Tires Mixing Tires

   / Mixing Tires #1  

Steve_Miller

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2004
Messages
1,352
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Tractor
2006 Kioti CK30HST
Has anyone mixed there tires, R4's on front and R1's on the rear. I have R1's all the way around. I went to the dealers a while ago and measured, the R4's and the R1's are from what I can tell the exact same diameter with respect to each other front and back so the ratio shouldn't be a problem should it? I ask just for the reason that the front R1's on my CK20 don't have what I would call an overly aggressive tread and I think that the R4's would carry the front end with a load in the FEL much better than the R1's as well as being less prone to punctures and not lose that much traction in the process. Let me know your opinions good or bad, I don't consider any answer good or bad, just opinionated which is what i'm looking for.

Steve
 
   / Mixing Tires #2  
I haven't mixed tires, but if the rolling diameter is the same, there shouldn't be a problem. I've never heard that the wider R4 tires mixed with an R1 would be a problem unless the diameter is different.
That said, however, I'm not so sure they're the same size. Be sure or your lead/lag will be off (when in 4WD), and you could cause the tires to wear faster and may damage to the drive train. John
 
   / Mixing Tires #3  
i am not sure /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif but i think i remember reading somewhere that mixing tires was not a good idea, not sure why?
 
   / Mixing Tires #4  
Frank, check out this Firestone tire article. It explains what happens when one has front tires not sized properly with the rears when using 4WD. With two wheel drive, there should be no problem with mixing. John
Lead/Lag info
 
   / Mixing Tires #5  
If it were me, I would keep the R1s on the front and get them foam filled.

Foam filling will eliminate the puncture issue, and also I bet (don’t know for sure) give you a better load bearing capability when using the loader. At least equal to air-filled R4s, and maybe better.

Keeping the R1s would also make the question about size differences moot. Additionally, R1s on the front are better in mud for traction as far as I can see. I can only see as far as my R4s though, and I do know in mud they leave a lot to be desired.

Keep the R1s on the front and get them foam filled. That is my advice, and what I would do if I were in your situation.

But like you said, there may be more than one right answer.
 
   / Mixing Tires #6  
Steve,
The key to mixing and matching is the rolling radius. If the rolling radius matches your front to rear ratio, it would work. If it doesn't match, it will cause undue stress on your drive train that will damage it or at the least wear it at a much accelerated rate. The rolling radius can be obtained from the tire manufacture.
 
   / Mixing Tires #7  
I have turfs on the rear and Titan true-power bar style tires (wider than an R1, but angled bars in the style of an R1) on the front of my JD4100. No problems so far. The rolling radius must match pretty good because it doesn't really seem to bind up if put in MFWD on dry pavement.

- Rick
 
   / Mixing Tires #9  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( MFWD What does it stand for? )</font>

MFWD = mechanical front-wheel-drive
 

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