Cracking Tires

[Dave M7040]

Check it out!
Mitas Company. Mitas introduction. Mitas is a Czech-based manufacturer of off-road tyres (agricultural, industrial, motorcycle). The history of Mitas dates to the 1930s, when tyre production started in Prague, then the capital of Czechoslovakia, and in the Moravian city of Zlin.

Interesting history detail.

Any of the super bikes running MITAS tires?

Dave M7040

 

[George2615]

11L-15 (2WD) is what I actually have...I will look around for used ones, thanks.

$80 at Rural King for 11L x 15
Implement Hi-flotation Tire 11l-15 : Rural King

If its just a steer tire why couldn't you use an 8 ply equivalent ST tire for $62?
1 New ST2�5/75R15 Inch Trailer King ST Radial Tires R15 8 Ply 2�57515 2�5 75 15 | eBay

May even be a local tire shop that has some used ones for less.

 

[Ivan1547]

Just to throw a curve to this post, the tractor is 2 WD, currently the front tires are the steer type tires with the single rib down the middle. If I replace both, should I stay with the steer type tires or go with trailer type tires (more grip type). In snow I find that the steer type tires do not work very well for actually steering, but I think they would have a higher load capacity on them. I mainly use the tractor for moving round bales and it has a grapple on the front, so there is a ton of weight on the front end.

 

[George2615]

Moving snow, whether using a 2 or 4WD tractor there is always a loss of steering as the bucket fills with snow. Chains front and rear will help give traction for steering. Also, lifting the loader so the bucket just skims the snow puts more weight back on the front wheels for added traction. Since yours is 2WD you have to rely more on independent rear brakes to assist steering.

 

[Phillip w]

Just to throw a curve to this post, the tractor is 2 WD, currently the front tires are the steer type tires with the single rib down the middle. If I replace both, should I stay with the steer type tires or go with trailer type tires (more grip type). In snow I find that the steer type tires do not work very well for actually steering, but I think they would have a higher load capacity on them. I mainly use the tractor for moving round bales and it has a grapple on the front, so there is a ton of weight on the front end.View attachment 535778

I'd just get a couple old used pickup tires and put on it. They would be cheap and give you a little more grip on the front. You want the same sizes so the steering is not squirrelly and pulling to on side. Ag tractors and equipment generally do not go fast enough to wear out the tire. It is usually weather check and dry rot issues that get you. The other thing that will get you is if you run over something like say a hay hook.

 

[Dave M7040]

Phillip.

Some simple facts for your consideration.

Looking at the tractor data info from a link posted earlier, your tractor's front axle load rating is 7,000#.

It is this high to be able to handle a front end loader which, if it is a strong one, can put large loads on the front axle lifting large bales etc.

Carlisle's Ag tire web site has this info for the 11L x 15 tires you indicate are on your machine.

Each 11L x 15 has a load rating of 2,090 # or, since you have two front tires they can carry 4,180#

So with even the best tires, you are not meeting the tractor's front axle load carrying capability.

Many will argue these facts are not realistic and there are arguments both ways. The tires are operating at very low speeds when carrying a load, etc.

I am not a farmer but have very good friends with large farms. I saw a front tire blow when my friend was loading a large round bale onto an upper level of a hay wagon.

It was scary to see the tractor, with a heavy load up high, suddenly have one corner drop as the tire blew.

In the end, you are the one spending the $ and also knowing exactly how you use your tractor.

Dave M7040

 

[3930dave]

Just to throw a curve to this post, the tractor is 2 WD, currently the front tires are the steer type tires with the single rib down the middle. If I replace both, should I stay with the steer type tires or go with trailer type tires (more grip type). In snow I find that the steer type tires do not work very well for actually steering, but I think they would have a higher load capacity on them. I mainly use the tractor for moving round bales and it has a grapple on the front, so there is a ton of weight on the front end.View attachment 535778

I glanced at what you wrote ^, then finished my cofffee before going outside to chase the last of the daylight thinking "Stay with the highest weight capacity tire you can".

Came back in just now to find Dave from Williamston covered the issue very well, with relevant data. He raises an excellent point - it may not be just a tire quality issue, it may be that size/spec of tire is punching way outside of it's Weight Class......

It doesn't take much else to go wrong to have a tire blowing then launch a serious chain of events.......

I've stayed with steer tractor tires on my 2wd 3930. Added basic H pattern front chains, which did help. For your application, what I'd do is go with the highest weight capacity steer tire I could find/afford, then add fairly aggressive front chains for the Winter. My :2cents:.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Ivan1547]

I am going to make some phone calls on Monday to my mobile tire guy...
I did a quick search and found that 265/85/15 tires are a very close match, there are trailer tires in that size that are rated up to 3000 lbs.
The price point is probably way higher for these than a new set of steering tires.

Thanks for all the comments.

 

[George2615]

"E" rated tires are 10 ply and have a higher weight load capacity. A pair would get you above the 7K tractor front axle capacity.

 

[M5farms]

If you have access Airplane tires are an another option . If heard of several folks that run them on the fronts and use them on implements

 

[Dave M7040]

"E" rated tires are 10 ply and have a higher weight load capacity. A pair would get you above the 7K tractor front axle capacity.

Interesting.

The pressure undoubtedly increases with the E rating over the 11L x 15 tires he now inflates to 44 psi now, so what about the rim's ability to withstand the increased stress.

I have seen the bead area of a wheel rip off from being over pressured and thus over stressed.

The more I think about it I wonder if the same front axle is used on larger tractors and hence the 7,000 # weight rating which is really not reached on this model tractor.

The designers/manufacturers would not install a tire that could not withstand the loads it would see including front ballast and FEL + a safety factor.

My suggestion now is to research the tire that came on the tractor initially, not what it might have been changed to by a previous owner and stick with a tire with similar load rating which will be the least expensive and still safe.

Dave M7040

 

[3930dave]

^ good point (psi) about the rim.

I've been through this with ST tires. On the Tirerack site, they have a recommendation (still, last I looked) to inflate ST tires 10psi over Max Pressure for highway travel, but only if the rim is rated for the higher pressure.

Tractors don't go 70mph, but rim rating is still a consideration.

Rgds, D.

 

[stingray1]

I cut a 4" side wall gash on rear tire on back hoe. Tire shop put about a 12" boot in it . It has to be ground and a special vulcanizing adhesive. Cost about 75 bucks 3 yrs ago.

I have pretty much the same repair on my backhoe. I've owned mine for 12 yrs,the tire was repaired about 2 yrs before I bought it and it's still holding fine.

 

[M5farms]

I have pretty much the same repair on my backhoe. I've owned mine for 12 yrs,the tire was repaired about 2 yrs before I bought it and it's still holding fine.

I remember being as a kid fixing a tire on a tractor with a gash. My granddad cut a patch out of a car tire drilled holes along the gash and put carriage head bolts in from the inside and nuts on the outside. and it was used this way for years . Its a very vivid memory because I was standing in the tire holing the patch and pushing the bolts thru. I have a trailer tire on the front of a tractor with FEL right now . been there 3 years or so. One of these days I need to get a new one . I have seen one rim break out around the lugs but that was from several tons of peanuts and loose lug nuts . A lot of folks worry over things that 99.9999999% of the time don't cause problems

 

[Phillip w]

Tires fail. Dave m7040 made a valid point that if a tire failed while having a big round bale bale way up high, it could upset the tractor. That being said, I've seen numerous pickup tires on tractors, wagons and implements over the years. Another concern with tractors with loaders and bale forks on the front, is the possibility of busting a spindle. I busted the spindle on a 930 case while carrying a big round bale. Luckily I was carrying the bale low. But, back to tires. Weather check and dry rot is what usually gets ag tires. Over the years I've blown a few tires. I blew a back tire on my allis, and it sounded like a cannon going off. I blown tires of semis even though they met dot specs. For what it's is worth, I advice that you don't tail gate semis. When they blow a tire you usually got large piece of the tire and the mud flap coming out from under the trailer in a big hurry. And, I don't think there is anything more squirrelly and harder to hold on to than blowing a rear pickup tire while pulling a bumper pull stock trailer full of cattle. The point is tire and machinery can and do fail. You want to always be ready for anything. As for rims. The only rim failure I've seen is cracking and breaking out around the bolt pattern. As for rims failing and coming apart, I know the possibility of the old split rims blowing a part. This generally would occur when trying to air the tire up after repairing the tire. They were usually placed in a steel cage when airing up because of safety issues. I did see a split rim blow apart once. It sounds like a cannon going off and makes quite a racket. For safety issues, split rims have pretty much all been phased out. You just always want to be ready for about anything cause you never know what might happen.

 

[Ivan1547]

I ended up ordering 2 heavy implement Firestone 12 ply tires for $225 each. The Chinese 8 ply tires were $129 each. There were no real choices in a heavy E rated truck tire.
I think the $100 more per tire is worth the cash in the long run.
I will install on Friday morning!!!

 

[3930dave]

I ended up ordering 2 heavy implement Firestone 12 ply tires for $225 each. The Chinese 8 ply tires were $129 each. There were no real choices in a heavy E rated truck tire.
I think the $100 more per tire is worth the cash in the long run.
I will install on Friday morning!!!

An extra $200 to increase the reliability of a tractor - easy call to make :thumbsup:

Don't forget pics !

Rgds, D.

 

[bspeedy]

Smart man. What's a few hundred dollars where your personal safety is concerned?

 

[Dave M7040]

Smart man. What's a few hundred dollars where your personal safety is concerned?

When all is done could you please let us all know what pressure you need to run the new tires at. I too think you have made a wise choice.

It might not be a bad idea to ask the owner of whatever tire business is doing the install, (unless you are doing it yourself) what he thinks your rims could stand being inflated to.

I have edited my post after doing a little web research on wheel/rim pressure ratings.

I understand the rims are usually stamped on the inside with this info. I have no idea when this rating became a legal requirement but it would be worth checking yours to see if any info is present.

Dave M7040

 

[Ivan1547]

New Tires installed. Little bit shorter than the originals.
Hoping these will work a bit better in the ice and snow.