Small tire Sealer: Slime?

[Automatic Slim]

Ran my mower through a bunch of thorny underbrush and have at least one pin sized hole that deflates my pneumo caster tire before I can finish the cut.

Don't see need to make bigger hole to plug.

Thought about just getting a tube.

Have used slime before w/ not good results, but from recall, holes were bigger. Is there a good tire sealant for a small leak in a 2 ply lawmower tire?

Thanks in advance, if you know something better, I'm game.

 

[Jinks]

I'd go with a tube or an old fashion patch before I'd squirt Slime in it. That stuff is messy the next time you work on the tire even if it worked.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm curious about this stuff too. I'm not going to use it on the mower tires but the tires on the generator don't hold air for ****.

 

[LEVE]

A few weeks ago I got tired of airing up my Craftsman rider's tires before mowing each week. So, a trip to Wal*Mart searching for a solution. I purchased of a bottle of Slime and hoped it would take care of the problem. One rear tire has quite a large plug in it. It was leaking. To this point none of the tires have leaked. Slime is working well for me, I give it a one

I've also heard of people using expanding foam in these smaller tires, though I've not tired it myself.

If this Slime works for the next couple mowing seasons, I'll feel I got my money's worth.

Humm... that reminds me... put some Slime in the wheelbarrow wheel!

 

[jwith68]

My experience with it so far has been good. Had a rear tire (23x9.50-12) on the zero turn go flat over a winter, and badly cracked the sidewall where it wrinkled. Would bubble out the cracks a lot, and would only stay inflated for ~12 hours. I used Slime in that one at the beginning of the 2011 mowing season, and have not added air to it since then. I need to do both the fronts on it now.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I guess I need to get some Slime then. Thanks.

 

[Chaznsc]

Not that it matters, but i used this stuff on my front tire that had a slow leak on my John Deere. Haven't touched it since.

 

[Jsf721]

I think I is good if you are stuck in a place where you cannot change or service the tire. I used a different brand but same idea and when I took it in to get fixed the right way I was charged an additional fee to clean the tire becasue of the mess inside the tire. I though it was BS and asked them to re-mount the tire and I would be on my way.

He took me in the back to see the mess, and we agreed it was worth something to clean it out. We settled on 20 bucks down from 80 to clean it out. I then had them install a patch and never had another issue.

I am not sure that I would trust that slime as anything more than a quick fix to get you home safely or out of a place you are not comfortable changing a tire (freeway).

i have not used the slime since and choose to install the spare or use a Plug Kit to get me out of a jam. BTW a plug kit is also not what I would call a permanent fix. I am always concerned that the metal belts can cut the plug and cause and issue over time.

 

[Automatic Slim]

This is not a radial tire = no steel belt.

Personally, I would not use on auto or anything that travels the hard top. But to each their own.

I new tire is about 16$ anyway and can mount.

I new tire assembly is 45$ w/ rim, etc.....


It's monday, I'm tired and lazy, slime looks good to me. Thanks for the replies and glad to know there is some + fb on this product. Just a couple of small pin holes, but on that tiny tire, still goes flat in a jiffy.


On wheelbarrow, I use marathan tire = no flat. Still has enough bounce and never have to worry about shifty loads or going bust.

Thx, again.

 

[Gary S]

I tried it on one of my rototiller tires. It lived up to its name. It made a slimy mess and the tire still leaked. Then I went to the tire shop and picked up two tubes and put them in. Leak fixed.

 

[A1an]

The regular Slime only really works for small pinholes...even then it isn't all that great imo. You need something with latex and some solids in it to plug the hole. For tubeless mountain biking setups I use stuff called Stans but it is kind of expensive. This "tire cream" from TruckerCo.com gets pretty good reviews, is supposed to be the same stuff, and is pretty cheap in comparison: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-liter-34-...223?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cc2ab1edf


The only downside to the more latex based sealants is they do tend to dry out in hotter climates. You can try mixing it with glycol based sealants like Slime to help avoid drying out and creating latex boogers inside the tire. Or just replace the sealant every 2-3 months. Really not a big deal if you have to mow where you get flats constantly.

 

[Fortress68]

I have used the green stuff in my garden tractor tires that are dry rotted through the side walls so bad they were leaking down over about a week, and they have held air for several months now. Also, they make tubes with the slime already in them, and some small tires as well. I got a wheelbarrow tire with a tube filled with it all ready to mount and it has been one of the single best purchases I have made as far as lawn tools go. It wasn't messy at all either, since everything was ready to go.

 

[Automatic Slim]

I ordered some of that trucker cream (LOL), A1an after breif read.

Never heard of it, really risky and dangerous this morn I guess....

Won't need till this weekend, and delivered to my doorstep seems nice and easy - although Wally World has a twin pack of kingsford charcoal for 6.88 (that's 3.44 a bag, WOW!!) - so have to stock up for the smoker and summer whatnot.

But seems like the cream is a little more stout than the slime, and bikers are a persnickity bunch, so having been slimed before w/ poor results; going to go w/ the trucker cream.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[kamesama980]

If someone else is changing it next time, go fr it. Having worked in a car shop that did lawn and garden tires too...F that stuff. At least 1 tire per day came in full of that **** still leaking. I've seen it strip paint off rims and a few that were left in a long time that started eating the steel (or something they put in did.)

yea it works on tiny pinholes...usually. certainly not big holes.

 

[Rusty32]

We put a product like that in all our garbage and roll off truck tires. Went from 15 flats a week to 1 or 2 a month. I change about 200-300 tires a year. i guess Im just used to dealing with it, doesnt bother me.

 

[A1an]

I ordered some of that trucker cream (LOL), A1an after breif read.

Never heard of it, really risky and dangerous this morn I guess....

Won't need till this weekend, and delivered to my doorstep seems nice and easy - although Wally World has a twin pack of kingsford charcoal for 6.88 (that's 3.44 a bag, WOW!!) - so have to stock up for the smoker and summer whatnot.

But seems like the cream is a little more stout than the slime, and bikers are a persnickity bunch, so having been slimed before w/ poor results; going to go w/ the trucker cream.

Thanks for all the replies.

Haha...the name of the product made me a little skeptical at first but it seems to be the exact same as the Stans sealant that I've been using for years. Have a few local friends who have had good results with the stuff as well. Let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Automatic Slim]

Will do, thx.

 

[tcianci]

yea it works on tiny pinholes...usually. certainly not big holes.[/QUOTE]

I had a wheelbarrow tire that would always go flat after a few days. I put slime in it and it held for a few seasons with no topping off.

Then one year, I went to use the wheelbarrow and the tire was low. As I added air, I heard a RRRRRippp sound and the tire split (this was a very sad tire to begin with). The tire ripped down the middle of the tread and was immediately going flat. Then all of a sudden, the slime was showing through the split, the leak stopped, I continued to fill the tire and used it all season! later that year, I was scrapping a badly rusted wheelbarrow on a job and it had one of those flat free tires so I scooped that tire and finally replaced one of the saddest looking wheelbarrow tires i have ever seen in my life!

 

[Randy_che]

$7 for a bottle of slime that didn't work at all in a tubed wheelbarrow tire with a small leak.

$10 for a new tube with red "slime" already in it.

Should have just bought the new tube in the first place, but was hoping I didn't have to monkey with the tire. Will just buy a new tube from now on.

 

[CNGsaves]

Ran my mower through a bunch of thorny underbrush and have at least one pin sized hole that deflates my pneumo caster tire before I can finish the cut.

Don't see need to make bigger hole to plug.

Thought about just getting a tube.

Have used slime before w/ not good results, but from recall, holes were bigger. Is there a good tire sealant for a small leak in a 2 ply lawmower tire?

Thanks in advance, if you know something better, I'm game.

Would NOT recommend it for mower tire. Maybe for an old wheelbarrow that the tire/tube is **** anyway . . . that's the time when Slime is a good solution - - - ie it's one last chance before both the tire and tube are replaced together.

If you'll need to drive mower in thorny areas often, I'd tear down the tire and patch the tube. Then put in thick LINER between tire and tube that might prevent these types of punctures in future.

 

[Thumper68]

Have used both the trucker cream and slime in both otr and small eq tires. the real trick is to make sure that it is well spread in the tire per the directions, for the eq tires I put a bolt in the vice (same size as the spindle) and slip the tire over it, think slight angle so the tire/wheel won't slide off, install the slime and use the belt sander to spin the tire the 5 miles to spread the slime.

 

[larryv]

These go kart tires would go flat in about a week, so i bought a bottle of green slime and it has worked for me.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Not that it matters, but i used this stuff on my front tire that had a slow leak on my John Deere. Haven't touched it since.

Was that the left or right front tire??? The left front tire on my John Deere leaks.. Time for a slime..

 

[Automatic Slim]

Update 05/27/13:

Trucker cream was injected in small tire Saturday. The plastic tubing connecting the injector to the valve was a hassle, so removed. The injector has matching threads for screwing on tire.

Went into the tire like a *********, however, on the small tire, had to pinch back the valve to inject and air up. Upon doing so, the valve stem split - probably d/t much handling during the crisis period. Had to remove the tire again to do procedure, so rotated by hand, threw it on the ground a couple of times, and let the "cream" ooze out of the now leaking valve stem.

Took her for a ride, and was surprised the damn thing held and still holding air as of today, as determined by kicking the tire before leaving for work. Will check pressure before mounting again (this weekend probably) and ensure it has held and give update.

Note: The "cream" is really runny and handling the newly opened bottle a gob overflowed on my foot.

Note2: I did keep the plastic tubing as this is probably more for drawing the liquid out of the container, as opposed to valve ****** attachment.

Note3: Just filled the syringe up once to full capacity and gave it a squirt. Didn't really account for manufacturer specs.

So far, it's good.

Thx again for the fb, suggestions, and replies.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

I've had great luck with some it on lawn equipment. I also even put some in the badly dry rotted and cracked 1986 three-wheeler tires. Stuff would bubble out the sidewall cracks, but sealed them up!

To show you how well the stuff works, getting "pre-filled" rims and tires for ATV's is an option from the online shops that sell them.

 

[jwith68]

Quick update from my previous post in this thread. A week ago, put about 4-5 oz. of Slime in one of the fronts on my zero turn that would normally go flat in 2 days. Did this immediately before my son mowed with it for 90 minutes. Today, holding the same pressure we set it at 1 week ago. So, one more apparently successful Slime-ing.

I still won't use it in on-road tires, but it sure seems like a reasonable solution for things like mowers, wheelbarrows, etc. I had been chasing leaks in the zero turn tire since last summer with little to no success.

Also, anyone who thinks that tubes (with or without liners) are a solution for tires prone to getting thorns, has either never with dealt thorns in tube-type tires, or loves giving his tire shop lots and lots of money.

 

[Steroblan]

Getting Slime to do what it says it will requires immediate rotation as jwith68 said. Put it into service right away. I don't waste the expense of the slime on a checked tire that is going to need replacing soon anyway. I don't have much luck with it on equipment that isn't powered either since it needs alot of rotation to spread the slime around. Sometimes TS has the big jug on sale. I used silicone on my generator and hand truck tires around the rim where it was leaking and now no leaks. Sometimes the rims have dings or rust that cause leakage.

 

[nightrain00]

I put it in all four tires on my crappy old craftsman tractor with the most dry rotted set of tires you've ever seen. Three out of the four would'nt hold air between cuttings that was three years and a blown engine ago and all the tires still hold air as it sits next the shed waiting for me to get rid of it. As others have said I would'nt use it in an on road or high speed application but for something i'm tooling around the yard on or pushing it works fantastic.

 

[Todd.Brock]

NOTHING worse than 2am trying to get your latest purchase off the trailer with a dolley and the damn tires are flat. My wife walks with a double jogging stroller and those tires are soft in a week. Will slime work in tubed tires?

 

[Old_Bobby]

In a previous century, prior to slime, my grandfather would use Karo syrup to plug up the pinholes in his mower tires. I don't know if it was the brown or clear product. It tasted good with grandma's homemade biscuits, also.

 

[Falcon67]

I would not use anything is a tube tire except to pull the tube and patch or replace. I use Slime on the quad tires because we have a billion Mesquite needles on the ground and constant patching gets old in about 2 seconds. If you haven't delt with Mesquite their needles are an example of Nature's mean side, a cross between a stout hypodermic needed and a 16 penny nail. And they hurt like hell. They'll go through a thick shoe sole like a high speed drill bit. They are tough enough that I've pulled a 2" needle out of a mower tire part way, put cement on it and stuck it back and had the tire hold air for months.

 

[jwith68]

Slime does make a formula for use in tubes, had small bottles of it on the shelf next to the tubeless tire formula I bought at Wally World a couple weeks back. I'm with Falcon67 on that, though. Tubes are a whole different ball game, not sure how effective it would be in the long run.

I do have an oxy/acetylene cart with cheapo Chinese bicycle tires/tubes on it that won't hold air, and haven't since they were new. Might just try some in them to see if it works. Not much to lose, but a pair of new tubes might cost less than the Slime! Maybe I can rug up a drill or something to spin them for a while, because I'm sure not going to drag that thing around for half an hour to distribute the Slime!

 

[maks8489]

This is what I use.
http://www.americansealants.com/pages/products.htm

 

[Mike Miller]

Used a product like Amera seal in construction equipment and it worked well. Slime is good for about three years in a tubeless tire then it will start leaking again.

 

[e-tek]

I have used it 2 or 3 times, each time on 4-5" tires with small leaks in the tubes, with good results. These wheels were continually losing air, now they are solid.

 

[Todd.Brock]

While tubes may not cost as much money, they don't make them like the used to. I replace 1 year old tubes that kept losing air. They are on a stroller that sees 90% of its life on the garage wall. The same damn thing happened to the new tubes. On my 1965 motorcycle, I replaced the tube on the front wheel and it leaks. It's 3 years old. The back tube is at least 40 years old and had leaked about 1 lb. a year.

That said, I'm just going to slime it all!

 

[nit2wn]

Slime is great for any atv or lawnmower type application. I'd use it on a vehicle if it meant getting it home as long as it didn't have tire pressure sensors. I have it in my generator tires, pressure washer, the rear tires on my 4 wheeler, and a couple of the zero turn's tires. It's just easier to add it and some air and go on about your day. I believe the pressure washer and generator tires had tubes in them when I put the Slime in them, they're still holding air a few years later.

 

[JJThrasher]

I've used slime on dolly wheels that just wouldn't hold air over time. No detectable leaks in them. I also put new valves in them at the same time. It works fanastic in that application. I'd give it a shot on a lawn mower. Its not like it moves very fast or anything.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[JimVonBaden]

I'd go with a tube or an old fashion patch before I'd squirt Slime in it. That stuff is messy the next time you work on the tire even if it worked.

Slime delaminated my chrome wheel and ruined it. I would avoid it.

Jim

 

[Majordisorder]

I slimed a tire on a bobcat about 3 years ago. It worked good for a year, slow leaks the second year, then it pretty much quit. I put on a spare and dismounted it. There was no more green inside, mostly dried up mess and some rubgery looking pellets in the tire, the rim was badly rusted and pitted. I wired brushed it till bare metal, primed and painted the inside, will still apply bead sealer, and try remounting it.