LX Series Oversized Tires

[SDT]

Yesterday, I visited one of the Kubota dealers where I do business because he had 3 new LX series tractors in stock. All were ROPS models and all had the optional over sized tires, available only on ROPS models.

The 3310 had R4 tires whereas both 2610s had R14T tires.

Aside from appearing overly large for these tractors, the R4 tires looked OK whereas the R14T tires were much ballooned to the point of having a very small contact patch on concrete. I asked the salesperson if they were over inflated and he said that they were not, having been checked because the staff also considered them ballooned.

Anyone else notice this?

FWIW: The LX models with the optional over sized tires look significantly larger than others with the standard sized tire. I noticed that the fuel cap was noticably higher than that on my B3350 with standard sized R4 tires. I also noticed that there is only about 3/4" clearance between the inside sidewal of the tires and the fender. Absolutely no possibility of using tire chains without wheel spacers which may well cause fender interference with the ballooned R14T tires.

I could find no evidence of bolt on steering stops on any of these tractors, yet optional steering stops are required with the over sized tires on B2650 and B3350 models. I asked if Kubota had modified something to avoid the need for such stops but the salesman did not know.

SDT

 

[LouNY]

I would have to wonder about the staffs experience with tire inflation,
whatever is on the sidewall is the maximum pressure for when the tire has the maximum rated load for the tire.
The manufacture normally has an inflation chart for the actual load on the tires, which is usually quite a bit less.

 

[SDT]

I would have to wonder about the staffs experience with tire inflation,
whatever is on the sidewall is the maximum pressure for when the tire has the maximum rated load for the tire.
The manufacture normally has an inflation chart for the actual load on the tires, which is usually quite a bit less.

Yes, of course, and I did not check myself.

I was told that others at the dealership noticed the ballooning and someone had been directed to check inflation.

Anyone else notice ballooning with LX R14T over sized tires?

SDT

 

[Johnkn]

I am completing a deal on a new LX3310. The SU models have larger tires standard which are optional on other ROPS LX models and are what I’m getting. The larger tires generally preclude a MMM which I don’t care about, and the SUs don’t even come with a mid PTO. The contact patch on R14s irrespective of size appears smaller/rounder than their R4 counterparts. I’m putting spacers on my tractor as I use it in the woods and on some hilly areas. All the oversized tire LXs automatically show steering stops in the ‘build’ tool, however I’ve not actually seen my tractor or stops yet. I don’t think you are seeing a ballooning issue as much as the same oversized section width and smaller, rounded contact patch on the R14s. Visually I didn’t care for the R14, but in practice I’m sure they are good performers.

.

 

[Mat4644]

I have an LX2610 with the standard R4 tires. Steering stops are required if you want the larger tires. I have a lot of soft places in the woods and will order the larger tires after things get back to normal.

 

[SDT]

I am completing a deal on a new LX3310. The SU models have larger tires standard which are optional on other ROPS LX models and are what I’m getting. The larger tires generally preclude a MMM which I don’t care about, and the SUs don’t even come with a mid PTO. The contact patch on R14s irrespective of size appears smaller/rounder than their R4 counterparts. I’m putting spacers on my tractor as I use it in the woods and on some hilly areas. All the oversized tire LXs automatically show steering stops in the ‘build’ tool, however I’ve not actually seen my tractor or stops yet. I don’t think you are seeing a ballooning issue as much as the same oversized section width and smaller, rounded contact patch on the R14s. Visually I didn’t care for the R14, but in practice I’m sure they are good performers.

.

I saw a B3310 cab model with standard sized R14T tires at the Louisville show in February. I noticed no ballooning issue at that time.

The over sized R14T tires that I saw yesterday were the first such tires that I have seen and those on both 2610s were much ballooned. Looked like watermellons in cross section.

I'll take my tire gauge when I next visit so that I can VERIFY pressure.

SDT

 

[Mat4644]

Looked up recommended tire inflation in the LX series manual. For the rear tires both sizes of R14 tires the pressure is 30 psi. Rear 15-19.5 R4 should be 30 psi. Rear 12.4-16 R4 should be 20 psi.

 

[LouNY]

I have no idea how your manual is worded but I would expect that pressure is with that tractor at it's maximum operating weight.
The 15-19.5 Goodyear R14 has a MAXIMUM inflation pressure of 30 PSI, at that pressure the tire can handle a load 4080 pounds per tire.
Do you think you would ever have 8160 pounds of weight on your rear axle?
For most ag tires there are load to inflation pressure charts

 

[s219]

Do they modify the gearing with the larger tires on the LX models? With the B2650/3350 models they did not change the gearing with the larger tire option, and it resulted in a notable reduction in torque at the wheels (Kubota was upfront about this if you talked to the right person). That is the opposite direction I would want to go in with a tractor if it's used for pulling or pushing, or in a hilly area. I seem to recall someone here on the forum went with larger wheels on a Bxx50 model and had issues mowing on hills, not enough guts. I would be sticking with the standard size wheels and tires if it were me.

 

[Johnkn]

As I recall the guy here (Rock Crawler?) who had difficulty with his 2650 had a super hilly side slope and a big, restored Landpride mower he was pulling and seemed to be between ranges for his application.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/389876-b2650-count-down-has-begun.html


I recall he also stated multiple times that he loved the larger tires vs the 'wimpy' stock-size tires (his words). Didn't he end up using a smaller, dedicated mower for his lawn? The final effective gearing appears to be very close to the same tires on a L3301. With the 3 range gears, and 20% more power than the 2650, I don't foresee an issue for my application at all.

 

[SDT]

Do they modify the gearing with the larger tires on the LX models? With the B2650/3350 models they did not change the gearing with the larger tire option, and it resulted in a notable reduction in torque at the wheels (Kubota was upfront about this if you talked to the right person). That is the opposite direction I would want to go in with a tractor if it's used for pulling or pushing, or in a hilly area. I seem to recall someone here on the forum went with larger wheels on a Bxx50 model and had issues mowing on hills, not enough guts. I would be sticking with the standard size wheels and tires if it were me.

They do not, and the over sized tires increase ground speed significantly. If loaded, weight is also significantly increased.

I well remember the thread in question where the B2650 owner's expectations were simply unrealistic.

SDT

 

[Johnkn]

They do not, and the over sized tires increase ground speed significantly. If loaded, weight is also significantly increased.

I well remember the thread in question where the B2650 owner's expectations were simply unrealistic.

SDT

Increase ground speed ...significantly...? If his post is accurate and the L-sized tires are 7.5% taller than the standard tires, the LX3310s top speed goes from 13.6 mph to 14.6 mph, 1 mile per hour. A few PSI in the tires could move that number in either direction....

 

[s219]

As I recall the guy here (Rock Crawler?) who had difficulty with his 2650 had a super hilly side slope and a big, restored Landpride mower he was pulling and seemed to be between ranges for his application.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/389876-b2650-count-down-has-begun.html


I recall he also stated multiple times that he loved the larger tires vs the 'wimpy' stock-size tires (his words). Didn't he end up using a smaller, dedicated mower for his lawn? The final effective gearing appears to be very close to the same tires on a L3301. With the 3 range gears, and 20% more power than the 2650, I don't foresee an issue for my application at all.

I don't think it was Rock Crawler, but I do remember his issues.

I just ran the math and you lose about 18% wheel force with the larger tires. That is pretty substantial. You'll get quite a bit more ground clearance with the big tires but I am not sure it's worth that tradeoff. That's why I was hoping Kubota had changed the gearing for the LX like they do on some other models.

Can't compare gearing with the larger L models because they are quite a bit heavier and that lets them put down a lot more ground force, about 40% more. I think this is a common mistake when people cross-shop the B50 (now LX) and L models. There is a similar misconception with the loaders, since the B/LX loaders don't lift as high as the L loaders, so you have to derate the B/LX loader number to compare and it drops quite a bit.

Anyway, I wasn't meaning to get into a B/LX/L comparison, just saying don't think bigger tires on an LX will compare with the same tires on an L. Tires and gearing are just one detail that goes into the tractor's capability. The bigger tires are well matched to the L models, but I think they are a detriment on the B50/LX models. I talked with someone at Kubota a few years back about this, and he was upfront about it. I wish I still had that e-mail but I deleted it.

 

[s219]

Increase ground speed ...significantly...? If his post is accurate and the L-sized tires are 7.5% taller than the standard tires, the LX3310s top speed goes from 13.6 mph to 14.6 mph, 1 mile per hour. A few PSI in the tires could move that number in either direction....

I believe Kubota has a typo on their speed specs (among other things they don't show the SU model to be faster and it should be). I recall they had this typo on the B50 specs too. The owner's manual should have the correct numbers if it uses metric units (means the numbers are coming out of the engineers in Japan). If they have been converted to US units then they may have typos too, since the US folks would have messed them up.

 

[Johnkn]

I don't think it was Rock Crawler, but I do remember his issues.

I just ran the math and you lose about 18% wheel force with the larger tires. That is pretty substantial. You'll get quite a bit more ground clearance with the big tires but I am not sure it's worth that tradeoff. That's why I was hoping Kubota had changed the gearing for the LX like they do on some other models.

Can't compare gearing with the larger L models because they are quite a bit heavier and that lets them put down a lot more ground force, about 40% more. I think this is a common mistake when people cross-shop the B50 (now LX) and L models. There is a similar misconception with the loaders, since the B/LX loaders don't lift as high as the L loaders, so you have to derate the B/LX loader number to compare and it drops quite a bit.

Anyway, I wasn't meaning to get into a B/LX/L comparison, just saying don't think bigger tires on an LX will compare with the same tires on an L. Tires and gearing are just one detail that goes into the tractor's capability. The bigger tires are well matched to the L models, but I think they are a detriment on the B50/LX models. I talked with someone at Kubota a few years back about this, and he was upfront about it. I wish I still had that e-mail but I deleted it.

We all know that the L is a more mechanically capable tractor than the LX if all else is equal and that's all that is important to someone. Just like a M is more capable than the L.

I only draw the comparison to the two machines as the standard rear tire on the L is the optional tire on the LX, both run at the same RPM range, have virtually the same gearing, and both have virtually the same speed specs. My LX3310 TLB weighs the same (or 200 more) than a L3301 TL. Those are both factory optioned configs, and we can absolutely compare gearing between those 2 examples and the inflated road force does not come into play in that example.

Kutoba doesn't re-gear these tractors when they offer an optional size tire on this model, or when they hang an 1100lb backhoe on them. Kubota is comfortable with both tractor's performance specs irrespective of how they're optioned (weight, taller tires, etc.).

The difference between the standard tire and the optional tire size on a LX appears to be approximately 7%, so unless the tractor was operating on the ragged edge of some performance need in motion, that small difference would likely never be noticed, and for ...my.... application I gladly traded it for the significant increase in stability and traction with the larger tires. But this is my tractor for my needs, YMMV .

 

[Johnkn]

I believe Kubota has a typo on their speed specs (among other things they don't show the SU model to be faster and it should be). .

Or that more bare-bones model could actually be geared lower. IDK But you're right, the speed specs on the SU are lower..

 

[Mat4644]

I have no idea how your manual is worded but I would expect that pressure is with that tractor at it's maximum operating weight.
The 15-19.5 Goodyear R14 has a MAXIMUM inflation pressure of 30 PSI, at that pressure the tire can handle a load 4080 pounds per tire.
Do you think you would ever have 8160 pounds of weight on your rear axle?
For most ag tires there are load to inflation pressure charts

Not in this tractor's manual. Manual only says to check and adjust to factory set pressure. Only a single psi listed for each size on the chart and no load reference. I'm going to guess in today's legal sue a manufacture for anything you can the engineers and lawyers picked the safest psi option. 30 psi less sidewall roll on a slope and less tractor rollover risk.

 

[Mat4644]

LX series travel speeds and tire options

 

[SDT]

Not in this tractor's manual. Manual only says to check and adjust to factory set pressure. Only a single psi listed for each size on the chart and no load reference. I'm going to guess in today's legal sue a manufacture for anything you can the engineers and lawyers picked the safest psi option. 30 psi less sidewall roll on a slope and less tractor rollover risk.

Bingo, Mat4644.

SDT

 

[SDT]

I don't think it was Rock Crawler, but I do remember his issues.

I just ran the math and you lose about 18% wheel force with the larger tires. That is pretty substantial. You'll get quite a bit more ground clearance with the big tires but I am not sure it's worth that tradeoff. That's why I was hoping Kubota had changed the gearing for the LX like they do on some other models.

Can't compare gearing with the larger L models because they are quite a bit heavier and that lets them put down a lot more ground force, about 40% more. I think this is a common mistake when people cross-shop the B50 (now LX) and L models. There is a similar misconception with the loaders, since the B/LX loaders don't lift as high as the L loaders, so you have to derate the B/LX loader number to compare and it drops quite a bit.

Anyway, I wasn't meaning to get into a B/LX/L comparison, just saying don't think bigger tires on an LX will compare with the same tires on an L. Tires and gearing are just one detail that goes into the tractor's capability. The bigger tires are well matched to the L models, but I think they are a detriment on the B50/LX models. I talked with someone at Kubota a few years back about this, and he was upfront about it. I wish I still had that e-mail but I deleted it.

Though I believe that the disadvantages of the optional over sized tires considerably outweigh any advantages, my original post was not intended to review this issue, but rather to comment and ask about the major ballooning exibited on the oversized R14T tires but not on the similar over sized R4 tires.

I prefer the R14T tires for my purposes and will likely buy them next time but in the standard rather than optional over size and only after viewing such to determine if ballooning is an issue with the standard sized R14Ts.

SDT