Urethane bandsaw tires walling off wheels?

[ribertgropius]

About 5 years ago I purchased and installed a set of orange replacement tires on my older bandsaw (1960's vintage). The last time I used it I found the tire on the top wheel kept trying to walk off the wheel. Back when I installed them I cleaned off all the glue left from the old rubber tires, but the bandsaw gets very, very infrequent use.

1. Does it make sense to try to glue them in place?
2. Should I try buying a new set of tires to see if they stay in better?
3. Should I bite the bullet and buy new wheels?

Thoughts? Thanks.

[Hobbyman2]

JMO , If the condition of the tires are bad replace them, I have used windshield glue from the auto shop with good results .the new tires should come with adhesive .

[ribertgropius]

I was reading reviews this evening about the orange urethane tires from Shopsmith after I made my post: apparently I am not the only one.who has had this issue. Lots of users have reported issues with the urethane tires falling off the wheels. I bet what happens is the blade gets warm, heats up the urethane tire and it expands, and off they want to go on their "walk." Mine is an older unit; perhaps the old brass rollers might cause more of an issue than the newer bearings because of more friction/heat against the blade? When the tire came off the last time, the blade took a nice chunk out of the blade guard I had recently replaced, but I suppose that is better than my finger!

I saw advertisements for Blue Max urethane tires for Shopsmiths that seemed to have good reviews; has anyone used them? For now I will try the glue since my orange tires look fine (if they will stay in place). If they come off again, I will replace them with either rubber tires or maybe try the Blue Max ones.

[Hobbyman2]

FWIW the windshield glue bonds rubber to metal , not sure about the urethane . I ordered OEM replacement tires a few years ago when I was having issues but haven had to install them yet since the wsg is holding . I had seen many adds for the other tires but have not used them . JMO

[algale]

When my orange Shopsmith tire flew off, I switched to Blue Max. No issues.

[wa2crk]

I had some of the urethane tires for a while but I switched back to the black rubber tires from SS. I much prefer the black tires. just my opinion
Bill V

[chapmanruss]

This may not be much help, but I have used the Blue Max Urethane Tires on one Bandsaw. I didn't use it a lot and I have since sold the Bandsaw they are on. They seemed to work okay, and I remember they had to be stretched quite a bit to get them on. I haven't tried the Shopsmith orange Urethane Tires even though I have a set. I chose to replace the tires on my regularly used Bandsaw with the glued-on rubber tires after another discussion about Bandsaw Tires here on the Forum. The Urethane Tires do not use glue to hold them in place but have to be stretched on over the wheel. Since I never tried them, I don't know how the Shopsmith orange Urethane Tires compare to the Blue Max Urethane Tires. It is their elasticity that keeps them in place. If they lose that elasticity from heat, wear and/or time they will come off.

I had a Bandsaw that the rubber tires looked like they had baked in the sun. They were cracked all around the wheel and came off in little chunks as I removed them. With cracks going front to back on the wheels and no longer than a 1/2" apart the tires were still well attached and could be used keeping the blade tracking properly. I wish I had taken some pictures of it. For me, I think that says a lot about the rubber tires. I have already skipped using them once and I don't know if I will ever use the set of Shopsmith orange Urethane Tires I have.

[Majones1]

I have read a similar discussion on these tires before, but in neither that discussion nor this one have i seen anyone present a good reason to use the urethane tires. Because my old rubber tires are cracked and worn, although not as bad as Russ’s, a few months ago I bought a set of the orange urethan tires. I have been slow to install them, and now since I’ve read about the problems many people have had with them, I will probably be like Russ and not ever use them.

I would like to know if there is a good reason to use the blue urethane tires. What are the pros and cons, and why would you go with one over the other?

Thanks.

[Hobbyman2]

I have read a similar discussion on these tires before, but in neither that discussion nor this one have i seen anyone present a good reason to use the urethane tires. Because my old rubber tires are cracked and worn, although not as bad as Russ’s, a few months ago I bought a set of the orange urethan tires. I have been slow to install them, and now since I’ve read about the problems many people have had with them, I will probably be like Russ and not ever use them.

I would like to know if there is a good reason to use the blue urethane tires. What are the pros and cons, and why would you go with one over the other?

Thanks.

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Only know what I have read , they claim urethane tires won't turn brittle .

[JPG]

Yeah, they simply fall off!