Working tire pressure = Contact area ???

[rdinatal]

I was wondering what the thoughts are on tire pressure. It doesn't matter if they are filled, or not, or tractor weight. I'm interested about contact area. I was thinking of 80% contact on a hard surface like cement. At any time in the work day the supported weight can be plus or minus 1K lbs depending upon a laod in the FEL or 3pt. On mine at 80% contact, unloaded, the rear would be at 10psi. That seems low.

On my truck I like 90% contact to the shoulder but then the truck doesn't have as much of a weight variance in everyday use. When I want to load it I air up/down accordingly.

So, on a tractor what do you find is a good balance between ride and capacity??

-R

 

[Wolfy]

I run all of my tractors at max psi that is printed on the sidewall. Especially important for the front tires of a loader tractor. They never gave me a smooth ride no matter how much air they have.

 

[s219]

I run all of my tractors at max psi that is printed on the sidewall. Especially important for the front tires of a loader tractor. They never gave me a smooth ride no matter how much air they have.

Ditto for me.

 

[avc8130]

I run my fronts at max psi. I run my rears so I get full ground contact.

 

[4570Man]

I run mine at 45-50 psi. I think max rated pressure on mine is 45.

 

[Looking4new]

My loaded R4 rears I run at 15 psi, fronts at 35

 

[olPete]

Loaded rears at 18psi, fronts 20psi, up to 24 for FEL work and back down again for traction/ride comfort. Ag tires.
If you do much on pavement go 2psi lower, over inflation wears the tires out faster than under inflation as the circumference from center to sidewall has a greater difference with more pressure

 

[Egon]

It kinda depends on the type of tire and the service it is in.

 

[Gary Fowler]

10 PSI in the rears is about right for good ground contact. I would never run the rears OR fronts at or above the max rating. I only run enough pressure in the fronts so that they don't squat or roll on the rim when I have a fully loaded bucket. This is usually 10 pounds or so below max pressure.

 

[rdinatal]

10 PSI in the rears is about right for good ground contact. I would never run the rears OR fronts at or above the max rating. I only run enough pressure in the fronts so that they don't squat or roll on the rim when I have a fully loaded bucket. This is usually 10 pounds or so below max pressure.

My eMax is about 2200lbs with the loader. The dealer had the rears at 15lbs and I was noticing the contact was about 60%. With 10psi the contact increases to 80%. I really don't want to go any lower.

I need to check the front.

-R