Are modern solid rubber tires going to make thier way to the tractor World next?

[oosik]

Local Polaris ATV dealer had a "military style" Polaris ATV with tweels. It was bigger overall than all the other atv's and had enlarged and extra fuel tanks. He laughed when he said only the military could afford the vehicle because of the cost of the tweels.

 

[oldballs]

I don't even like a solid rubber tire on my wheelbarrow, other than it doesn't get flat.....but it also doesn't negotiate bumps and obstacles very well either.....like an air filled tire does.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[brownbr]

Thank you to everyone that chipped in with some comments.

After seeing no easy way to enable a solid rubber skid steer tire to replace my front tractor wheels, I heeded everyone's advice and went down the route of foam filling the front tires.

I found Gensco Tire in my area Agriculture Tires and they took great care of me. They even delivered the tires on a pallet to my house.

These are the guys that sell the re-purposed and retreaded aircraft tires. These tires have a crazy number of plys to begin with, but on top of this I had them fill them up with the foam.
Foam isn't really a good term to describe the material, it's more like a cross between gel and rubber. It has some flexibility but is still stout. Each tire is now around 250 lbs, no joke, hard to believe it until you handle one.
You may spot in the pictures that there are a handful of screws inserted at various points. Holes are needed to allow the air out and the foam in. Apparently they simply pop a screw in the hole to plug it up once filled for curing, and then just leave them in.

The only thing I'm not excited about on these tires was the shallow depth of the ribs. While sub-soiling this fall I often got the front end up in the air or just barley touching the ground. I think this shallow tread isn't going to bite in as well under these conditions.
But when I shred the front lawn (always a favorite of the wife) I'll probably appreciate this tread more for not ripping up the grass. I'm sure if you wanted specific tread they would fill up a Titan or some other brand for you. I think that's what they do for rears.

I was able to get 2 new wheels, aircraft tires, foam fill, and delivery for about $1000. I have yet to really test them out, but will add a comment once I've put some hours on them.






Thanks again for the advice
-ben

 

[markct]

"Puncture proof" is a pretty good advantage, but they will also last longer, as there will be little "belt squirm", and the rubber is likely better. (I'm referencing the "tweel" and similar types). Remember that some ag tractors had zero rubber and zero shock absorbtion, with treads welded on a metal drum.

Very true, and as soon as the technology became widely available farmers were quick to cut off those old steel wheels and weld on rims for air filled tires! And farmers rarely spend money they don't have to but the advantages were seen as worthwhile to the majority of them!

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

They have had these tires/ wheels for a few years on big AG tractors.

DEMO: Mitas Displays PneuTrac Tire Concept - YouTube

 

[LouNY]

They have had these tires/ wheels for a few years on big AG tractors.

DEMO: Mitas Displays PneuTrac Tire Concept - YouTube

They are coming, it will be some time before the cost is reasonable. These types with the ability to flex and wrap around irregularities will
be usable, foam filled or plain solid will not flex or put down a good enough footprint for floatation or traction in drawbar work for ag tractors.
When the forestry equipment goes with an airless they will have arrived.
Till then there will be very few sold, tracks with suspension are offering more traction and life at this time for the same cost.