When do you replace tires?

[N80]

I have a 16 year old Kubota L4400 4wd with about 600 hours on it. Came with Ag tires. Fronts are worn, torn, chipped and cracked. Considerable tread loss (fronts are overdriven compared to rears). Could easily keep running them for a while but it wouldn't be nuts to replace them. Anyway I think I'll know when its time for them to go. My question is about the rears. Surprisingly minimal tread wear. There are some torn places and a few missing chunks. However, they are cracked like crazy all around the tread bars and contact surface. Sidewalls look okay.

Tractor is not used for commercial purposes and nothing that I do with it would suffer if it was down for a week or so with a ruined tire.

I'm just wondering when it would be prudent to replace the rears.

 

[Peter 315]

If it was mine I would replace all 4 tires....

 

[3Ts]

If you don't have traction issues or tire issues, I'd keep them awhile longer. I have a front tire that has been patched a couple of times, but otherwise in good shape, except that it leaks air. Many attempts to fix it have failed so I'm considering replacing it. In other words, what can you tolerate before you decide something has to change?

 

[oosik]

Replace all four - at the same time - for sure. You DO NOT want new on the front and worn on the rear.

I'd wait until the front tires literally fell off the rims.

 

[N80]

I think in my case new fronts and old rears would be fine as the rears have virtually no tread wear. However, when the time comes I'll probably do all four just to have the job done at once.

All four tires are performing fine. No significant leaks. I suppose I've lost some traction on the fronts. Bars are worn down and rounded over.

Where does one buy tractor tires? I'm assuming the dealer would be the obvious choice but probably the highest prices too.

 

[Hay Dude]

My fronts always wear faster than rears. Probably 2 sets or more for each rear set. Obviously more scrub an if you have loaders with engine up front, more weight on smaller tire. I’d just replace fronts if money is an issue, all 4 if it works financially.
Look on-line for a tractor, AG, industrial tire dealer service center.

 

[MoKelly]

I just replaced my fronts after approx. 11 years snd 600 hours. They needed help.

The rears are still doing ok.

Turf tires.

MoKelly

 

[dougtrr2]

Where does one buy tractor tires? I'm assuming the dealer would be the obvious choice but probably the highest prices too.

Check on the tire shops around for new tires. Look for one that does ag tires. My son-in-law has a tire business and a significant part of the business is tractor tires.

Doug in SW IA

 

[oosik]

Around here, I choose Les Schwab for everything with tires.

 

[oosik]

I have 80 acres. This is located in an area called the Channeled Scablands - a large area abutting the Palouse on the north side. Several small spots on the property have exposed bedrock. This is basaltic lava bedrock. It can be as sharp as your grandfather's old straight razor.

I either avoid these spots or roll gingerly over them. They took large chunks out of the R-1's on my first tractor. So far, on the M6040, I'm OK. Live and learn.

 

[nybirdman]

I replaced my fronts after about 900 hours(do a bit of road running),the rears are fine.Ordered online had a local shop replace.
Fronts are easy ,rears no so much.

 

[Bearsixty7]

My fronts always wear faster than rears. Probably 2 sets or more for each rear set. Obviously more scrub an if you have loaders with engine up front, more weight on smaller tire. I’d just replace fronts if money is an issue, all 4 if it works financially.
Look on-line for a tractor, AG, industrial tire dealer service center.

I agree with Hay Dude.

Price those new rear tires and I bet you keep what you have a little longer!

 

[Cougsfan]

This question is almost impossible to answer in a forum. It depends on the quality of rubber in your tires, if it is stored inside or out, how you use the tractor, and your degree of being ****.
I bought my '57 model Ferguson in 1985 and I still have the same rear tires that were God knows how many years old when i bought the tractor. They are doing just fine. I replaced the front tires on my new Branson after two years because they were absolute crap. So my answer is somewhere between 2 and 30 years.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I replace tires when they won't stay inflated overnight .
One tractor my grandfather bought new 45 years ago, still has original tires. A 1958 Nash I have has the original spare. It's now petrified...like hard plastic but holding air!
A neighbor keeps up with the date code on all his tires and replaces them before they "expire".

 

[denchen]

I know it does not apply to agriculture tyres, but recently on my side of the pond the law has changed regarding tyres. Lorries and busses/coaches are not allowed to have tyres on over 10 years old on the front and on the rear of busses and coaches where there is only one wheel. As I said this does not apply to tractors etc. but I guess the new law is because old tyres have failed. Interestingly, tyres deteriate quicker by standing still doing nothing than they do in regular use. How old is a tyre, well on car, lorry, bus and coach tyres there is a 4 digit number molded into the tyre. The first two numbers is the week they were made and the last two the year. So say a tyre has the number [2217], it was made in week 22 of 2017. Again I am unsure if this applies to all tractor tyres.

 

[PILOON]

Wish I could.(replace mine)
Rears are severely weather checked and scary.
BUT nobody nowhere has my size! (9.5 X 18 R3)
I got last pair in Canada and they checked badly within 5 winter months, so much so that the company issued a partial cash compensation*.
BUT I'm no farther ahead, just poorer.
Thankfully the cord weaving is synthetic so the exposed cords are holding, but scary.

PS: I've contacted dozens of major suppliers to no avail. (and offshore as well)

*partial as they wanted the old ones for full credit but could not locate replacements so I settled for 50% cash.
(Hindsight: I probably have gone legal claiming false warranty promises.)

 

[fried1765]

I have a 16 year old Kubota L4400 4wd with about 600 hours on it. Came with Ag tires. Fronts are worn, torn, chipped and cracked. Considerable tread loss (fronts are overdriven compared to rears). Could easily keep running them for a while but it wouldn't be nuts to replace them. Anyway I think I'll know when its time for them to go. My question is about the rears. Surprisingly minimal tread wear. There are some torn places and a few missing chunks. However, they are cracked like crazy all around the tread bars and contact surface. Sidewalls look okay.

Tractor is not used for commercial purposes and nothing that I do with it would suffer if it was down for a week or so with a ruined tire.

I'm just wondering when it would be prudent to replace the rears.

I replaced the fronts on my 1951 Ford 8N at 55 years.
The rears were badly cracked, so were replaced at 45 years.

 

[5030]

My only comment is if you run in FWA all the time, put it in 2wd. I only use FWA when necessary and yes the front's wear faster than the rears do but you can mitigate the wear by maintaining correct air pressure (I check mine at least monthly and always keep mine in 2wd unless I need the added traction).

Just replaced 4 on one of my M9's with Titan radial R1's and it was 5 grand, mounting included. I don't screw with tractor tires I have the tire dealer come out and they do it. Way too big and I don't own the equipment anyway.

For me, tires are a farm expense.

 

[crlf]

I have 80 acres. This is located in an area called the Channeled Scablands - a large area abutting the Palouse on the north side. Several small spots on the property have exposed bedrock. This is basaltic lava bedrock. It can be as sharp as your grandfather's old straight razor.

I either avoid these spots or roll gingerly over them. They took large chunks out of the R-1's on my first tractor. So far, on the M6040, I'm OK. Live and learn.

We're "almost neighbors" -- main house is on the southern edge of Spokane Valley. Y'all ride dirt or ADV or Harleys? This is nearby, looking out somewhat toward the Palouse...

 

[pharries]

A few years ago while working sideways on a slope with my L4610 one of my rear tires suddenly collapsed, tire was old but still had lots of tread and rim was rusted . For a moment I thought the tractor would flip! As a result I replaced both rear rims and tires.
I was reluctant to replace fronts but a year later I did and was amazed at improvement in traction