JCD 59 #1 Posted July 24 I've never messed with tractor tires and I'm a bit confused, none of my tires front or back have a valve stem. Does that mean they are solid tires? All my tires have cracks in them not sure if they need to be replaced or not. They look great in the pic but have small cracks everywhere, sidewalls, tread Tire size is front 15x6.00x6, rear 22x7.50x12 Thanks, Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,322 #2 Posted July 24 The valve stems are on the inside. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCD 59 #3 Posted July 24 Oh ok, that seems kind of strange are they all like that? Seems like it would be kind a a pain to add air. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,768 #4 Posted July 24 My front tires have valve stems either inside or out depending on the tractor. All of my Wheelhorse rear rims have them on the inside. My impression is that it's to protect the valve stem from the wheel weight or other things hitting it. 17 minutes ago, JCD said: add air. Keep in mind the pressure on these is extremely low compared to what we're used to on other things. The fronts are probably 12 lb or so and the rears are likely around 8. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnymag3 2,520 #5 Posted July 24 47 minutes ago, JCD said: Oh ok, that seems kind of strange are they all like that? Seems like it would be kind a a pain to add air. Very simple to add air........... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,768 #6 Posted July 24 2 minutes ago, johnnymag3 said: Very simple to add air........... Not if you have physical limitations like I do on some days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PWL216 889 #7 Posted July 24 It’s one of the few complaints I have about my wheel horse tractors. Having the valve stem on the inside of the tire makes no sense to me. There’s something not right when you have to get on the ground to put air in a tire. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 7,034 #8 Posted July 24 Typically, wheel weights are mounted to the outside of the wheels. The typical wheel wheel weight does not have access for a valve stem, making the inside of the wheel the logical place for the valve stem. The cracks that you see in your tires are called ozone checking. These cracks develop in old tires due to exposure to the elements over time. Eventually, the tires will start leaking. Are they a problem? As long as the tires are holding air, they will be useable, since a Wheel Horse is a low speed, relatively low load application. Ozone checked tires on a car are a different story. They are much more likely to fail when used - especially at higher speeds where heat builds up in tires. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,387 #9 Posted July 24 If you have multiple tractors, as some of us do, you may wish to invest in a manual benchtop tire changer like Harbor Freight sells. The 12 inch rears are MUCH easier to dismount and mount as opposed to the smaller front tires. A lot of us add tubes to all the tires, helps seat them and you have the option to liquid fill them for winter use...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,768 #10 Posted July 24 8 minutes ago, ri702bill said: If you have multiple tractors, as some of us do, you may wish to invest in a manual benchtop tire changer like Harbor Freight sells. The 12 inch rears are MUCH easier to dismount and mount as opposed to the smaller front tires. A lot of us add tubes to all the tires, helps seat them and you have the option to liquid fill them for winter use...... Good advice! Two or three years ago I guess? I started adding tubes to every single Tire I took apart. New or used. So much easier to get them back on and the bead set. Big thing to remember there is that we don't really have anything in the ground like big nasty thorns like some of you folks do. As far as the tire changer goes. I would agree but maybe modify the statement a little bit. Trina bought us the larger of the two manual tire changers and I have it permanently bolted down to the floor in the shed in an area that we can work around it. For smaller tires we have a piece of 3/4 diameter threaded Rod about a foot long that we clamp into the vise and then clamp the tire and rim assembly to the rod. Here on our acreage for the most part, fluid filled tires are the way to go. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
