I have a Victa Mustang, self propelled with battery start. The rear plastic ? wheels had very little tread formed into them when new, and 3 years later, hardly any, so wheel spin on damp grass is most annoying and I have to push the mower sometimes. Does anyone have a solution how to add some usable tread to these wheels or maybe there is a wheel upgrade available. I have heard some people add screws into the wheel for grip but I am not happy with this idea. Any suggestions appreciated, Thanks, Gary
As I haven't tried this its just a suggestion. . I haven't looked at the videos yet but there are are few on youtube.
How to Fuse BMX Tires to Your Mower Wheels
To make sure the Sikaflex bonds permanently and handles the torque of the self-drive system, follow these steps:
Prep the Mower Wheel (Crucial Step):
Smooth plastic or old rubber is Sikaflex’s enemy.
Take some coarse sandpaper (around 40 or 60 grit) and scuff the absolute life out of the mower wheel's plastic surface. You want deep scratches for the adhesive to bite into.
Clean it thoroughly with mineral turps, wax & grease remover, or rubbing alcohol to get rid of all dirt and grease.
Prep the BMX Tyre: or mountain bike Tyre
Cut the tyre to the exact width of your mower wheel.
Cut the wire bead (the hard metal wire along the inside edge of the tire) off completely. You only want the flat, flexible tread section.
Cut it to length so it wraps perfectly around the circumference of the wheel with a tiny bit of tension.
Scuff the inside/underside of the tire with sandpaper as well, and clean it.
Applying the Sikaflex:
Use Sikaflex-291 or Sikaflex-11FC (polyurethane adhesive). Do not use standard silicone, as it lacks the structural strength required for a drive wheel.
Apply a generous, even layer to the mower wheel.
Clamping and Curing:
Wrap the cut tire tread tightly around the wheel.
To hold it in place while it cures, wrap the outside tightly with multiple layers of heavy-duty zip ties, duct tape, or heavy rubber bands.
Leave it alone for at least 24 to 48 hours. Polyurethane adhesives need time to cure completely, especially when sandwiched between rubber and plastic.
💡 Quick Tip: When you cut the tyre to length, try to cut it at a 40-to-45-degree angle (a scarf joint) rather than a straight vertical cut. When the wheel rotates forward, ensure the top flap of the joint points away from the direction of travel so the ground doesn't catch the lip and peel it back.
The Clearance Trap BMX tyres add about 5mm to 10mm of extra height (thickness) to your wheel. Before you glue anything, wrap the loose tyre around the wheel and test it on the mower. Make sure the new, thicker tyre doesn't rub against:
