Kubota's Turf tires

[PHILIP8N]

I guess I don't see why it's important that the tires should match? But maybe I can learn something here. Is it just for looks or is there some other reason? Now if they were different tires on the same axle I'd agree. Heck, I might even agree if they were different colors front to back. Maybe I'm just not understanding the whole picture.....What is there about the tires that you want to match?

I'm thinking that front and rear tires have traditionally been different on most tractors. When I think of a tractor, the mental picture that springs up is of them having different tires on the front and rear. Could be that's because I'm an older guy and automatically think of tractors are work machines; not machines made with styling as the first consideration. And since they are working machines, and since the front and rear tires do different things at different gear ratios..... then why shouldn't they have different tread, size, shape and for that matter even different rubber compounds and construction?
rScotty

My 1950 Ford 8N and 1961 Ford 6000 are 2wd tractors, obviuosly they do not match. My 2009 L3940 is 4wd, they match, as they should. Yes, it is for looks, and that is important to me, but will not be to all. They match at the shows they take their tractors to, they match in the brochure, they should match when they are delivered as well. Attention to details, if not, it looks dumb. I am not spending 20K+ on something that looks dumb and the excuse is 'just throw any old mis-matched tires on there as long as the diameters are okay'. Not if you want my money. So what do we give in to next? Mis-matched paint on the hood and fenders? All the paint needs to do is protect the steel from rusting. So what if is different shades of orange. It is still serving its purpose. Philip.

 

[rScotty]

Yes, it is for looks, and that is important to me, but will not be to all. They match at the shows they take their tractors to, they match in the brochure, they should match when they are delivered as well. Attention to details, if not, it looks dumb. Philip.

Well, that answers my question. It's the look that's important to you. Nothing wrong with that.

I looked at some of their brochures..... and while I can't read the writing on the tires, on my Kubota's brochure the front and rear tires do look to be the same make in all the pictures.

If your brochure shows them matching that way then I think that you make a valid point. Regardless of what they say after the fact, you do have every right to have the tractor that you order from an advertisement look just like the picture that you ordered it from. After all, it's their advertisement and it's all you have to go on. Unless there's a disclaimer, common sense tells me they have implied it would look like the one in the brochure.

Surely that's simple enough. Sounds like something to take up with a rep.
Having said that, I doubt that it is something that they put much thought into.
It probably didn't even occur to them. But in this case it makes a difference to you.
Easy enough to change it.
rScotty

 

[bandit67]

Yes, it is for looks, and that is important to me, but will not be to all. They match at the shows they take their tractors to, they match in the brochure, they should match when they are delivered as well. Attention to details, if not, it looks dumb. I am not spending 20K+ on something that looks dumb and the excuse is 'just throw any old mis-matched tires on there as long as the diameters are okay'. Not if you want my money. So what do we give in to next? Mis-matched paint on the hood and fenders? All the paint needs to do is protect the steel from rusting. So what if is different shades of orange. It is still serving its purpose. Philip.

I think comparing different tread pattern front & rear turf tires to paint colors is a bit of a stretch.

There was a time, not sure if it is still so today, where the Galaxy Turfs were only a rear option and a standard turf was the smaller front tire installed since it didn't have as much of an impact on the turf as the much larger rear tire.

I actually did purchase a set of "bar" tires for my subcompact which came with turfs. Bar tires are a wide tire with an ag style tread, which is different than an industrial (R4) tire. In my tire search back in 2005 when I ended up with bar tires, I found that finding exact matching front & rear tires isn't as easy as you might think. There are many instances of one tire manufacturer not making the same tire style to match all of the many different combinations of front-rear rim sizes on factory machines.

I have R4s on my compact, and though the treads are similar, they are slightly different between front & rear, as are the brands - Titan front & Goodyear rear. I haven't lost a milisecond of sleep over the "different" front-rear tire issue.

I show Mustangs, not my tractor, since it isn't an antique tractor, and so I'm not going to gripe about the slightly different looking front & rear tires on my Kubota. My concern is with the overall quality of the machine, and I am extremely pleased with the product Kubota has sold me.

 

[rScotty]

I think comparing different tread pattern front & rear turf tires to paint colors is a bit of a stretch.
.........
I have R4s on my compact, and though the treads are similar, they are slightly different between front & rear, as are the brands - Titan front & Goodyear rear. I

The "bit of a stretch" reminds me of when our YM165D with loader was delivered. Remember, this was back in the 70s and Japanese diesel 4wd tractors were rare at the time.

Awaiting delivery, my wife and I were real excited to have a new tractor with 4wd to replace our aging JD chore tractor. But as it came off the trailer she turned kind of silent.....didn't say much.....then as I started driving it around I saw she was collapsed with laughter. Eventually she stopped laughing just long enough to gasp out, "You look like a bear riding a tricycle! That tractor sure looked much larger in the pictures!"

And so it had. When we got out the brochure that evening we realized that the men operating the tractors in the ads were normal enough looking guys, although rather on the small size. In fact, "tiny" might be a better description.

BTW, that tractor is still going strong. It's 30 going on 40 - has done a ton of work including road building and foundations - and still only routine maintenance required.
rScotty

 

[s219]

I disagree. I bought a $24,000 tractor. My tires matched. If I purchase again, they will match or I will go elsewhere. Sorry, but I will not settle for excuses. This goes for cars, trucks, tractors, etc. Philip.

It's not like a car with symmetric tires where they should be matched, or a vehicle that operates at high speed -- in that case, I agree with you.

But I have seen plenty of heavy duty trucks with different tires front to back. There are a lot of good reasons why the front and back tires may not be the same, and I don't think the model/brand has to match if the tires function correctly as paired and for the operating range of the vehicle.

I sure wouldn't care if the front and back tires were a different brand on my tractor as long as they are the right type. To be honest, I don't even know the brand of R4 tires on my Kubota, or whether they are the same front to back. It hasn't impacted usage.

So let me ask a side question -- what if one of your tires gets destroyed and you can't get a matching replacement tire? Would you replace all four tires just to get them matched? Or settle for one oddball?

 

[PHILIP8N]

But I have seen plenty of heavy duty trucks with different tires front to back. There are a lot of good reasons why the front and back tires may not be the same, and I don't think the model/brand has to match if the tires function correctly as paired and for the operating range of the vehicle.

I believe you are talking about class 4 thru 8 trucks here. Yes, they have steer tires and drive tires, for obvious reasons. Most of these trucks are not owner operatored, so in this case, whatever it takes to get the job done with the cheapest solution, if it fits, it works. Personally, that is not my style. Now light duty, class 1 thru class 3 trucks, your 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton, F150, F250, and F350 type trucks, will have matiching tires. Not sure of the point you are trying to make here.

I sure wouldn't care if the front and back tires were a different brand on my tractor as long as they are the right type. To be honest, I don't even know the brand of R4 tires on my Kubota, or whether they are the same front to back. It hasn't impacted usage.

That is your choice. But for me, paying big money for a new tractor, they will be same front and back. Just my attention to detail.

So let me ask a side question -- what if one of your tires gets destroyed and you can't get a matching replacement tire? Would you replace all four tires just to get them matched? Or settle for one oddball?

Now that is a good question! I definetly would not settle for one oddball, would drive me absolutely nuts. Tractor tires do not change often in design over time, so hopefully I can still get same pattern. I know that is my case now. If a front had to be changed, I would problably just get 2 fronts since the rears are the major cost. But trust me, I will research hard and long to get the same pattern or as close to it as possible. I do not settle for the easy answer or ever say just good enough. If I had to change rears, I might get fronts too since that will be the minor cost. Situation depends on: years, wear, cost, usage, future, and income at time, what I call a SWOT analysis.

Philip.

 

[s219]

Now light duty, class 1 thru class 3 trucks, your 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton, F150, F250, and F350 type trucks, will have matiching tires.

I remember one F-350 we had in our family business that came with different rear tires. It was a dual rear wheel model.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I remember one F-350 we had in our family business that came with different rear tires. It was a dual rear wheel model.

Look on the new dealer lots today, take your pick, Ford, GM, Dodge, let me know what you find. I will bet you a lunch.

 

[MHarryE]

A used 4wd articulated farm tractor we picked up used early this year has 8 tires with 4 different brands. None of the duals are at he'd. One might have a Goodyear on the outside and Firestone on the inside, opposite side a Titan outside and Firestone inside. Make a difference? Not one bit. Now with 8 tires and We have to replace one, will we get the same brand? It has 3 Goodyears and Titan has taken them over. It has 1 Armstrong and that is now Titan. As for some brands, they have their molds and contract different plants each year so your tire might be made at a pant in Des Moines this year and that same tire might come from a different brand plant in South Africa next year. I found this out when my mold was in a USA plant that was being closed 9 years ago and the supplier told me they were going to move it to one of 3 different manufacturer's plants in South Africa. They didn't ave their final quotes yet so I wasn't able to visit the plant before production but the resulting tire did have better life than we had been getting. Tractors are really tough because companies have been dropping unpopular sizes to reduce their operating costs. That is trouble for a company that as designed its power train around a specific tire match. What if supplier A drops the front size and supplier B drops the rear size? Do you live with it and keep selling tractors or do you stop production for a half year while you design new gear ratios? Simple on a pickup where all tires are the same size but not on a tractor.

 

[Neilzzo]

Look on the new dealer lots today, take your pick, Ford, GM, Dodge, let me know what you find. I will bet you a lunch.

I bet a weeks pay for this one...............

I just purchased a 50K vehicle and believe me, it came with matching tires, brand and treed, it is called attention to detail when spending so much money!!! maybe some of you people have money coming out of your assholes, but I don't, so matching tires on a 20K tractor just seems to be a given to me........