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Fixing tubeless tire with tubes?

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11K views 18 replies 13 participants last post by  Masteratworknj  
#1 ·
Hi, I have a set of 16x6.5-8 tires from an MTD snowblower that are in really bad shape. The snowblower itself has a few years left on it. They are tubeless, but don't hold air anymore.

Instead of spending the $100 to replace them, can I get away with spending $20 on tubes and using them instead?

If not, any suggestions on where to find some slightly used tires?

I can find new tires on eBay, of course, but they're $100, and would love to find a way to save some money.
 
#4 ·
Okay, awesome. I've done this before - but haven't done it with a tire so degredated. There are sections around the tire that are cracked (dry-rot?) significantly.

I actually already have the tubes - I ordered them without realizing it was a tubeless, so I'll give it a shot tomorrow.
 
#8 ·
Okay, awesome. I've done this before - but haven't done it with a tire so degredated. There are sections around the tire that are cracked (dry-rot?) significantly.

I actually already have the tubes - I ordered them without realizing it was a tubeless, so I'll give it a shot tomorrow.
Honda tires are very expensive. When I do this I buy Carlisle tires for less than half and install tubes.
 
#5 ·
You may find that the sidewalls will split when you pressurize the tube.
Not sure where you're located, but in MA I've seen the occasional ad on FBM or CL selling used snowblower tires (usually on rims). Maybe you'll find a few donor unit.
We also have someone in the area that seems to have several dozen used blowers, as he is posting parts from time to time. You might just get lucky and find what you're looking for.
 
#6 ·
Yes, .... putting a tube in a tire is just fine .... I prefer cleaning the rims and priming and painting them while the tire is off, and not using tubes whenever possible, however, when a tire is only checked (weather cracked), putting tubes in them is fine if they have lots of tread left. ( I have plugged a wheel barrel tire and a snow blower tire that had a puncture in them with rope plugs ... still holding air 30 years later.

I wore the front tires on my rider bald, and found a pair like new at my transfer station that were checked and not holding air ... I just put tubes in them and that was like 5 years ago ...

FWIW ... having a mini-tire changer is pretty much a must when changing any kind of small equipment tires.
 
#7 ·
Putting tubes into a small powered yard machine may work but it for sure did not work for me in tubeless tires. I had a problem with a tire on my van. It had a nail in it that I had a shop repair. Apparently the shop pull the nail and thought if had not penetrated through the tire. It had and we could not find the very small leak afterward.

I had the garage put an inner tube into the tire and the damned thing did not even last over a hundred miles. The sidewall flexing wore on the sides of the tube to the point where the tube failed.
 
#17 ·
#18 ·
Interesting, never thought about using foam to fix a flat snowblower tire due to a rim leak. After watching the video and thinking for a bit, don't think it is well advised as sooner or later the tire treads may become worn and require full rubber tire replacement, that hardened foam in the tire/rim will be a mess to clean up. It's likely a better choice to just take the time to do it right, put in a tube and be done with it. I did that on one of my snowblower tires on an ancient machine, was a pain in the rear for sure i wish i did both tires while i was at it. The second tire is still factory sealed so i guess why lay out the cash for a second tube as maybe i'll never have to do the second one due to a leak.