Handy Repair Tips for Lawn Mower Tires

Don’t let a flat tire put a hitch in your plans. You can still mow the back forty once you follow these simple tips for fixing your lawn mower tire.

Remove the tire (if needed)

You may be able to repair the tire without removing it once the tire is off the ground. If not, loosen bolts or lug nuts while the mower is still on the ground, but don’t take them all the way out. Then raise the mower and remove the bolts or nuts to pull off the tire.

Find the leak

Once you’ve removed any objects like nails or screws sticking out of the tire, you’ll want to check for other hidden damage. Mix up some dish detergent and water into a nice soapy consistency and apply it to the surface of the tire. See where bubbles appear from air leaks.

Plug the big hole

If the hole you find is over 1/16” in size, you can use a tire plug. These come in a kit with a large needle and rubber cement. You’re about to do surgery on your tire, and it’s never as easy as videos and instructions make it look. But with a little patience and some muscle power, it’ll all work out just fine.

The basic idea is the insert the rubbery plug through the eyelet of the needle, dab it with cement, and then force the threaded needle into the hole in the tire. The rubber cement helps it seal together. Don’t worry about extra rubber poking out, you can trim that off when you’re done.

Seal the little holes

For damage less than 1/16” in diameter, use a can of tire sealant. Hook the hose that is attached to the can to the tire’s air valve stem. The sealant will fill the cracks from the inside. Once you’ve inflated the tire, roll it around or spin it to spread the sealant around evenly inside.

Note that this type of repair works on small holes in the tread, not holes in the sidewall. Holes in the sidewall usually mean you’ll have to replace the tire.

Puncture-proofing against future damage

Some owners have used multiple cans of tire sealant or expanding foam to completely fill up their lawn mower tires. No air, no leaks! The down side to this is that you may find yourself repeating the process again soon because the foam or sealant settles and the tires sag a bit. Some tire shops may fill tires like this for you if you don’t want to do it yourself.

Strap ‘er down and fill ‘er up

Finally, if you haven’t decided to fill the whole tire with sealant, you’ll need to put in air. If your tire has come off the rim, you need to seat it properly again. The ‘Net is full of interesting videos of people setting tires aflame to magically set the bead. If you’re looking for a way to pass the time, watch a few. (But we can’t recommend this process.)

Meanwhile, a safer way to seat the tire is to use a strap or rope to compress it as you fill it with air. The extra pressure will force the tire into place on the rim. There, you’re all done!