Retread or Replace Honda Lawn Mower Wheels

All 4 wheels are worn out after 2 years of use on my Honda Lawn Mower model HHR2169VLA.
Rear wheel part number 42710-VE2-M01ZE
Front wheel part number 44710-VL0-L01ZB

[@CitizenDrew]

My HRN216 is four years old and I'm about to change a second set of wheels. I wish there was a replacement part with rubber tread that I could use instead of this cheap-crap plastic. Still the best mower I've ever had - and I've had THEM ALL. Toro, Lawnboy, Craftsman and Cub Cadet. Cheap part - easy fix - small price to pay for a great looking lawn!

[@terrylowder1513]

They were completely slick!

[@trashguy.]

That's how mine are I am about to replace them

[@Micko350]

Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick Completely slick

[@andybub45]

I did the rear wheel lockup fix as mentioned in your first video. I also replaced the rear height adjusters according to the Honda TSB and I decided to go ahead and buy new rear wheels. Front wheels still have some tread left. The mower is so much easier to use now. Seems like the bermuda grass really wears down the wheels.

[@mikeselsvik8357]

I think he’s trying to tell us that the wheels are completely slick 😂

[@CarveTools]

They are very slick! Even the new ones are now slick too.

[@trashguy.]

​​@@CarveToolsTime to replace them again

[@MasonAK.1]

My HRR2167VKA is 12 years old and still has the original wheels on it and they're not slick at all, maybe less than half worn. The Honda still holding up significantly better than the old John Deeres or even a 1 year old Cub Cadet... and to be completely honest it hasn't gotten ANY maintenance besides washing out the deck. The original 12 year old spark plug was covered in carbon but still within proper gap specs but I replaced it anyway along with air filter, oil change, and new blades. The only "major" issue was the pull starter wouldn't retract so it was frustrating to start, and it recently started to develop symptoms of being hard to roll in reverse. Best damn lawn mower we've ever owned... that is aside from an older Honda commercial mower

[@crisprtalk6963]

This video was completely slick!

[@CarveTools]

No tread, slick wheels. Thanks for the comments!

[@stevelavender1421]

Like everyone else below, my Honda mower wheels were completely slick surprisingly fast. I thought that the rear drive wheels might be slick from spinning, but I have only one answer as to why the from wheels were slick. These rubber/plastic treads are made intentionally that way. Why? I don't know. I can say that I replaced my rear wheels this past weekend, but I left my fronts as is - slick. As long as they spin they will do their job. Now I need to go back and fix the rolling backwards problem...

[@bryanb3891]

This video is slick

[@rezanorouzian8198]

For clarity, this is HRR216VLA not HHR216VLA.

[@petscanning]

I retreaded my back ones with a old bicycle tire. I think the reason they wear down so fast is bc of the hard plastic. Since putting on the old tire material the backs have not worn down but the fronts are bald. Im sure that why honda does this. I have a small lawn business and I am purchasing a new honda this week and I will put retread on before using it. Guaranteeing when I sell it the tires will look brand new!

[@CarveTools]

Hi Todd, the plastic wheels on my model mower is definitely garbage, even the new ones. I saved the old tires from my old 10+ year old Honda and they still look new. Sounds like you did a great repair! Thanks for the comments!

[@scorpnz4433]

Correct. The plastic is much harder & wears quickly. After market wheels here now use rubber instead of plastic on the rim (hru216/7) they last far longer now. Not as long as the old masports from 20-30 years ago which were steal rim with solid rubber. Those buggers are still in use today on some of the older mowers. They don't make em like that any more no money in it

[@chrisferrell6978]

What was the process if you don't mind me asking?

[@FarideLadak]

Good to know that I can find replacement wheels with rubber threads instead of the plastic on my HRX217. Half the time the rear self propelled wheels are slip/sliding. Thank you

[@rromero1318]

Can you tell me how you retread it the back tire.?

[@griffincontracting]

Completely Slick!

[@hlk466]

Does anyone have a link to the bicycle tire method?

[@gr82bcrazy1]

I think the front tires wear out because the tow and camber are out of alignment. Unfortunately there isn’t a way to adjust with washers. And the back just spin like crazy especially when the bag get more than half full. For these reasons and the fact that you really only cut about 16 inches per pass I have gone back to a Toro.

[@TheEgg185]

Did the lawnmower drive FASTER after changing the wheels. My Craftsman/Honda drives very slow. The wheels are also very worn like yours. I want to know if changing the wheels would help. They don't seem to slip around when moving forward though. So I don't see how new wheels would help.

[@ThaGreatestAlexander]

I just watched the video and i must say those wheels are completely sick, and have only 2 years of use.

[@kellyadams9284]

I didn't catch that part 😂

[@CarveTools]

Yep! completely slick! Thanks for the comments!

[@whereisthedollar]

@@CarveTools Just ordered the 2nd set for replacement on my mower brought in 2015. They only last about 2 years. Also, Honda has changed them so I brought an extra set in case they start to get hard to find.

[@jimb7610]

Slick? Yeah, OK! But after HOW MANY years use was that? Haha!!!

[@jackgamble1974]

Can you use just any 8-in Wheels on it?

[@RM-zy2pp]

I think they just came out with new wheels and a newer darker grey deck too the hubs of the wheels are a darker grey as well but im guessing they are the same poly material but tread are a lil different

[@CarveTools]

This is not a bad mower but it has been very frustrating to keep it working. Thanks for the comments!

[@RM-zy2pp]

CarveTools trust me i know it wants to be so good but so stubborn too lol i use the blade brake one to cut by myself like 90 lawns in hilly Pittsburgh i want to throw it sometimes this is like my 4th one im gonna go check out the all newer darker grey deck one soon it was awesome to see u found out how to try and resolve that pulling backward issue great job but that is still what keeps killing me on the same mowers i keep buying driving me too nuts lol im hoping now that honda did know about that issue that they fixed it on the darker newer grey one ill prob. get one soon and ill let u know 👍👍👍

[@Johnny-dw6un]

I wonder will the new dark grey wheels will fit on one of these older models?

[@Infragilis8]

@@Johnny-dw6un it will, just say a guy do it on KZbin

[@Johnny-dw6un]

Infragilis8 yes i already bought a set. Going to put them on my 216 tomorrow 👍🏼

[@Mr572u]

Why would you care if the front wheels are slick? I run them until they fall off the rim.

[@CarveTools]

I have a small area on a slope that the mower likes to slide so the front wheels do make a difference in my case. Thanks for the comments!

[@stevegehm7573]

You breeze right past an important issue; how the washers are placed back on the rear and front wheels (which is different) while you go over and over showing the old bald wheels (not necessary).

[@CarveTools]

I have another video where the rear wheels are reassembled, check it out, Honda Mower Rear Wheel Lockup The Real Fix Part 2. Thanks for the comments.

[@ranger1244]

I may have missed it but why did the wheel tread wear down? Thanks

[@CarveTools]

Hi Ranger1, Glad you picked up on this but I was looking for the answer as to why all 4 wheels wore out after 2 years and the plastic bag the new wheels came in says "Made from 50% recycled content." I assume that actually is referring to the plastic bag and not the plastic wheel. Anyway this mower is a cheaply made product and a headache for the consumer. Thanks for the comment!

[@ranger1244]

CarveTools I guess the part I missed was why you thought the wheels wore out which you said you would mention at the end of the video. I’m guessing you’re talking about the plastic bag the new wheels came in. I think the rear wheels wore out because when the mower goes from grass to pavement and the transmission isn’t disengaged the rear wheels keep turning on the pavement without the mower moving wearing the rear wheels down. That’s just a guess. As far as the front wheels wearing down maybe it’s just vibration from the engine again when the mower is on pavement. Again that’s just a guess. What do you think?

[@CarveTools]

I think these wheels are made out of some cheap plastic. The rear wheels would make sense to be worn out as I had to drag the mower backwards when they locked up but the front ones seem odd to wear out. My previous Honda model HRR2163VXA after 10 years the wheels still look new and I saved them and scrapped the rest of the mower. Unfortunately they do not fit the newer HHR2169VLA.

[@petscanning]

Your correct my older honda even after commercial use they still look new years later but new honda model went bald in a year or less. Cheap hard plastic vs rubber

[@eastrockaway11518]

Rub it in, why don’t you! lol

[@jones3561]

All Honda front wheels are out of alignment on the HRR216.... crazy

[@CarveTools]

That's good to know it's a Honda thing. Thanks for the comments!

[@dubwiseselecta1]

Seems like a lot of when you can get all four wheels new for about $34 on Amazon...and they are Honda wheels

[@CarveTools]

Theses were $48 at amazon in 2018 and they are the same original crappy wheels.

[@kevincrain8354]

I tried this on my Honda , but it didn’t work. Problem is the washer bolt nuts were just too fused to the blades - ended up grinding them off - once clear , the bolts unscrewed easily.

[@CarveTools]

Sorry to hear that, thanks for sharing.

[@scorpnz4433]

Whats the reason you replaced the wheels other than the tread gone. Can't be due to wheel spin (on rear) that'll happen regardless if there's tread or not. I run 216/217's commercially & always run the tread down till the white rim starts showing through. Try it sometime you should get another two years or more easy. Cut one of the wheels you removed in half you'll see how much meat is left, could even use a grinder to cut some new tread tho personally that'd be a waste of time

[@CarveTools]

Hi Scorp, When on a slight slope the rear wheels would spin and the mower would slide also. This made it impossible to cut a straight path. I saved the wheels from my previous Honda although they are too large they were made out of rubber and not the hard plastic like these. I still do not see how all 4 wheels turned slick with just the 2 rear wheels doing the pulling. I thought about cutting some new tread in them so perhaps if I ever get some free time it will do that. Thanks for the comments, always glad to hear from an experienced user of these mowers.

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

@@CarveTools I know why. They are made to purposely wear out fast so that you have to go buy another set of wheels. This is how honda keeps making money off you now, after you purchased the mower. It was planned trust me. Yes I believe the tires are 50% recycled content, making it ecen cheaper for them to make and sell at a profit. The best way to stick it to them, is adhere bike tires over the wheels, than you'll never have to replace them and you'll get better traction than you ever did before. In the meantime, can you attach the link to the set of wheels you got off amazon. I have to replace them for a customer, thanks. Nevermind I looked, found them. I also found they sell tires for these mowers with actual rubber, that last much longer, about $15 more total for 4 of them over the original one's.

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

@@CarveTools I found a set of the 4 original tires for this mower on amazon for $33 bucks free shipping. Than I found the updated version used on the HRR 2018 and later that will fit several other older models that use the better rubber for $37.48 shipping included all 4 on the web. Thats the cheapest I found them so far, still looking, may find them even cheaper. They arent afternarket, their OEM Honda, they just finally redesigned them to last longer and give better traction.

[@hlk466]

​@@Mr_Tecumseh do you have part numbers or a link? Also can you elaborate on the bicycle tires? Sizes and how to do it. I'm a woman doing this for my teenager. These tires are horrible. He's trying to start a small business and I thought we couldn't go wrong with a Honda. I feel stupid

[@bbarre4601]

Your wheel nut came right off... Mine is so tight it broke my ratchet adapter

[@kansasgardener5844]

Torro have rubber tires and the mowers cost less.

[@eastrockaway11518]

This replacement part should’ve been identified as defective, their is no way I should be replacing wheels on a mower that’s is 5 years old being used at my residence (Not Commercially) “Class Action Law Suit” My kids cozy coupe wheels out lasted these tires! 10Xs as long! My property is 60 x 80 that includes a 2 car garage and House. I paid for a high end mower

[@CarveTools]

I understand the frustration! The wheels on my old Honda still look new unfortunately they are the wrong size for this one. Thanks for the comments!

[@greatray6262]

These wheels are junk! I have a different Honda mower model but the wheels are made up from the same cheap plastic material. I have to replace the rear tires every year and the fronts every other year because the treads wear out so fast. These tires don't even have very good traction when new. I'm looking for some good aftermarket replacement tires that will last and perform better than these poorly designed tires.

[@sptrader6316]

My 20 year old Toro 22" wheels are in better shape than your 2 year old ones. I just changed mine today.

[@billypeterson4317]

i cannot for the life of me get the rear wheels to come off mine!!!!

[@billypeterson4317]

am i just plain stupid or whats up?!! i remove the bolt and the wheel feels like its glued on

[@CarveTools]

Hi Billy, sorry for the slow reply, it's been a busy week. The wheels should literally fall off once the single bolt is removed. Is your mower the same model number?

[@philipwright6065]

SO I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THEN. I HAVE TRIED FOR A FORTNIGHT AND ALL I HAVE TO SHOW IS A SET OF BLOODY FINGERS.THE NUTS WON'T BUDGE. I THINK I WILL JUST BUY A NEW MOWER, IT WILL BE EASIER.

[@CarveTools]

Sorry to hear you can’t get the nuts loose. Just one bolt in the center of the wheel and it should practically fall off.

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

@@philipwright6065 I'll take your old one.