I just wanted to see what your thoughts are on some of these tire sealant (Tire X-Tend or Slime) products. I do ride in areas where a tire puncture from rocks or stumps is possible. Am I just wasting my money by adding these products, or is it really a bit of preventive maintenance - making a good tire even better?
Thanks for the information.

 

Colden:
Yeah, I would highly recommend adding some slime or Tire X-Tend to your meats. I put a decent sized hole in my stock 489's about a week after I bought the machine's. Found some slime at a local hardware store then filled it back up with air. Worked great, up until I swapped them for the 'Claws. I bought the Tire X-Tend from Cabela's for like $20, which does an entire atv, put that in my Dad's 'Cat, it's been working great for the last 700 miles or so. We ride in area's where flat tires are the norm, not an exception, so yeah, the stuff does work. As for your "solid science vs. snake oil" opinion, I say "solid science".

Be careful though as to what particular brand you buy. I've heard of a few brands out there for a cheaper price, which actually corrode your rims. You're safe with "Slime" brand, and Tire X-Tend from Cabela's for sure as well as a couple others, but watch out for the really cheap stuff-it might come back to bite you in the long run.

Best of luck,

Mike

 

I have had real good luck with the slime ... Bill

 

slime works, as advertised, for me.

 

Well Slime has always worked great for me before but it seams that it must not be working in my right rear anymore. It only holds like 2psi now I might have a side wall puncture tho and thats might be why the slime is not working for it anymore. I'll put 20 psi in it and get a soal and water spray bottle on it to see where it is I guess when I try to plug it.

I do know that reps from Multi-Seal (what HL sells exculusively) were at the grand opening shoving (ok- hammering in) literally 1/2" diameter steel punches threw a tire and it would seal the hole with in 1 second of being up side down. What I would like to see is them DRILL a hole 1/2" and see if it seals the hole, I don't think it would.

 

If it is in the side wall I just lay the bike on its side for a while and it seals the side wall ... Bill

 

I've been told that the John Deere Tire Sealant is absolutley the best available. I put it in my Dad's & my own 500 Auto when they were new & have not added any air since. Around here there are a lot of Locust trees & thorny bushes along with sticks, rocks & other hazards. I think a gallon costs around $35 & does all 4 tires on your ATV.

I have a yard trailer with old wore out, cracked & plugged tires on it. Neither tire would hold air for more than a couple of minutes. I put the John Deere Sealant in those tires & they have held up since last fall.

Just my $.02 worth.

 

In my old tires (489's) the slime I put in saved me a few times, and thats just the nails,thorns, glass that I saw. For the price it was good insurance for me. Bye the way , I hunt & ride in colden, off center st. just past holland glenwood rd. What about you? bob

 

Thanks all for the informative feedback. The personal experiences and preferences not only helped myself but I am sure helped others as well.

Bob-I am not much of a hunter, but there are snowmobile trails in that area so I am familiar with it. That is right around the corner from Holland Speedway which starts this weekend - pretty psyched about that. But anyways, I am on the other side of Colden, near Kissing Bridge. The snow is just about gone in my neck of the woods.

I heard some rumors when I picked my ATV up, that someone (NYTRO I would assume?) is building a 20+ mile trail loop down in Ellicotville - hope it is true, we need more 'organized' riding areas by us.

David.