Holes in tires?
 

I just mounted my tires on some axial beadlock wheels. When I squeeze the tires the other side of the tire bubbles up because of the trapped air. Should I put a hole in the tire or rim? I could also undo one side of the bead, squeeze out the air and reattach the bead. I do plan on using the tires/wheels in water.

Is air inside the tire bad? My guess is yes that it can stop the tire from fully forming around rocks.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

You are right about the tyre not forming around the terrain but I wouldn't vent them if your going to be running in water. You could drill a hole in the rim and run a screw into it if your going swimming."thumbsup"

Re: Holes in tires?
 

I heat up a wire( like a copper hanger) and poke it through somewhere in between the treads on the outside of the tire. That way your foams can properly simulate air pressure and when wet it'll drain out as you go. Sometimes if I still have water in one I'll just bollt it on one of my fast rcs and let er spin fast.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

I kind of do that too. Plugged the holes in the wheels because they easily let water in but not out and cut two slits in the tires, on opposite sides, with an x-acto knife.

Just enough air can pass in and out and what water might come in can be spun out with centrifugal force.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

I put a two holes in each of my tires that run water proof CI foams. For tires with open cell foams, I put the hole in the rim. Then I can cover it with elec. tape if need be.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

two small holes in the wheels 180* from each other. best way to do it IMO.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

I prefer sealed tires and bead locks that seal properly.

tuning them comes from choosing the appropriate foam inserts.

Mud and water inside your tires..
degrades or even kills the foam inserts.

I hate mud and so usually make effort to avoid that.

A 1:1 tire is not vented.
But air pressure plays a vital role when wheeling off road...
So that's where the density of the foam inserts
work to establish the best traction and over-all drive ability.

A tire that rolls over the bead too much...
also reduces the turning radius.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

so do you sit on your deck and build your bead locks when its 40* outside to have the proper air pressure?

I ran sealed tires/ bead locks for a long time. Got tired of the bounce and the varying tire pressure from the temperature changes from inside my house and outside.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

I'll bet it's more so the molecular structure of the rubber compound changing
then the tire's actual air pressure.
Cooler ambient temps will make many rubber compounds stiffer.
And this in turn would make the tires less compliant.

Elevation/atmospheric pressure changes
would likely effect tire's air pressure more so then ambient temps.

There's likely no getting around cooler ambient climates
except to be sure to run a softer rubber compound
along with softer inner foams.

I grew up driving 1:1 in N. Minnesota's harsh cold winters...
often tire pressure was reduced somewhat
to make the tire slightly more compliant and offer better traction.

Modern radial tires seem less affected by ambient temps...
but then... bias ply tires suffer significantly from cooler temps.
It's really about the rubber compounds and tire structure that control tire stiffness at different temperatures.

if putting holes in your tires works for you... or anyone...
then do what works for ya ;-)

but I can still disagree with it :flipoff:

Re: Holes in tires?
 

May be over stepping my bounds here, as I don't crawl 1:1. But have done my fair share of backwoods trailing and creek running. As I have tried air sealed and foams, I personally think with a lighter rig, foams simulate a 1:1 tire better, but with the right amount of weight, an air sealed tire may simulate better.

To the original topic, if you don't like your wheel and tire combo sealed, small holes in the outside of the tire seem to help the most. If you are running stock foams I would avoid water as one of the above posts stated, it will cause deterioration of the foam quite quickly.

I like to run sealed with a CI dual stage minus the outside foam(basically an undersized harder foam) which feels better to me than the same wheels and tires I assembled sealed in Sam's Club freezer registering about 0-5* F. Was really cool watching them *inflate* as they warmed but with my rigs lighter weight(6-7lbs) they were just too bouncy. Also, not sure these smaller tires have the strength in the side wall and tread bridge to hold a scale air pressure.

Just my $0.02. Throw it in the well if you like.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

I'll agree with this if venting is the plan.

Putting the vent holes in the tread area of the tires
is the better choice...
at least then the dirt could attempt an escape.
As centrifugal force might assist with ejection.

If the vent holes were in the wheels or tire sidewalls...
dirt would likely stay trapped inside the tire/wheel.

Dirt, mud, moisture trapped inside the tire/wheel
will most probably grind the foam inserts to dust.

Closed cell foams will be more durable then open cell foams
if/when contaminated.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

9 pound rig with holes in the rims, i just take the tire off the truck after going through water and squeeze the water out when im done crawling for the day, not sure how mud would get through a pin hole in your rim.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

easy to understand...

as the tire compresses or flexes...
liquids and mud will be sucked into the tire
and foam insert whence it rebounds to it's more normal form.

If your tires become laden with mud and water...
squeeze them out... and see what comes out ;-)

btw... fine silt... is still mud

Re: Holes in tires?
 

well i have yet to get "mud" or fine silt in my tires, must have a different kind of silt in your neck of the woods.

Re: Holes in tires?
 

Hey, was taking some old wheels apart and discovered i had vented them and then silly coned them up, only advantage of venting the wheel instead of tire, re sealable. Still, if i were to do it again i would vent a tire, they are cheaper than wheels majority of the time.