13 year old tires, time to replace?

[marq]

My 2006 (500 hour) JD 2100 has the original turf tires, noticed some small cracking on the fronts plus a small cut on one front sidewall.

Treads are still good although showing some wear on the outside edges of fronts, tractor is used 95% for cutting residential vacant lots, not yards.

If this were my car I would have replaced long ago but how long do tractor tires last?

If they need replacing, what brands/models offer best value?

 

[Spindifferent]

I'm interested to see any responses as I have a 2005 JD 3520 with the original R4 tires. Around 850 hours and barn-kept. Tires are in similar condition to yours, and I'm wondering how long they may continue to last or if I should proactively replace them before I get a flat while out somewhere.

 

[RickB]

Most folks run them until at least one tire fails. Weather checking or small to medium sized cracks can go many years before failure. If you are concerned and have the resources available to replace them, it’s your money.

 

[Clint S]

If they hold air run them. If they are not tubed get them tubed and run them. If you make your living off them and have contractual obligations and cannot afford the down time it is a different story, but for average use they probably have years of service left.

 

[CADplans]

My front and rear tires lasted 36 and 40 years, respectably,

The first 20 years the tires did dairy farm duty in Canada,,
the second half of the tires life, they did easy work on my place, like the pic shows,,

After 40 years, and after I replaced the rear tires, someone purchased the rear tires to use on their tractor,,,

I guess you can sell anything on Craigs List,,, :thumbsup:

 

[LouNY]

Run them till they start to act up then decide if you want to replace or repair.
Tubes can be expensive, tire boots are available and do work.
We are in the process of booting the tires and patching the tubes on a 4430 Deere,
520/85R38's at $1200+ a piece and tubes at $150 each breaking them down and repairing may not be fun but
it certainly is cost effective.

 

[aspg4]

My 2006 (500 hour) JD 2100 has the original turf tires, noticed some small cracking on the fronts plus a small cut on one front sidewall.

Treads are still good although showing some wear on the outside edges of fronts, tractor is used 95% for cutting residential vacant lots, not yards.

If this were my car I would have replaced long ago but how long do tractor tires last?

If they need replacing, what brands/models offer best value?

I purchased a used MF 135 about 30 years ago, and replaced 3 of the tires a year or so later. Still using them, but they will need to be replaced soon. They are Armstrong brand. Since it has been over thirty years, Armstrong may or may not be of the same quality. Your tires should be good for a long time.

 

[fried1765]

My 2006 (500 hour) JD 2100 has the original turf tires, noticed some small cracking on the fronts plus a small cut on one front sidewall.

Treads are still good although showing some wear on the outside edges of fronts, tractor is used 95% for cutting residential vacant lots, not yards.

If this were my car I would have replaced long ago but how long do tractor tires last?

If they need replacing, what brands/models offer best value?

I replaced the front tires on my 1951 8N Ford when they were 58 years old.
The rears were replaced at 40 years old.
None of them had actually failed.

 

[k0ua]

I guess the consensus is to run them just to the point the air starts to show thru the cracks.

 

[Diggin It]

The justification I've read here a few times is that you're not dealing with potential high speed failures like you would with a road vehicle. A flat is a flat, not like a blowout at 55 or higher. That said, they can blow out in a sudden, loud and violent manner (just ask my neighbor). If that happens while you're under load and on a slope, well .....

 

[oosik]

My first tractor was purchased new in 1982. When I traded it in - 2009 - the tires still had 3/4 of the tread remaining and otherwise were in good shape. Keep your tires out of the sun - except when using the tractor.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you have TOO MUCH MONEY, then you can replace them, however small checking cracks will begin to show on most tires after about 10 years but they dont necessarily mean the tire needs to be replaced, especially on slow moving stuff.

My brother in law bought an old 8N Ford with original tires, good tread but cracks in the sidewall all the way to the cord and all over both tires completely. They still would hold air for over a week without adding any air. Unless you are constantly working on a slope with heavy loading, I wouldn't worry too much about it till the cracks were showing the cord inside.

 

[CADplans]

The red 584 That I posted a pic of is my "go to" snow tractor,,
the rear tires were replaced due to reliability issues,,
I did not want to be 1/4 mile from the house, with the 584 blocking the driveway due to a rear flat, in 42 inches of snow,,,

 

[5030]

Run them till they start to act up then decide if you want to replace or repair.
Tubes can be expensive, tire boots are available and do work.
We are in the process of booting the tires and patching the tubes on a 4430 Deere,
520/85R38's at $1200+ a piece and tubes at $150 each breaking them down and repairing may not be fun but
it certainly is cost effective.

i use a tire service for that. I don't touch ag tires except to check the pressure. My 2004 M9 has the original rears, my 2006 M9 has original front and rear. Tires are expensive, especially the big ones. To reshod one of mine, the cost is about 1800 bucks. I run them until they won't grip and replace them. So far that hasn't happened. Firestones all around.

 

[k0ua]

My first tractor was purchased new in 1982. When I traded it in - 2009 - the tires still had 3/4 of the tread remaining and otherwise were in good shape. Keep your tires out of the sun - except when using the tractor.

I have always wondered if using Armour all or son of a gun "protectant" once in a while would really help with the side checking.

 

[5030]

I have always wondered if using Armour all or son of a gun "protectant" once in a while would really help with the side checking.

Not really. the cracking / checking is the result of rubber degredation from ozone. Tire dressings are just a 'feel good' thing.

 

[LouNY]

i use a tire service for that. I don't touch ag tires except to check the pressure. My 2004 M9 has the original rears, my 2006 M9 has original front and rear. Tires are expensive, especially the big ones. To reshod one of mine, the cost is about 1800 bucks. I run them until they won't grip and replace them. So far that hasn't happened. Firestones all around.

We used to but they are getting pricey, also they are always in a hurry.
When we broke one tire down it was one that a tire service had worked on and he had reinstalled the tube with the glue still a bit tacky,
the tube was trying to stick to the tire and one patch had come loose off the tube and was the cause of the leak we had.
We are able to take our time and clean the rim well and even repaint them so they look good.

The last tire they did for me was 10 years ago, at $250 to pump out the calcium replace a tube and reload that tire I decided it was time to expand my tools and capabilities.
A simple little pump, a liquid fill adapter, some buffer dies, glue and cleaners, a few patches and different sized boots and ready to go.
Almost forgot my manual screw type bead breaker that was almost $200 back then as I recall,I see them now for around a $100.
This was also when I decided no more liquid filled tires for me, we do still have some on farm.
Unfortunately this latest flat was a filled tire.

If you are getting your M9 reshod for $1800 that must be bias ply tires and smaller. Even a pair of good 18.4x30 radials would be more then that.

 

[D2Cat]

I prefer older tires over new ones. Around here it's easy to come into Osage Orange (hedge) and Locust thorns. As tires age the rubber hardens, and is much more resistant to the thorns.

 

[lilranch2001]

My tractor is 10 years old now, I hope I never have to replace tires in my lifetime

 

[arrow]

On one of my tractors, the tires looked like a topography of the Grand Canyon they had so many checks and cracks. I ran them for 25 years when their treads finally wore out.