Miami Tire Shop in Miami, FL mounts and balances tires for ATVs, UTVs and lawn equipment. Before you come in, read the size code off the sidewall and note whether the tire is front or rear, because these tires are not interchangeable the way car tires often are. Call with the size to confirm what can be done.
Small-engine tires fail differently from car tires. A rider flats out on a trail with a thorn through the tread, a mower tire dry-rots at the sidewall after years in a shed, and a UTV tire gets cut by a rock edge. Each of those leads to a different fix.
The most useful thing you can do before a visit is photograph the sidewall. The size code, the ply rating and any arrow showing rotation direction are all printed there, and together they decide what can replace the tire.
How do I read the size on an ATV or lawn tire?
The code has three parts: overall height, tread width, then rim diameter. A hyphen, not a slash, usually separates the width from the rim size. Car tires use a different format, so do not assume the numbers mean the same thing.
Front and rear sizes on many ATVs and UTVs differ. Read all four tires, not just the flat one.
- Check the ply rating if you haul loads or carry passengers; a lighter ply may not handle it.
- Look for a rotation arrow on the sidewall and mount with it pointing the correct way.
- Tell the shop if the tire is tubeless or runs a tube.
Is it worth repairing a small tire or should I replace it?
A puncture in the middle of the tread on a tubeless tire can sometimes be fixed. A cut in the sidewall, or a tire cracked from age, should be replaced. Lawn tires with cracked rubber around the bead rarely hold air for long even after patching.
Why is the bead harder to seat on these tires?
Low-pressure, stiff-sidewall tires fight the rim. That is why a tire that seemed easy to remove yourself can take a proper machine to seat again. If you have been wrestling a bead at home, bring the wheel in rather than overinflating it to force the seat.
Can I bring just the wheel instead of the whole machine?
Yes, in most cases the wheel alone is all that is needed. Pull it off the hub, bring it in, and say what size tire is going on.
Do you work on riding mower tires?
Lawn tires are part of this service. Call with the size from the sidewall and ask whether your particular tire can be handled.
Should I replace all four ATV tires at once?
Not necessarily, but replace both tires on the same axle together so the sizes and tread depth match. Mismatched wear changes how the machine steers.