[dcurlee]

Hello, I have a pair of rototiller tires with dry rot damage. This is not a problem for retaining air because the tires have tubes in them. I want to seal the sidewall cracks to prevent debris from entering where my finger is pictured in the photo. With my luck a wood splinter would enter there and puncture the tube.

I'm thinking some kind of tar-like adhesive would be appropriate. Maybe that shoe goo stuff?

Note: These are 2-ply tires and only the outer layer is cracked.

 

[Ingersoll444]

I would be looking for the same kinda rubber cement that they use to stick on patches..

You know... I wish there was same way to treat the tires to get some life back in them. I have a few sets of 50 era 6x12 that are in real nice shape, but dryed up pretty good, with lots of cracks... Wish there was something that would kinda ...wake them up a little.

 

[D-Dogg]

Seems to me millertire sells a putty of sorts which may help. Check out their link under site sponsors and give them a call.
http://www.millertire.com/

 

[john9001]

gempler's has a rubber putty for that kind of repair, brand is "rema tip top",

 

[Tractor-Holic]

I used Sho-Goo with decent results...buff the area with a dremel tool with a small wire wheel to ruff it up and let the goop stick better first--I sprayed brake cleaner on the tire before applying the goop too...I had tried RTV black silicone and most of it didn't stick well to the tire..Goodyear "Pliobond" works good too,that and Goop are the only two things you can glue rubber together with and stays flexible enough not to just tear off in short order...


J.C. Whitney used to sell liquid rubber "tire paint" that supposedly covered dry rot cracks...I wonder if that new spray stuff I see on TV would work??...to me it looks like nothing more than typical rubberized undercoating,at three times the usual price!..

 

[DonF]

I don't think anything is going to hold that. When the tire spins it going to put a lot of pressure on that glue joint. If you find something that works I would like to know about it.

 

[txsteve]

I second on "GOOP"

 

[dcurlee]

FWIW, it was very difficult to put my finger in that opening. I took the picture merely to show it's possible. Normally it looks like the crack to the left -- just a crack, not an opening.

Also, should I treat these tires with some kind of rubber conditioner?

 

[U.S.A Tractor Joe]

I bet those tires would suck up a full can of spray silicone. Alot of my scuba-dive buds always use it on their scuba stuff. I also use spray silicone on my F100 tires. I think the silicone is a good rubber conditioner.

 

[4x4_Welder]

Meguire's makes a rubber conditioner.
I have in the past used regular black rtv gasket maker to rebuild bushings, it may be worth a shot here. Whatever you do for sealing them, do it before applying any conditioner.

 

[NYGT1655]

Window urethane also works good if you have the tire good and clean.

 

[TAHOE99]

:thThumbsU :sidelaugh


https://www.tryflexseal.com/?tag=he|af&a_aid=4bb622a505fd6&a_bid=01ccd057&data1=538

 

[dcurlee]

As far as the spray-on silicone goes, what should I buy? I found other posts on this board warning against petroleum distillates or solvents in the silicone spray, as this stuff damages rubber.

All of the MSDS sheets for silicone spary sold at Home Depot and Lowes seem to have the nasty stuff in it.

 

[draddogs]

Something I used on an old set of ags with the same problem was a weather strip adhisive .. worked weel for a couple of years.. The are must be very clean to make any adhisive work properly

 

[Tractor-Holic]

Silicone might preserve rubber--but it wll also make it impossible for ANY adhesive to adhere,so I'd avoid using any on a tire you plan on trying to glue up any cracks in!...silicone was a bane to all auto body men some years ago,it ruins more paint jobs than any other chemical--makes paint fisheye and not stick,and peels off in short order..

I have used brake fluid to keep tires like new,it works better than stuff like Armor-All and its safe for rubber ,and cheaper ..but I would not use anything to "condition" the rubber BEFORE you attempt to use any adhesive on it--except some kind of cleaner to prep it for the adhesive ..The 3M window urethane like they use on new windsheilds probably would work,provided it hardens enough..its black and very sticky,and will stand up to moisture and weather...the "GOOP" I used stuck to the tires very well,I tried peeling some off and it took a lot of effort--as it ages it will eventually yellow and lose its grip though..nothing lasts forever!..I think "Pliobond" is very similar to 3M's yellow weatherstrip adhesive..maybe a bit more flexible after it hardens...

 

[dcurlee]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I bought some Shoe Goo and used that for adhesive. Too early to tell if that holds, but when I removed one of the clamps, the outer ply was securely fastened to the inner ply.

As for a rubber conditioner, I bought some "Tire Foam" made by Armor-All which claims to reduce tire cracking. I'll give that a try once the Shoe Goo has cured. This isn't regular Armor-All, it's just made by them.

 

[Weaverama]

If or when the Shoe Goo fails, try 3M 5200 Marine Adhesive and Sealant. It the toughest stuff out there.