If your riding mower gives you the jitters every time you use it, it may be time to replace one or more tires. Our experts show you how.
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ComplexityIntermediate
Introduction
If your riding mower gives you the jitters every time you use it, it may be time to replace one or more tires. Our experts show you how.
Spring is a great time to service your lawn mower, because you’re going to need it in the coming months. If you have a riding mower, that includes checking the tires and replacing one or more of them, if necessary. “If the mower has started to move poorly, “float,” or vibrate strongly, it may be because one of the tires has become too weak,” says long-time landscaper Ross Hulstein. You don’t want that to happen when you’re in the middle of mowing, so it’s best to change a lawn mower tire at the beginning of the season.
Changing the tire on a riding mower is not a complicated task, but you will break a sweat. To get started, pick a nice day, gather your tools and check out this step-by-step procedure informed by Hulstein and fellow lawn care specialist Steven Corcoran.
- Note: These instructions are for changing a lawn mower tire on a riding mower or a similarly heavy-duty mower that uses inflatable tires. Non-inflatable tires on smaller mowers seldom need replacing.
How to Know When It’s Time to Change a Lawn Mower Tire?
“Some will say that you need to change a lawn mower tire every three to six years or so, and generally this isn’t a bad rule to follow,” says Corcoran. “But it’s still a bit better to assess the conditions of your tires to determine when they should be changed. If you notice signs like cracks or worn down traction, that is usually indicative of needing to change the tires.” Besides noting the poor performance of the mower, as mentioned above, Hulstein adds: “You should also pay attention to the pressure. If the pressure drops quickly, most likely the tire has lost its seal.
Tools Required
- Air compressor
- Clamping strap
- Floor jack
- Hammer
- Jack stand
- Needle-nose pliers
- Prying tool (screwdriver and tire iron or flat bar)
- Tire gauge
- Two flat-head screwdrivers
- Valve-stem puller
- Wheel blocks
- Wire brush
Materials Required
- WD-40
Project step-by-step (12)
Step 1
Lift the lawn mower
Position the mower on a flat surface, such as your driveway, and lift the end with the tire you’re going to change. Any jack will work, but a mechanic’s floor jack is best. Once you’ve done this, “place something under the other wheels, so it doesn’t move,” advises Hulstein. You can use blocks of wood, bricks or anything else that will prevent the mower from rolling. For safety, it’s also a good idea to put a jack stand under the axle of the wheel you’re working on.
Step 2
Pry off the dust cap
Wedge a flat-head screwdriver behind the plastic cap protecting the wheel hub and pry it off. The cap can be difficult to work free, so you may need a second screwdriver to pry it from two sides at once.
- Pro tip: The cap is inexpensive, so it isn’t a tragedy if you break it, but if you work carefully, you’ll save yourself a trip to the hardware store.
Step 3
Remove the wheel
- Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull the C-clamp off the wheel hub. The clamp can break, so work carefully.
- Remove the washer or washers (if there is more than one) and put them —along with the clamp — in a safe place where you know you can find them.
- Pull off the wheel.
Pro tip: Rust and dried grass can sometimes fuse the wheel to the shaft. If this happens, Hulstein recommends a shot or two of WD-40. “Spray it into the joint,” he says, “and let it sit for a couple of minutes before pulling.”
Step 4
Pull out the valve stem
- Push in the pin on the valve stem to deflate the tire. It helps to push down on the tire to get out as much air as possible.
- Screw a valve-stem puller into the valve and pull out the valve stem. This will release whatever air still remains in the tire.
Step 5
Break the seal between the tire and the hub
Lay the tire on a flat surface and push down on it to break the seal between the tire and the hub. This sometimes takes a lot of strength, so you may need someone to help. If no one is around, and you can’t break the seal with your hands, try using your feet or your knees.
Once you’ve finished on one side, turn the tire over and break the seal on the other side.
Step 6
Work the tire off the hub
Pull the tire up to create space for a prying implement. You can use a long, heavy-duty screwdriver for this, but you’ll probably have more luck with a tire iron or flat bar. Insert the tool all the way until it contacts the other end of the hub, them force the tire away from the hub while you work the hub up and out. Once you freed about half of the hub this way, you should be able to turn it on its side and pull it out.
- Pro tip: This is where you’re going to start sweating. Make things easier on yourself by getting someone to help you.
Step 7
Clean the hub
Rub down the inside of the hub with a wire brush to remove dirt and rust that could prevent the new tire from sealing.
- Pro tip: If the hub is severely rusted, this is a good time to replace it.
Step 8
Fit the new tire onto the hub
Place the new tire flat on the ground, set the hub over it and work one side of the tire onto the hub, using your tool to pry out the rubber while you use your weight to push down on the hub. When you’re done, turn the tire over and use the same procedure to work the other side of the tire onto the hub, this time pushing down on the tire while you pry.
- Warning: Avoid gouging the edge of the tire with the prying tool. If you do that, the tire won’t seal properly, and you’ll need to buy another one.
Step 9
Strap the tire
Wrap a clamping strap around the middle of the tire and tighten it. The purpose of the strap is to force the edges of the tire against the hub and create a seal when you inflate the tire.
Step 10
Inflate the tire
- Replace the valve stem. Do this carefully because valve stems are very easy to cross-thread.
- Connect a compressor and start inflating the tire. When there’s enough air, the edges of the tire should pop up uniformly and seal against the hub. Adjust the position of the strap if this doesn’t happen uniformly — that is, one part of the tire pops up while another part doesn’t.
- Remove the strap and continue inflating to the pressure specifications marked on the tire once the edges are sealed. Use a tire gauge to check your progress.
Step 11
Re-install the tire on the mower
- Push the tire onto the wheel shaft.
- Replace all the washers in the order you removed them.
- Reset the C-clamp, using needle-nose pliers. If you’re having trouble, a light tap with a hammer should persuade it to pop right on.
- Push the plastic cap onto the end of the wheel shaft.
- Lower the jack, remove it and the wheel blocks, and you’re done.
Step 12
FAQ
How long do lawn mower tires last?
As Corcoran noted, you should reasonably expect to change a lawn mower tire every three to six years, but it really depends on how often you use the mower. “Mowers that are used more often are generally going to need tires to be replaced more frequently due to increased wear and tear,” he says. “And the same goes for those that aren’t stored properly.”
About the Experts
- Steve Corcoran is the CEO of Lawn Love, a nationwide lawn care and landscape maintenance service.
- Ross Hulstein is the owner of Enviroscapes, a company specializing in landscape design, lawn maintenance, and outdoor property care.
