Flat tires paddles

[dariusld]

I always have trouble with my paddles leaking at the bead. Once my tires get a little old they start to leak at the bead. I remove the tire from the wheel and clean them after every riding season. But as they get older they still leak. I have tried that green slime stuff and I can't ever get it to work for me. It's no fun running around with 18lbs of pressure in my tires to prevent flats. I heard of another trick that involves radiator coolant and Stop Leak or one that involves liquid starch. Anyone know about these or have other advice?

[xTHUNDERCATx]

How old is a little old? have you looked at your rims as a cause over the tire itself?
just a thought, ive only had that issue once and i buy nothing but used tires.

[05450r]

Bead sealant works the best, any place that does tires has it. Ive also used spray on undercoating in a pinch, but bead sealer is the best

[atvmxr]

Run tubes in tires??   Or those foam inserts the gnocchi guys use?

[dariusld]

I spin the tire and its the tire not the rim. Bead sealant doesn't work for me either. I don't like the added weight or cost of a tube. I have also tried silicone along the bead before.

[broken1]

What paddle's are you using?

[1986quadracer]

I worked at a few tire shops and have knowledge that may help. Aluminum wheels can be a pain. Here are some tricks to help with a leaker. First the bead area needs to be clean as heck. Shiny clean. Many times after a wire wheel the area will look kinda orange peely. It looks like it is good enough but it is not. All the scale needs to be removed. Or as much as you can. You really need to get up against the sealing surface not just the bottom part. After you get it shined up apply the bead sealer. You can't use too much. Not all bead sealers are the same. After using Tech all others seem really thin and don't work as well. Also, it seems the older and thicker it is. If the container is new, put a few layers on letting it sit for a few minutes between coats and after the final coat. Let it thicken up real good. Mount the tire and a it it up. Check for leaks. Now it should be good unless the wheel is bent or has a crack. I hope this helps. If you bring it in and have it done and it leaks bring it back. Most people don't like redoing their work. You can count on it being well sealed then because a tire guy will dang near burn up a brush if it is not sealing. Good luck and hope it helps.

[rk88r]

If they are prepped well and a good sealant doesn't do it the tires are toast. Some tires have crappy beads old Nomads or some razr 2 copies for example.

[Rupp250]

Yes, the liquid starch works. You have to deflate the tire. Fill it, then since it is a atv tire, hold it on its side so the liquid can get on the bead area. Then spin the tire so it can cover the whole inside.
Sounds hokey but it works.

[dariusld]

They are ITP Sand Stars.
Thanks for all the responses.

[broken1]

My friend had the same problem with his sand stars on douglas blue labels. We dismounted, cleaned, bead sealed & remounted them 3 times & still couldn't get the left one to hold air. He ended up getting a used set of skate 2's & we compared the beads between the tires & the sand stars had a much thinner bead area. I'm not saying your out of luck & can't get them to work, try some of the methods mentioned above & if all else fails you may need to get different tires.

[1986quadracer]

That liquid starch is a cool idea

[dariusld]

My friend had the same problem with his sand stars on douglas blue labels. We dismounted, cleaned, bead sealed & remounted them 3 times & still couldn't get the left one to hold air. He ended up getting a used set of skate 2's & we compared the beads between the tires & the sand stars had a much thinner bead area. I'm not saying your out of luck & can't get them to work, try some of the methods mentioned above & if all else fails you may need to get different tires.

I got them when they first came out, when they were really popular. Everyone around camp had them and had problems with flats. I knew I wasn't ever going to buy them again. I had the skate II's till there was no paddle left. That was my favorite paddle.

[dirtyd]

My friend had the same problem with his sand stars on douglas blue labels. We dismounted, cleaned, bead sealed & remounted them 3 times & still couldn't get the left one to hold air. He ended up getting a used set of skate 2's & we compared the beads between the tires & the sand stars had a much thinner bead area. I'm not saying your out of luck & can't get them to work, try some of the methods mentioned above & if all else fails you may need to get different tires.

I've heard a few people complain about ITP tires leaking (knobbies included)

[pinned250r]

This may sound crazy, but i just mounted a 19x6x10 holeshot front on a set of 10x8rims.... one mounted up fine, the other i could not get to seat myself, so i went to a tire place and paid $5 for them to seat it, but then it still leaked out of a bead....so i went to meijer(or walmart) and got stop leak in an aersol can, filled that sucker up with the whole 16oz can, then used compressor to put it at like 30lbs, still had a slight leak out of the same spot...now heres where i get inventive..

I grabbed a propane torch, heated that area of the tire up, and bada-bing! hasnt leaked since. Cant even tell i used heat.