Getting the wheel/tire combination I want on a new tractor

[jyoutz]

After I saw Hay Dude's post I searched for 16.9-24 and found some. They run between ~$700 and $750 a tire. They were a few places. This one had choices. Not an endorsement as I have no idea if they are reputable.

Tractor Tires

www.tiremart.com

I noticed that they do have wide widths in 10 ply rating. Could be worthwhile. Nothing at all like the factory R1 choice.

 

[jyoutz]

Good info, I am planning on placing my order in a couple of weeks. Spring Break starts the 10th of March and I am hoping I can time delivery for that week.

I wonder if I could have my dealer upgrade the tires to one of these? Essentially 'trade in' my brand new factory tires for a wide R1 with 8 ply. Wider stance is more comfortable (from a pucker factor at least) and you have a bit more float. For my applications, it may be a good balance between traction, stability and durability.

Hopefully you can get the dealer to do that. My experience is most are reluctant to change out tires on existing stock, but will order a machine the way you want it.

 

[oosik]

So....the rear tires on the 5145 OEM are R-4's on solid rims. I would check with another dealer and see what they can do. If all else fails - you might have to purchase split rims and have the R-4's mounted as an after market option.

I bought a Ford 1700, brand new, in 1982. It came, standard, with R-1's and split rims.

No question - the wider stance that split rims can provide is nice. I have the split rims on my rear tires set out at their widest stance. Front tires are set at "neutral" setting.

I've run six ply R-1's for 40+ years and never had a sidewall puncture problem. I'm in the land of basaltic lava. Sharp as a razor. Sure as heck will slice the V-bars on the tread if you spin your tires. Never had it get to the sidewalls.

 

[Hay Dude]

Usually if you deal with an AG tractor dealer, they will do that sort of thing for you.
IMO, tires make/break the tractor. They are what drives the tractor across the ground, keep traction and keep you safe.

The wrong tires can make a tractor a frustrating piece of equipment.

When you order a tractor, let the salesman know how important tires are to you and you want the factory tires set aside for a credit against the tires you want, or sell the factory tires outright to someone once your perfect tires are installed.

I got lucky when I bought my Magnum that it was a European Magnum and already had mid-width rubber on it (and dead batteries )

The Magnum needed fronts and I found a pair of Goodyear Opti Trac 34’s with 50% tread for a great price

 

[Hendey T&G]

Thanks to everyone for the replies so far.
I wouldn't mind wider R-1s. The only downside is if I decide to plow snow with the tractor, I'll have to get ring chains so they won't fall between the bars, which aren't cheap for a good set.
I'll keep looking for dealers. I'm sure one will try to give the customer what they want.

My private road which I maintain rises 230' in about a little more than a quarter of a mile.
Pic shows what I mean.
As an aside, that's Mt. Washington NH in the distance.
5 nights ago, it broke the record for the lowest ever wind chill in the U.S., including Alaska.
-47 degrees with 90 mph wind for a -109 wind chill.
We only had -23 actual temp.

 

[Hendey T&G]

Whenever you say spilt rim, every old guy thinks of the old widowmaker split rims that no shop will touch these days.

 

[MTGreen]

I don’t know if that’s true or not. One thing I do know, once you buy them you’re kind of stuck with them, so make sure you get what you want.

Ain't that the truth. I bought a used tractor with r3s one time and switched over to r1s to the tune of about $4,000

 

[DaBear3428]

The dealer is incorrect.... an R4 rim is much wider / deeper. You cannot "turn them around or swap side to side



View attachment 782911
Vs. an R1 rim:

View attachment 782913

Don't forget the R4's are much wider to begin with. The new R14's fit on R4 rims and are also wider.

not true the 5145 manual states that the R4s can be swapped side to side for different width. for the 5145 the R1s give 1 additional option over the R4s but swapping them side to side is covered.

 

[LouNY]

Thanks to everyone for the replies so far.
I wouldn't mind wider R-1s. The only downside is if I decide to plow snow with the tractor, I'll have to get ring chains so they won't fall between the bars, which aren't cheap for a good set.
I'll keep looking for dealers. I'm sure one will try to give the customer what they want.

My private road which I maintain rises 230' in about a little more than a quarter of a mile.
Pic shows what I mean.
As an aside, that's Mt. Washington NH in the distance.
5 nights ago, it broke the record for the lowest ever wind chill in the U.S., including Alaska.
-47 degrees with 90 mph wind for a -109 wind chill.
We only had -23 actual temp.


View attachment 783052

The Euro style studded chains work excellently with R1's and I expect they would be even better on R14's.

 

[Hay Dude]

I noticed that they do have wide widths in 10 ply rating. Could be worthwhile. Nothing at all like the factory R1 choice.

Now you’re catching on
It’ll cost you a few bucks, but tires last a long long time.

 

[Hay Dude]

Here’s one I bet most of you haven’t seen:
Studded R-1’s !
This New Holland T6050 was used for snow blowing up in the Great White North
I’d like to buy it, but not a big fan of open center hydraulics.

Comes with brand new Quicke Q6

 

[jyoutz]

Now you’re catching on
It’ll cost you a few bucks, but tires last a long long time.

I have. Ever liked those skinny flexible sidewalk R1s that the companies offer in new tractors. The wide flotation with stiff sidewalls like you mention look pretty good.

 

[hube2]

The Euro style studded chains work excellently with R1's and I expect they would be even better on R14's.

I have similar chains, I don't think it matters much what type of tires are under them

 

[arrow]

Thanks to everyone for the replies so far.
I wouldn't mind wider R-1s. The only downside is if I decide to plow snow with the tractor, I'll have to get ring chains so they won't fall between the bars, which aren't cheap for a good set.
I'll keep looking for dealers. I'm sure one will try to give the customer what they want.

My private road which I maintain rises 230' in about a little more than a quarter of a mile.
Pic shows what I mean.
As an aside, that's Mt. Washington NH in the distance.
5 nights ago, it broke the record for the lowest ever wind chill in the U.S., including Alaska.
-47 degrees with 90 mph wind for a -109 wind chill.
We only had -23 actual temp.


View attachment 783052

Pretty scenery there Hendey
Let me bust another myth here. You do not have to get specialized chains for ags. Ladder chains will do just fine. they look like they're falling between lugs but in reality, that's only at the top of the tire.
At the bottom, they're falling "out" of the lugs and are the first thing to contact surface. Just don't sock up your chains too tight.
I've been using ladder chains on my ags for years and they appreciably enhance traction plus they're only 4 link.
Whether in the woods skidding logs or plowing snow, they have been a big help.
Ladders on all fours (get 2 link for fronts) and the tractor becomes almost unstoppable.

Are they end all type of chain? Nope. But they get the job done.

 

[LouNY]

Pretty scenery there Hendey
Let me bust another myth here. You do not have to get specialized chains for ags. Ladder chains will do just fine. they look like they're falling between lugs but in reality, that's only at the top of the tire.
At the bottom, they're falling "out" of the lugs and are the first thing to contact surface. Just don't sock up your chains too tight.
I've been using ladder chains on my ags for years and they appreciably enhance traction plus they're only 4 link.
Whether in the woods skidding logs or plowing snow, they have been a big help.
Ladders on all fours (get 2 link for fronts) and the tractor becomes almost unstoppable.

Are they end all type of chain? Nope. But they get the job done.

Sorry but you are wrong!!!!!!!

Any chain is a good improvement over bare rubber of any kind.
However I have used most every style of tractor tire chain.
From 4 link spaced double ring chains to two link spaced alternating double ring and v bar reinforced, too two link spaced street and ice lugged chains, various dou grip or H patterned.

None of them will come even close to the studded Euro patterned tire chains;
the OFA's, the TRYGG's, the Aquiline Talon's.
The traction and ride quality are unmatched of these chains.

 

[Hendey T&G]

Thanks to all again for the wisdom.
I've never seen chains like Lou shows with such short cross pieces but that would keep more metal on the ground.

 

[Hendey T&G]

You're probably right arrow. I used to have a Ford 8N I plowed with 30 years ago and it did a good job with ladder chains.
My older mentor back then told me put 1500 lbs. on the 3point hitch and you won't know it's the same tractor.

 

[CDBUG]

Off topic but that "awesome view" is similar to Hessian Hill in Parsonsfield. , looks like you're a bit to the NW from there? Very nice...

 

[Hendey T&G]

Thanks for the kind words CDBUG and Lou.
I'm in Norway so a bit north.

Attached is a picture of my Branson 4720 and I have my wheels out as far as they can go.
It feels much more stable when going sideways on a hill than when I got it with them tucked all the way in.
It's a big deal for me to have adjustable wheels.

 

[tacticalturnip]

The Euro style studded chains work excellently with R1's and I expect they would be even better on R14's.

I've never actually seen these before, they seem quite nice.