Where do you buy tires? What brands to avoid.

[WinterDeere]

If you are so inclined, next time I buy tires for either of my M9's, YOU can come and mount them. I'd like to see that actually. Gonna be buying another set this fall btw.

I'm afraid to even ask the size.

 

[N80]

I've tried to find out where Carlisle tires are made. They have facilities in the US and China. One source said their Ag tires were made in the U.S. and most of the tires from their China facility were trailer tires. But that's all the info I could find.

In regard to mounting them myself, well, I can try and fail and then take them to the tire shop that has put tubes in them before. I have helped my brother-in-law mount large rears on his farm tractors just using hand tools. Now, they were the proper tools but it was still a good bit of work for two men. I would assume these small fronts would be easier and I can use his tools. I don't mind trying and I don't mind giving up when I know I'm beat either. ;-)

I'll do a little more research on the Carlisle brand but if I can't confirm anything I'll go with the BKTs which are about the same price as the Carlisles.

 

[repete]

On my Kubota L2550DT I have different brands but same size tires, 12.4 x 24. One is about 3" taller than the other. This causes my bucket to not sit level. I can live with it as I seldom do any real leveling with it.

My greatest question is with the gear ratio. If the tires are not matched in radius then the ratio front to rear can be off. Only use 4WD when necessary but still there.

Is there an industry standard for tractor tire dimensions?

 

[sixdogs]

It's not that I'm disappointed with lesser brands but I try to buy Firestone when income is at stake. Radials for serious income work and bias for daily service. I've had no problems with BK and I have some Sampson trailer tires that are fine. Zero issues.
I think Titans are probably OK and I'm confused on Goodyear. I think Titan owns them but not sure and haven't had any Goodyears for a while. I used to really like them. What I don't want is an obscure brand from China off the net. I want something my tire shop has had experience with,

I mounted one tractor tire and it took forever. It's worth it to either take to the shop or have the service truck do it in the yard. They're done in minutes and it's a perfect job.

What matters is the dealer that sells the tire. I have a good one and when a low hour, expensive radial got a flat spot out of warranty, he made them partly warranty it. They did some, he did some and I did some. That's why I buy tires only from him. Sometimes they cost more but not it total since he does great work and is my advocate if needed.

 

[WinterDeere]

My greatest question is with the gear ratio. If the tires are not matched in radius then the ratio front to rear can be off. Only use 4WD when necessary but still there.

Tractor OEM's rarely get the ratios perfect, in fact usually favoring slight faster travel on the front axle, to keep the machine running straight in deep mud or snow. Getting travel rates exactly matched to the gear ratio would be nearly impossible, as running circumference changes so dramatically with changes in tire inflation, and everyone is running different inflation according to machine weight and conditions.

Get them close, the actual running circumference, not the unloaded diameter. Favor slightly faster travel on the front axle, when multiplying by front/rear gear ratio, and call it done.

 

[5030]

I'm afraid to even ask the size.

My rears are as tall as I am (6 feet) and the front's aren't much smaller

 

[sixdogs]

My rears are as tall as I am (6 feet) and the front's aren't much smaller

What is amazing is that you don't realize the size when you work with larger equipment in open fields. I had to take two smaller front tires/wheels in to the tire guy and sort of thought of loading in a pickup. Ha, they wouldn't fit and even looked large on a trailer.

 

[sixdogs]

On my Kubota L2550DT I have different brands but same size tires, 12.4 x 24. One is about 3" taller than the other. This causes my bucket to not sit level. I can live with it as I seldom do any real leveling with it.

My greatest question is with the gear ratio. If the tires are not matched in radius then the ratio front to rear can be off. Only use 4WD when necessary but still there.

Is there an industry standard for tractor tire dimensions?

There are competitive industry actions that cause each company to stick pretty close to an accepted norm. Something is not right to have one tire that's the same size as another and be 3" taller.

This needs to be figured out PDQ and the correct size put on. The price of a tire is likely chump change compared with front axle gears and hubs.

I have written a number of posts and threads on TBN and there are other discussions about the "front end ratio" and relationship of front tire size to rear tire size. Just search for them.

 

[WinterDeere]

What is amazing is that you don't realize the size when you work with lager equipment in open fields. I had to take two smaller front tires/wheels in to the tire guy and sort of thought of loading in a pickup. Ha, they wouldn't fit and even looked large on a trailer.

I used to have the same problem with Christmas trees, before I started carrying a tape measure to the tree farm with me.

 

[N80]

It is my understanding that the fronts on my tractor are slightly overdriven as mentioned above. But, the diameter of these fronts is quite different from what it was when they were new due to wear; so I agree that while getting the right size is important in general it is probably not critical down to the centimeter. I suspect that might be different if you spent all your time on pavement. I am rarely on pavement and when I am I take it out of 4wd.

When I assisted changing large rear tires they were also probably 6 feet or more tall. The pry bars were about that long too. These were for 150 hp JD farm tractors.

 

[N80]

My rears are as tall as I am (6 feet) and the front's aren't much smaller

Fortunately the fronts on my L4400 are pretty small. 16" rim. But I will say that they seem much heavier than a comparable size truck tire/wheel combo. I guess that rubber is pretty thick.

 

[WinterDeere]

I suspect that might be different if you spent all your time on pavement. I am rarely on pavement and when I am I take it out of 4wd.

Just turning the wheel increases front axle travel distance over rear, versus going straight, really making it impossible to work out a non-binding ratio of tire sizes. If you're on dry pavement, dis-engage the 4wd, no matter how well you think your tires are matched to gearing.

 

[BigGG]

The fronts on my Kubota L4400 are worn out. Low hours on them but 20 years. They are R-1s. 8.00x16. Goodyear. I want to replace them.

But where do you buy tractor tires? I have a dealership nearby who could do everything but I'm assuming that would be very expensive. Online it looks like shipping would be expensive.

On line, Goodyear R-1s in my size seem to run over $300 each. That's more than I'd prefer to spend.

I would assume I could do this work myself? I have easy access to tire pry bars etc. I use tubes on the front so setting the bead is no problem.

I've got amazon Prime and can get free shipping on what they offer but most of it is names I don't recognize and presumably from China.

A local auto tire place has replaced tubes for me in the past but I'm not sure they can get new tires for me. I can check of course.

Also, what brands to avoid. Carlisle which is now Carlstar or something like that pops up a lot. Not sure if they are Chinese or not. I see quite a few tires made in Mexico.

Any ideas/advice much appreciated.

My Kubota L35 has Deestones on the front and Carlisles on the rear, all R4's. The rears were new, I think, when I bought the tractor four years ago. The Carlisles say Made in USA on them. All of them have been trouble free, it stays inside. A few years ago, Carlisle moved their lawn equipment tire production to west Tennessee, I don't know about the larger stuff.

Some people have written that you can buy the tire/wheel assembly from a Kubota dealer, under whole goods, than a tire only through the parts department.

 

[WinterDeere]

Some people have written that you can buy the tire/wheel assembly from a Kubota dealer, under whole goods, than a tire only through the parts department.

Deere does something similar. In fact, with my zero turn (757 ZTrak), I think it was cheaper to buy a whole front wheel assembly last time I needed a new tire, than to buy a tire alone.

This was a few years ago, so memory may not be perfect, but I think it came with new tire, wheel, and bearings. Maybe even the grass/dust caps, although I seem to remember swapping those over from the old wheel.

 

[ssgp2]

When replacing the 8-16 on front, I got Carlisle from Amazon and did it myself. Is MUCH easier when you leave the wheel on the tractor. Just use jack stands to keep the axle from pivoting. I searched FB Marketplace for the rears and found 2 new Firestones (14.9-24) from a tire dealer not too far for a bargain. I mount the tires myself. Hardest part was beaking the bead.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I saw a youtube video on changing front tire. Poster said he bought tire and rim cheaper than tire alone. Maybe it was a takeoff, who knows. That's a benefit of owning a Kubota I guess.

 

[5030]

My Kubota L35 has Deestones on the front and Carlisles on the rear, all R4's. The rears were new, I think, when I bought the tractor four years ago. The Carlisles say Made in USA on them. All of them have been trouble free, it stays inside. A few years ago, Carlisle moved their lawn equipment tire production to west Tennessee, I don't know about the larger stuff.

Some people have written that you can buy the tire/wheel assembly from a Kubota dealer, under whole goods, than a tire only through the parts department.

Yes you can but you won't like the price.

 

[5030]

When replacing the 8-16 on front, I got Carlisle from Amazon and did it myself. Is MUCH easier when you leave the wheel on the tractor. Just use jack stands to keep the axle from pivoting. I searched FB Marketplace for the rears and found 2 new Firestones (14.9-24) from a tire dealer not too far for a bargain. I mount the tires myself. Hardest part was beaking the bead.

On my M9's breaking the bead takes a special air operated bead breaker. You ain't gonna break them with ordinary tire irons.

 

[sixdogs]

It is my understanding that the fronts on my tractor are slightly overdriven as mentioned above. But, the diameter of these fronts is quite different from what it was when they were new due to wear; so I agree that while getting the right size is important in general it is probably not critical down to the centimeter. I suspect that might be different if you spent all your time on pavement. I am rarely on pavement and when I am I take it out of 4wd.

When I assisted changing large rear tires they were also probably 6 feet or more tall. The pry bars were about that long too. These were for 150 hp JD farm tractors.

There's a range of overdriven and something like the 2% to 5% range. So that gives enough wiggle room for tread wear, etc. I do think the ratio is important, however and I rarely deviate from factory tire choices. So far, so good.

Let me add that the marketplace for used tractor does not like mis-matched tires and reflects that in lower auction prices for those units. I've seen it. Guys shy away because of the damage that may or may not have been done. I wouldn't buy a used tractor with odd sizes.

 

[sd455dan]

Out west here we have an excellent tire dealer - Les Schwab. I get all my truck and tractor tires from them.

Toyo for the truck and Goodyear or Firestone for the tractor.

You want to play the game and be safe - you will pay the price. One way or the other.

If I can't do it myself I go to Perfection Now,

Edit and rephrase
tractor tires Les Schwab does do them and has remote service trucks. So in an emergency Yep they can help.