Front Tires for Ford 3400

[Biglurr54]

I have a 1973 Ford 3400 with a loader. I use it for all around house hold chores. My front tires are passenger car tires. They are rubbing on the spindles and one has worn to the point it is now leaking. They are very bouncy when it comes to loader work. I am looking to replace them with some new tires. Can I fit 7.5s on the front?

I am looking at 7.5-16 aircraft tires, 235 truck tired, or 8 ply 6.5 three rib. I think the aircraft tires would be better but will they fit? I don稚 want to drop the money and get the tires to find out they wont fit on the tractor. Thanks for all your help.

 

[fried1765]

I have a 1970 3400 TLB, and also need new front tires.
I am planning to buy two Carlisle 9.5Lx15 8PR tires.
9.5Lx15 is the front tire size currently on my TLB.
E-Bay listing # 253061727840 currently has these tires for $87.95 with free shipping, but I have seen them by the same seller, as low as $81.79 with free shipping.

 

[Texasmark]

Usually if the wheel width is wider than the rim spec you could have sealant problems on tubeless. On TT it shouldn't matter. and will be your least squirming width for a given air pressure, everything else being the same in dimensions.

Wheel and tire same width not much squirm either all else being equal.

Wheel narrower than tire, expect some and may not suit you for loader work....case in point, check out the fronts on current production new tractors. Notice what I said and the fact that the wheel is large in diameter for the diameter of the tire making for a short sidewall that doesn't flex all that much.

Ford specs 5.00 to 7.50 tire options for machines in this area, wheel is 16" in dia. I just checked my Fords and the wheel seems to be 5" wide. I have F2, 3 rib 5.50s on my 2000 and 3000, one set 4 ply the other 6 ply and 6.00 6 ply on the 3910.

I'm going to bet that the 6.50 8 ply pumped up to the rated max....(what is is for 8 ply.....60#?) psig ought to give you pretty good flotation and rigid enough sidewalls without any rubbing, plus the 3 rib will help you in cornering. The 235 truck tires, unless 10 ply will give you sidewall wander, 10 ply would be ok but 235 metric (235/25.4 = 9.25 inches wide), way too wide for the wheel in my opinion....yes I would expect rubbing or you could turn your front wheels around and dish them out....but this puts a pretty good strain on the front axle. I don't know the size of the 3400 axle.....I had a '64 4000 that I bought once with a broken/weld repaired, front axle thanks to a FEL.

My hat's on the 6.50 8 ply.

 

[Biglurr54]

Ok so i pumped the tires up on it last night and they are 245/70 16 5 ply steel belted tires rated at 2000lbs each at 44 psi. I pumped them up with 45lbs in each tire and they didnt rub. Another option would be to put a tube in the leaky tire and call it a day.

 

[Biglurr54]

So I am thinking about buying 2 7.5 x 16 aircraft tires from gensco with tubes. They should out last any other option and the tires are only $118 a piece plus tubes and shipping. Does that sound like a decent set up?

 

[Texasmark]

So I am thinking about buying 2 7.5 x 16 aircraft tires from gensco with tubes. They should out last any other option and the tires are only $118 a piece plus tubes and shipping. Does that sound like a decent set up?

I suppose. Haven't seen the tires but being AC they are stiff sidewalled and should stand up to loader work.