BKT tires vs. Titan (Ag tread)

[CincyFlyer]

Am glad this thread got reopened since I was just choosing between BKT and Titan also, but with turf tread not ag.
I put R1 BKT's on my previous small tractor, and they performed very well, and were nicely finished. Not loaded with those little rubber things all over the sidewall as were the
Titans I just put on my new (to me) MF 1230 which after 1100 hours desperately needed front tires. Bridgestone rears still usable but I found the beginnings of sidewall checking after twenty years, so they got switched out also. Carlisle Multitracs on the front, one size larger since the oem size isn't made any more, nicely misses front steering arm by half an inch.

And now that Titan owns Carlisle, Titan makes the Multitrac tread in much larger sizes so it was nice to have the same tread pattern front and rear. The rears are about the most aggressive turf tires I have found. And since I'm pulling a small one row cultivator with this tractor, I need some grip. But not too much on the lawn. My Kubota front R4's are very unkind to the grass with a load in the bucket. So having a turf tire tractor with a big carryall on the back should be a nice addition to the fleet. The MF 2610 has Goodyear R1's on the rear, bias ply, a slight hybrid tire with a nod to a R4 with a blob of rubber in the center. I filled them with fluid to help.

No radials available in my small sizes. Now when the time comes to replace tires on the Kubota, likely its front tires, I would definitely include BKT.
I think they are the biggest or one of the biggest tire companies in India, like our Goodyear. And if radials were available, might spend more on them,
maybe not since I'm retired and not trying to max out farming yields.

The BKT's I bought four or five years ago had their model number embossed in the tread, very sophisticated. Probably lots do this now but they were definitely trying to keep
up with the Joneses.

There is a definite sense of pride to us older guys seeing Made In USA on the side of the Titans.
That made me glad to buy their tire all in itself. The fact they were almost the only game in town in this size also helped.

correction. I just zoomed into the tire, it's Made In The USA
funny they added the The...

What size are those rears? I've been looking for something to replace the ags on my Mahindra.

 

[daugen]

What size are those rears? I've been looking for something to replace the ags on my Mahindra.

13.6-16's
oem rears were 315-80D-16 Bridgestones, impossible to find, not sure they even make them any more
turf to ag and vice versa is dicey due to rim width; going from turf to ag in my experience meant putting a really large ag tire on the back. If you have clearance, why not.
My understanding is that going from ag to turf is usually not possible without getting new rims.

I'm a Michelin guy on my vehicles though, and I looked at Michelin Multibibs. Really nice. Hugely expensive.
Silly for a play farmer. But if I wanted to pull a bigger disc, and I could justify the price of a higher performance radial, you bet.
Firestone same way, serious big ag tires for big ag. Not for me. I don't care when I get to the end of the row as long as I get there...; usually
high quality seat time.

I just found a pic of the IH I used BKT R1's on, coming from turf without changing rims. I was never going to get stuck and the engine, a little Mitsubishi 23hp, never labored.

 

[ovrszd]

The rim switch issue is usually in regards to 4wd tractors to keep the correct size ratio front/back.

 

[CincyFlyer]

The rim switch issue is usually in regards to 4wd tractors to keep the correct size ratio front/back.

I'm sure that's what I'll be into. Probably not worth it for the few months a year the ground is super soft.

 

[Texasmark]

Not often you read somebody bragging up Chinese trailer tires.

Well, all due respect to the popular slogan, how long did it take US tire makers to build for us what Michelin had been building for Europe for decades?????

An then there was the Sears Michelin built tire that was advertised to have 60,000 miles on it, back when Sears first started handling radials. When is the last time you got even 35,000 carefully driven miles on your pickup going back to work on concrete/asphalt surfaces with your US built radial tires?????????

 

[RickB]

Well, all due respect to the popular slogan, how long did it take US tire makers to build for us what Michelin had been building for Europe for decades?????

An then there was the Sears Michelin built tire that was advertised to have 60,000 miles on it, back when Sears first started handling radials. When is the last time you got even 35,000 carefully driven miles on your pickup going back to work on concrete/asphalt surfaces with your US built radial tires?????????

None of which has anything to do with the usual critique of Chinese trailer tires.
I'm happy for you. Somebody's got to like them.

 

[JimRB]

I have 34,000 on my Canadian Frirestones on my pickup. They are not shot yet. Not down to the wearbars. I am not going to get 80,000 miles out of them like the Michelins on my VW though.

I did have a BKT front 3 rib tire fail in some way, just to get back on topic about tractor tires.

 

[Oldpath05]

I had these Crop Max tire for over a year now, sofar I'm satisfied>>>>> http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/369627-tractor-tires-sometimes-soon.html

 

[fried1765]

I cannot speak about BKT tires. My Titans are 12 years old and no cracking or any problems.
When the time comes I will get Titans again.

BKT ...tires are made in India!
Perhaps ..... not much different than Chinese tires?

 

[ovrszd]

BKT ...tires are made in India!
Perhaps ..... not much different than Chinese tires?

Hard to tell. Guess I'll know in a few years. Mine were $110 per tire cheaper than Firestone. I'm not a fan of Firestone so that just made the deal sweeter. I am brand conscious. These BKTs are "off brand" to me. My tire dealer whom I trust said he has no problems with them. So thought I'd give it a try.