Tires Anyone ever use pickup type tires on a tractor??

[regularjay]

I'm just wondering if anyone has ever tried all terrain truck tires on a compact tractor. I'm looking at the 16" wheels on my Kubota and thinking that the 16" BFG All Terrains would fit, is there a downside to this idea??

 

[Kays Supply]

I have put them on the Yanmar grey market tractors to replace the rice tires. They worked fine for mowing.

 

[neucam]

I have thought about that too, they would be like an aggressive turf tread. But you would have too weigh the cost difference with them and a regular tractor tire. I know they can be expensive . If you really need a farm tread they would not have the same traction as a truck tread.
Check out firestoneag.com and find a comparable tire to fit and see if it is more cost effective. If the truck tires are 6 or 8 ply then they might not flex enough at low pressures or give you the needed traction. What is the anticipated use of the tractor?

 

[regularjay]

General loader work mostly. I don't have a mower deck for it (I'm looking). I have AG tires on it now (with chains for the snow) but in the spring I have some projects around the house and I'm thinking that something less aggressive would be more lawn friendly. I know I can get servicable truck tires way way cheaper than actual turf type tractor tires.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Be sure to keep the circumference the same so that you don't mess up the wheel turning ratio between front and rear wheels. If new rears are smaller, then the front wheels will be dragging when in 4-wheel drive.
Mike

 

[LD1]

Be sure to keep the circumference the same so that you don't mess up the wheel turning ratio between front and rear wheels. If new rears are smaller, then the front wheels will be dragging when in 4-wheel drive.
Mike

Exactally. If you have a 4wd tractor, then the hight/diameter/circumfrence of the tire must be the same in order for the 4wd to work properly.

I too was looking into truck tires for my 3400. I have ags and they get plenty or traction but @ only 7" wide, they cut some pretty good ruts when doing loader work. I tried to find some wider tire along the lines of a superswamper bogger, but they were all too tall. It sure would be nice to have some 14 or 15" wide tires up front though.

BTW load wise, most truck tires should handle it no problems. Most are rated at about 3000lb per tire, for a total of 6000lbs front capacity.

 

[rdln]

I see this done on 2wd tractors but not 4wd. I seem to remember the bead seating flange being different on tractor wheels? Believe me I thought about it alot having 7-16 ag tires....no flotation when backing out of a material pile sitting on soft ground. I bit the bullet and $1800 later I have r-4s.

 

[mostly_gas]

I had an 8N that had truck tires on the front. If I remember correctly the rims had been welded on the Ford wheels to mount the truck tires. Sawmills in the Ozarks would do the mod when using the tractor to handle sawdust with a loader.

 

[regularjay]

This is for the rear of a 2WD tractor. The seating of the bead was my primary concern. I didn't want to go through the hassle of mounting different tires only find out they wouldnt seat/seal properly.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Lots of folks use them on the front of 2 WD tractors without and rim modification required. I have never heard of anyone using them on the rear, but if the rim size is the same, I would suspect that they would work

 

[psj12]

I had them on a two wheel drive tractor and found they slipped in tight turns while mowing. That is why front tractor tires are ribbed.

 

[ToadHill]

I had them on the front of my old Massey 85. Don't try to turn them in slick mud or snow. They will not dig in enough to turn. Those were the first things I replaced on that tractor.

 

[rambler]

You'd really have no traction at all. Wouldn't be for me.

--->Paul

 

[Topstrap]

I put a rough treat radial on the front of my old 4600SU Ford that I do finish grading with. The standard ribbed tread tore up too much everytime I turned and these radials when also used with brakes really do a nice job. I've had no problem clinging to the sides of really steep hills when also using the brakes to help hold the frontend uphill. For finish grading I want to be able to spin the tractor around when needed and mostly use brakes when needing to make a tight turn or hold on a hill. They have lasted along time and are easy to fix with being tubeless and having a kit of plugs with me. When these wear out I'll be replacing them with similiar truck tires again. They do have their purpose and aren't for all needs but for what mine is used for... it's the only way to go.

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