dry rot tire problem,temporary help?

[dmartin1]

ok so my tire is supposedly very rare.

bfg mud terrain 35x12.50x16.5

ive called EVERY single tire shop in bullhead city,eedles california,laughin nevada,kingman,az,lake havasu,and vegas and noone has one,nor can even order one anymore.


what happened is my tire for some reason has a small hole from dry rot and has went flat.the rest of the tire is in good condition,very good actually.i need to find a way to make this last me a few weeks to school and back(bout 30mph) and 50mpg for like a mile at times. can i patch it where that hole is and tube this tire?just to limp it around?

until i can find 2 40" 15" wide tires for a 17" rim or some 8 lug 17" chevy rims for 40's.

i need help! ah!

[Stocker]

Apparently that tire is still available as an All Terrain, but not as a Mud Terrain. Many 16.5 tires are history as most manufacturers have stopped making them.

You might get by patching it for minimal use, but I would be concerned if it is dry-rotted as you say; it may look okay to you but the structural integrity may be compromised. Best to have a trusted tire shop look at it. Patch & tube may be okay for your intended purpose but a shop might be unwilling to take on the liability.

If the shop refuses, you might try something like Slime or Fix-a-Flat, but you are on your own here -- I am NOT suggesting you do this.

[swamp rat]

Maybe use some Fix a flat or slime?

I may not be in your predicament but i do have the same problem, i have 16.5 wheels on my rig, the tire shops say i can get them shoed again if i hurry but it will probably be the last time, i figure i may as well find new wheels first cause i don't want to buy a new set of 16.5's and end up getting a flat and then not be able to get a replacement.. wish i had known that when i bought the wheels or i would have gotten 16's.

[Davetopay]

If I were you, I'd look into getting set up to run either 16's or 17's. Even Universal doesn't list a reproduction 16.5 tire.

[thinair]

NEVER USE FIX O FLAT OR SLIME!!! You can tube it and still drive on it while you are looking for your other tires/wheels.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by thinair

NEVER USE FIX O FLAT OR SLIME!!! You can tube it and still drive on it while you are looking for your other tires/wheels.

I agree if you want long life with a good tire to not use the stuff but he's looking for a temporary fix, low budget that will last a couple weeks before a replacement set of tires and wheels can be found/purchased, its the only reason i suggested it.. its cheaper than having a tire shop install a tube..

[Mike C]

Ummm. Your tires sound WAY out of their service life. That dry-rot leak is not a fluke, it is a WARNING and it doesn't get more plain: Buy New Tires. Don't wreck your truck/die/kill someone, etc. Not worth it no matter how much 4 new ones cost.

TreadRight has 37 12.5 16.5 retreads for $144 each right now. Too big? 36" Humvee bias tires are cheap, ride like crap, but better than a set that's getting ready to fail.

My 36 12.5 16.5 Wrangler RTII are almost exactly the same height as the 35 12.5 BFG MT's they replaced.

[71swb4x4]

Don't repair a dryrotted tire that is leaking. There is another leak behind that one, and another behind that one. It's a loosing battle. Best case scenario you are stranded on the side of the road, worst-case is an accident. I would try to find a used tire that will match the diameter to get you by very temporarily. If your other tires are the same age I would replace them all quickly.
It's probably time to find some 16" wheels to help your cause with tires. What vehicle is this on?

[ERASER5]

I just got 33X12.5X16.5 BFG ATs. I only found THREE makes! And the ProComp ATs are being discontinued. GRRR.

I know you wanted 35s. That will be tough, but could you go 37X12.5X16.5? Actually a bit less because they are used. I have 3.55 gears so the 37s would not work well for me. Anyway here is a linc for used HUMVV tires.

http://www.trailworthyfab.com/Goodye...ake-Off-s.html

[silver7]

Not what you want to hear but I'm with Mike C. Be safe, suck it up and buy some new tires. Blown tire on a truck going 40mph around a curve can get ugly.