Rear tire out of round?

[KeithInSpace]

Took the trash out tonight with the loader (yes, lots of trash) and noticed a little extra "shimmy" in the tractor. Been noticing it recently, but figured it was just my driveway or something.

Drove up and down the street to investigate and it turns out that my right rear tire is signficantly out of round. Doesn't appear the rim or axle is bent or anything, but there is an obvious (possibly even 1/2 inch) spot where the tire is 'shorter'.

It is easily evidenced while driving and comparing the relative distance between the tire and the MMM, which is quite close on the 2230.

Lord knows it isn't flat-spotted from locking up the brakes at speed, so what gives? Haven't driven around in about a week, so I could possibly believe that it 'settled', but why not the other tire?

Very slim chance it was ALWAYS like this and I just didn't notice. Not impossible, but a very slim chance.

Anyone had this issue?

 

[kwolfe]

Keith,
It is possible that it simply has sat for a while. I have had that problem as well and notice that the tire in question was low on pressure. Not enough that it looked flat, but enough to that it had some extra give. Try marking the high spot with chalk and then park the tractor on it for another week. If it goes back to normal, then problem solved.

 

[CurlyDave]

Drove up and down the street to investigate and it turns out that my right rear tire is signficantly out of round. Doesn't appear the rim or axle is bent or anything, but there is an obvious (possibly even 1/2 inch) spot where the tire is 'shorter'.

By "shorter" I am going to assume you mean smaller in diameter.

If your tires have nylon cords, which I think is pretty common, this is a known issue.

Way back when, I am talking 50s and 60s here, most US car tires were bias-ply instead of radial. The nylon ones were always stronger, but they would take a set, if parked for a long time, especially in cold weather, and then go thump-thump-thump for the first few miles.

On a car, the tire would flex, warm up, and the flat spot would work its way out.

On a tractor, you tend to leave it parked longer than a car, and then you don't drive it nearly as fast or as far.

I think it will stop doing this in the spring, or if you start keeping it in a heated garage. The real test would be to pick a warm day and drive it for a few miles & see if it gets better.