Heard of flat-free tires? Here is a breakdown.
According to Wise Geek:
Flat-free tires are typically tires constructed of lightweight polyurethane. They do not contain any air and are manufactured to be puncture-proof. They generally look and move similar to regular equipment tires. These items may be placed on wheelbarrows, hand trucks, garden carts, and lawn mowers, to name a few uses.
Unlike regular tires, flat-free tires do not need to be inflated with air. This is because they are a solid structure rather than a hollow tube. As they are normally constructed of polyurethane instead of rubber, these items tend to be thicker and denser. This can make them strong enough to resist being cut or punctured by sharp objects in a garden or lawn.
The outside of these turf tires generally has raised markings running around the diameter of the object. These lines serve as the tread of the flat-free tire, providing traction in rugged areas. They normally remain thick and durable, and are not worn down easily.
Flat-free tires are normally lightweight. They typically weigh around the same as regular equipment tires that are filled with air. In some cases, they may even be lighter. This means they do not add unnecessary weight to the lawn and garden equipment they are placed on.
In most cases, these tires fit existing hubs on most garden equipment. This can make these accessories easy to install for many people. A wrench and hammer are usually the only tools that are required for adding flat-free tires to a wheelbarrow or lawn mower.
These tires are considered to be environmentally-friendly. This is due to the fact that they are often manufactured without releasing harmful chemicals into the air or water. Flat-free tires also reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills, as they do not need to be replaced often. In the event they do need to be changed, the product itself is generally easily recycled.
Many homeowners notice little difference between air-filled garden tires and flat-free tires. That is because they typically roll easily and handle their loads much like traditional tires. As they are similar in appearance, people often can not tell whether or not a piece of garden equipment has this item installed.
Gardeners are sometimes reluctant to purchase this product for their garden equipment. This is usually because the cost of flat-free tires can sometimes be greater than that of air-filled tires. Making the investment can pay off in the long run, however, as they might last as long as three or four sets of regular tires.