slime or tubes??

**aldochina** · 12-31-2008, 01:51 AM

on my restored 200e the rear tires will only hold air for about 10 to 15 hours the tires are new so it must be slowly leaking around the bead. Should I try some tire slime or just tube them. I dont want to wreck the tire or rim, how messy is the slime when it comes time to change the tires. Ive never used slime before. also can you install the tube just breaking the bead on one side?

**oscarmayer** · 12-31-2008, 02:24 AM

tube it. slime will make it so you can never patch it again. if you tube them you can always patch a tube.

**fabiodriven** · 12-31-2008, 03:26 PM

I'd slime it. I slimed my brand-new tires on brand-new rims cause they were leaking around the bead. The slime sealed 'em right up, never leaked again. Tubes suck. I guarantee you won't be happy when you blow a tube (and it will happen).

Why couldn't you fix a tire that's been slimed? If you get a puncture you could just plug it.

**Dirtcrasher** · 12-31-2008, 03:56 PM

I despise tubes.....

I slime everything, even my dam wheelbarrel

Works everytime.

But, it PISSES off your tire guy!!

**rdlsz24** · 12-31-2008, 03:58 PM

I've always done tubes. I've heard with the slime that it can come loose and then you will have it bouncing around inside the tire?? Is that true?

Rob

**atctim** · 12-31-2008, 04:01 PM

Yeah - the tire guys despise slime - makes a mess when you pull things apart - and they tell me it eats away at steel wheels from the inside out. - Tube them babies!

**oscarmayer** · 12-31-2008, 04:03 PM

plugs are ok, but i prefer patching as it's less likley to get pulled out or leak. if you slime it, you cannot patch it as it coates the rubber in the inside and the cmehical fills int he porus rubber and keeps the patch from sticking. the tire shops in my area won;t even attempt to patch a tire that was slimmed.

if it's an older tire, then cool. but new. i'd get some bead sealer and see if that fixzes it, if not then a new tire i'd tube. now, the cool think I like is, if you pop a tube, you can cut the valve stem off, pusht he old up up againse the riding are aof the tire and install a new tube. the old tube them becomes like "mr.tuffy" and helps prevent future punctures on the new tube. I knew 1 guy who put 2 tubes in. he drilled out a new valve stem hole and had a valve stem either side of the wheel. he then started filling each tube 1 at at time in small amounts changing back and forth till the tire was at the pressure he wanted. the advantage was if a tube got punchured, you had half your air left and if you brought a small pump could air it up to take the place of the popped tube while out on the trail.

**ParrotGreenUS90** · 12-31-2008, 05:47 PM

I would go with tubes. I have heard the same about slime eating steel rims, I do not know about aluminum rims but it has to be the same. I had the old Ohtsu Balloon tires and one had a crack and was slimed before I got it, worst mistaken ever made, it would leak slim out and within a week I had a nice new looking cement patch in te garage. But I was able to ride around for a few hours as long as it did not sit with the crack up it would hold its air.

**mustangmachanic** · 01-01-2009, 02:36 PM

Slime Atv Tubes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!
P.S> sorry for shouting

**oscarmayer** · 01-01-2009, 03:35 PM

^ eh? slime atv tubes? so put slime in the tubes not the tire?

**tbirdscott** · 01-01-2009, 05:21 PM

Pop the beads, wire brush the hell out of the rim, slather on wheel bearing grease and re-bead them. I've never found a rim & tire I couldnt get seated and leak free. If your tires are leaking then tube them. Slime is for lazy people.

Scott

**Name Brand** · 01-01-2009, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by tbirdscott

Pop the beads, wire brush the hell out of the rim, slather on wheel bearing grease and re-bead them. I've never found a rim & tire I couldnt get seated and leak free. If your tires are leaking then tube them. Slime is for lazy people.

Scott

I fully agree.

Slime makes an already difficult tire to pull off a rim even worse. If I'm pulling a tire off a rim that's been slimed, I now reach first for the sawzall.

**cr480r** · 01-02-2009, 05:10 AM

Tubes suck... period... the money you might save is not worth the headaches in the long run.. and for the record I have sucessfully patched countless "slimed" tires.. i LOVE being able to plug tires and ride... Its a PITA to dismount a ATV tire to fix a leak when its been tubed.. and more often than not the tube will be junk if its been riden home or back to the truck flat..

**aldochina** · 01-02-2009, 09:47 AM

wow, you guys are really divided on this issue, maybe i'll just keep airing up every day with the compressor, it only takes a sec.

**Howdy** · 01-02-2009, 09:58 AM

I have always run Tubes myself with little to NO problems.
I change tires for other people and if they have slimed the tires I charge more for doing them. Some slime will eat steal rims. I have replaced a couple rims that were real bad from slime.

Make some soapy water and spray on the tire and find out for sure were it's leaking. If it's the bead then tube it. If it's a hole then plug or patch it.
Howdy

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slime or tubes??