Proper Tube for Front tire

Hi all, quick question:

I have been buying tubes from TSC for the front tires of my 641D. 550/600 X 16. Yesterday, I took one to the local tire place and they told me the reason I was having flats is that it was the wrong type of tube. Specifically, they said that tubes like the ones from TSC with straight valve stems instead of an elbow are forced to bend when inflated and then split / leak.

Can anyone validate that for me? More importantly, can someone give me a "sure fire" source to order a proper tube for my front rims?

thanks!

Steve

I have went to the TSC tubes as they are much more durable than those supplied by local tire shops. 5.50 or 6.00 X 16", which either one you have uses the same tube with straight stem. I have the valve stem problem, most often on my 960 with 5.50's. This occurs when brush hoggng in heavy brush and palmettos. The front wheel gets up against trees or brush and the stem is sheared, usually not enough to go flat instantly but it will leak down in a few hours.

I have used both types and never had problems with either one but buy at TSC can be a problem. Cheap parts and poor brands and a high price. Me I buy from a local tire store and know I buy a good brand at a good price.

The last 6.00X16 tractor tube that I bought from my local independent tire store (only store nearby that sells AG tires and tubes) was very light and stamped "AUTO" and Korea. Upon questioning, I was told "they're all like that." It lasted two months before the tire liner wore through it.

For the record, I use tire liners in the front tires of all of my mowing tractors, have for decades and have never had a liner wear through a tube.

When I took it back, they handed me another identical one and told me it would be $20.00, same price as the first one. I showed them the receipt from two months previous but they would not replace it without charge.

The owner was there so I spoke to him, and he told me that they had "had trouble" with the Korean tubes and were not buying any more. He walked to the warehouse and returned with a new Carlisle (SP?) that weighed nearly twice as much but he still charged me $20.00. Apparently, they planned to sell the remainder of the cheap Korean automotive tubes before breaking out the good AG tubes.

You need a proper AG tube for your tractor.

Dean

Having similar problems as those above, one of my wife's coworkers (TSC) had a better idea.

Just looked at me and asked "Why aren't you buying a tube for a radial instead?"

:facepalm: :mrgreen:


Like Dean and the others, if my stem is shorter, I still tend to get it too close to whatever is most likely to catch it (blonde pollock's murphy law luck!!)

Figured out how to stop doing that, besides the obvious don't run into anything...

I now mount my tube tire front rims with the stems to the inside. If I am hitting anything that may cut or rub my valve stem [i:ec1f9986ee][b:ec1f9986ee][u:ec1f9986ee]ON THE INSIDE[/u:ec1f9986ee][/b:ec1f9986ee][/i:ec1f9986ee], then I shouldn't have been anywhere near whatever it was!! Stopped having that problem.

Now can anybody fix the stray nails? pretty please!!

Steve, I had a similar problem but a shade
different. I went to the big ag tire store and
they sold me a tube for a 5.50 x 16 tire that
included a bushing where the stem goes through the
rim hole. When I tried to air up the tires the
bushing would come out every time I put air in.
What I found out is that most sales people sell
you a car tube with the smaller stem that is
located exactly in the inside center of the tube,
so when you start to put in the air it wants to
pull back out of the side hole that ag rims have.
I went back over to the tire store and explained
my problem and the salesman said that was all that
was available. That's when I said I wanted to talk
to the guys in the back. When I described to him
what was happening he said I had a car tube in an
ag wheel. I told him I was told that ag tubes were
not available according to the salesman. He said
follow me and we went back to a room full of tubes
and he pulled out a thick, offset large valve stem
Firestone tube and asked how many I needed. I took
4 home and they work perfectly. So insist on an ag
tube from a store that service and sell ag tires.
The name of the store is Wertenberger Tire in
Monroe, Indiana but they have affiliation with 200
stores in the midwest.
P.S. They can even supply 12 x 28 bare
unpainted rims so you can rerim the powershift
wheels using the old attaching plates after
removing from the old rims and welding to the new
rims.