Tires Ag tires & heavy loader work

[hayden]

I was doing some research on tires and discovered that the front tire weight capacity for Ag tires is considerably lower than R4s.

On a larger Grand L, for example, the Ag front tires are 8.3-16 6 ply and have a load capacity of 1200 lbs each. The R4s are 10-16.5 6 ply and have a load capacity of 3500 lbs each. That's a big difference.

How do ags work for heavy loader work?

A 4610 with loader weighs in at about 5000 lbs. If ony 30% of the tractor/loader weight is on the front wheels that's 1500 lbs. With a loader bucket full to capacity you can add 1800 lbs, all of which I think goes on the front wheels, and now you have 3300 lbs on the front tires that together can only carry 2400 lbs.

What gives here? Can Ags really stand up to loader work?

 

[Bird]

Peter, I'm afraid it is a fact that R4 tires are made for heavier loads, but it's also a fact that folks with Ag tires all over the country are using front end loader with no problem. Of course, you probably want higher air pressure in those front tires when doing heavy loader work. I prefer 16 psi in my front tires without the loader, but 24 psi when I'm using the loader. I neglected raising the air pressure one day and in slowly turning with a heavy load, I rolled the right front tire bead loose from the rim and lost all my air./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif No damage, but had to lift that wheel off the ground to get the bead to re-seat and air it up.

 

[rmcess]

Bird,
I have rolled the front tire loose with turf tires doing the same thing. I have to admit I never even thought of raising the pressure. I just went with lighter loads, especially when turning sharp was required. Now I have a smaller BX and it may not be an issue since the loader will not lift as much.
I have not put the BX through the paces yet to know.
Rich...

 

[Boondox]

Ditto here, Peter. I run 28psi up front when lifting maple logs for stacking or cutting.

Pete

 

[hayden]

What's the max pressure allowed? 28?

At full pressure, are the tires struggling to keep their shape?

I know when I went from TUrf/bar tires, which have turf front tires, to R4s I notices a huge difference in how the tires held up to heavy loader loads. In both cases I was running at max pressure.

 

[Charliebrn]

I solved the problem by filling my front turfs with gel (Agco's Soft-Fill). No more flats, no more worrying about the bead, and still have a nice ride. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Peter, maximum pressure will depend on which tires you have. My B2710 only has 4 ply tires, so the 24 psi is the maximum recommended and the weight capacity is listed on the tire at 725 pounds. The Operator's Manual does recommend maximum pressure when using a FEL or with front end weights. I imagine with a maximum load in the FEL, I may have more weight on the tires than they're rated for, but I've never had a problem. I haven't read any of the manufacturers' detailed recommendations, but know that most car and pickup tire manufacturers say you can go 10-15% over the maximum pressure listed on the side of the tire if the load justifies it.

 

[WoodDawg]

<font color=blue>turning with a heavy load, I rolled the right front tire bead loose from the rim</font color=blue>

Is that a more common problem with <font color=orange>orange</font color=orange> tractors or are all brands just as likely to have that happen. The reason I ask is before I bought my TC40 I rented an L3010 and had that happen to me. I had to be very careful when turning with the bucket full or I would bust the bead loose (pretty easily). With my TC40 I have never given it a thought. Sharp turns with the loader full, no problem.
Mark

 

[Bird]

Mark, I don't think it'll make any difference what color the tractor is; just a matter of which tires, how big a load, how sharp the turn, and how much air pressure./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif I've seen it often enough that you would think I would have known better. The only ones I've actually personally known of it happening on, besides my Kubota, were Case, International, and John Deere (just haven't been around Ford/New Hollands enough/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif).

Of course, tractors aren't the only thing that it happens to, either. I let a front tire get a little low on my Cub Cadet lawn tractor (riding mower) once and rolled it off on a turn, and my brother rolled his off his Cub Cadet so many times, he had both front tires foam filled./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[WoodDawg]

Thinking about it, I believe the front tires on the L3010 turn sharper than my TC40. I maybe that puts more side force on the tires and breaks the bead easier. Or maybe it is the R4's on my TC40 that are just more resistant to it. I worked both pretty hard!
Mark