flat or full of air. The wedge design of
the Tire Blocks nearly eliminates the
vibration experienced after a puncture
with other leading run-flat systems. The
foam density of the Tire Blocks feels
like approximately 5–6 psi on an ATV,
and there are denser foam blocks for
heavier UTV applications. Tire Blocks
are also reasonably lightweight, typically
adding only 1/2 pound per wheel in
most applications.
INSTALLATION:
The Tire Blocks are a bit of a chore
to install, but they are definitely less
difficult to install than Tire Balls. It is
especially challenging to install the last
few blocks, but once they’re in, there
is no question of whether they are in
correctly. With Tire Balls, incorrect
installation leads to severe vibration.
With the Tire Blocks, you can see that
they are in the right way, so you can be
sure they won’t vibrate. Installing both
systems requires a few specialty tools
that can run from $200 to $300.
To install the Tire Blocks, lube the
tire carcass, then lube and install the
individual blocks. The tire will appear full
WHAT ARE THEY?
Tire Blocks are the next step in the
evolution of flat protection. These hand-cut wedges of dense foam replace
most of the air in your ATV or UTV tire
and are designed to fit together so
tightly that they provide nearly the same
ride feel with or without air. Tire Blocks
are designed to be an improvement
over the original Tire Ball System, which
features individual air bladders instead
of foam blocks. They were designed by
veteran desert racers who needed the
peace of mind available with Tire Balls,
but wanted a more affordable option
that didn’t vibrate after a puncture, like
with Tire Balls.
FEATURES:
Tire Blocks come in specific sizes for
each size tire and wheel combination.
The blocks are tightly wedged into the
tire carcass, leaving very little room
for air. With the Tire Blocks installed,
the feel is similar to that of a tire with
6 pounds of air pressure. The Tire
Blocks will allow 4–5 pounds of air
pressure around the foam, but the
tire will feel the same, whether it is
Tire Blocks (upper left) are a less expensive alternative to Tire Balls, but both require a tire-mounting station and gnarly tire irons. When money and/or points are
on the line, however, you can’t afford to get a flat.
when you still have two blocks left, so
it will take some effort to wedge these
final blocks into place. Once all the Tire
Blocks are installed, the wheel must be
pulled or pushed through the center
of the blocks, and the bead must be
mounted with tire irons or a beadlock.
Beadlocks definitely make installation
easier, but they are not necessary.
HOW DURABLE ARE THEY?
If you never suffer a puncture, the
Tire Blocks will last a lifetime, but, with
a puncture, you can run the tire for up
to 100 miles without really feeling the
flat. If you fix the flat fairly soon, the
blocks will not be damaged; however,
if you run them without air for hundreds
of miles, the heat created will shrink
them slightly, reducing the tire pressure.
Fortunately, you can compensate
for this by adding an extra block,
so many racers continue to use the
compromised blocks as spares.
WHO ARE THEY FOR?
Tire Blocks will benefit just about
anyone who rides or races an ATV
or UTV. They were designed for off-