market. One factor that has boosted tractor tire popularity in recent years is the availability of sets for common 16- and 20-inch wheel sizes.
How do I make my lawn mower tires flat for free?
Avoid Lawn Mower Tires That Are Flat
- Purchase at least two cans of minimal expanding rigid foam.
- Jack up the mower.
- Drill a hole just large enough for the spray tube of the canned foam to fit into.
- Insert the tube into the tire and spray the foam into it.
How much does a tractor tire cost?
How much do tractor tires cost? A radial design tractor tire from Titan Tire Corporation costs an average of US$1,600 to US$2,900 at retail. Some new tires are cheaper at US$400, but it still costs a lot of money for many people. Buying used tractor tires will save you money.
How do you jack up a riding lawn mower with a car jack?
How to Adjust the Height of Your Lawn Mower
- Slide the hydraulic jack underneath the riding lawn mower, near the appropriate tire.
- Center the hydraulic jack underneath the guard.
- Crank the hydraulic jack handle to lift the lawn mower.
Can you jack up a riding lawn mower?
Turn the floor jack handle clockwise to tighten the hydraulic valve, allowing the floor jack to be raised. Center the floor jack with the front or rear of the riding mower tractor. Roll the floor jack directly underneath the front or rear axle.
Can you put a tube in a tubeless tire?
A. Tubeless tyres can be fitted with tubes, but there are some restrictions: if the rim is marked as a WM-type rim, you can only use tubed tyres; if the inside of the tyre is ribbed, it can chafe against the tube, causing heat and wear.
Are Titan tractor tires any good?
My tire suppliers (both of them) say the Titan tires are just as good, and I’ve used several smaller Titans on chore and second line tillage/planting tractors where the tire was just as likely to be ruined by running over something as it was to wear out.
Does Goodyear make tractor tires?
Agricultural Bias R-3 tire for Golf Courses, Parks, Citrus Groves, and Highway Mowing. Agricultural R-2 Rear Tractor Drive tire for Wet Soft Soil – Cane/Rice Service. Will Handle Speeds up to 30 mph.
What is DOT tire depth?
u201cTires shall have a tread groove pattern depth of at least 2/32 of an inch when measured in a major tread groove,u201d according to code section 393.75 (c). Measurements cannot be taken u201cwhere tie bars, humps, or fillets are located,u201d according to DOT steer tire regulations.