Well, it happened sooner than I had wanted. I have a Polaris 2008 Sportsman 800 and running Maxxis Big Horn tires 26x9x12 fronts with 26x12x12 rears. The tread life is about 80%. These are still practically new tires.

Last Saturday, I chose the wrong line up an incline an popped a hole in the sidewall. Luckily 5 plugs was just enough to seal up the tire to get me out of the woods (the tire is still holding air). Someone told me to have someone to patch the sidewall and put a tube in the tire and that should last for a long time. Has anyone done this and what are the pros and cons?

I know that you don't want to do this to the rear tires because of the tire spin.

 

I've used many tubes in my tires- I don't mind tubes at all because I really do't go too fast on my atv's (40 mph tops).

the only real issue with a tube is if you puncture the tube - then you're screwed; can't plug it trail side.
I've never popped a tube though- and slime makes a "self sealing" tube- not sure how well they work, but I do know slime works awesome in tubeless tires.

I always wondered if there was some kind of fabric you could lay between the tire and tube to block things from puncturing it

 

I had a troublesome ATV with a very slow air leak on the back tires that I just could not fix right . I used tubes and it worked great ,it could sit for 6 months during the winter and not need air in the spring.