Replacing 1 tire - or 2?

[3Ts]

There is a thread about whether just the front tires need to be replaced or all four, answer was that just the fronts. My question goes one step further. On the front axle of a 4wd tractor, can just one tire be replaced or do both sides need replacing? The left front has a leak in it and I have to inflate the tire every time I use it and I can't park it to far from my air compressor as a result. The tires are about 13 years old and have cracks in the sidewalls and chunks missing from the lugs. If it weren't for the one tire leaking air so much, I would not replace them yet. I've had it in to the shop and they can stop it for a short while before it leaks again. So, can I replace just the one tire or do I need to replace both?

 

[Hay Dude]

if you're cheap, toss a tube in it.

 

[Buckeye Guy]

As long as it is the same brand, type, and size, replacing one is ok. Switching brands or type, replace both

 

[nyone]

With tubes you would be suprised how many/deep cracks you can have with out an issue. 13yr old tires arnt very old.

I have 21yr old beat juice loaded rear tires with no tubes and there just starting to show some seeping through the cracks. On the other hand another 1957 Ford has tubes and calcium rear tires that have so many cracks and chunks missing I think the tire chains are what's keeping them together..yet it dosnt have any leaks.

Put a tube in the tire if the tread is still decent enough.

 

[cathy liebchen]

I would replace them both and tube them.

 

[4570Man]

Put a tube in and keep working.

 

[5030]

It all distills down to how cheap you are actually.

 

[2manyrocks]

With inflation and supply chain issues, it might be cheaper overall to replace both now instead of spending more time and paying more for another tire later.

 

[4570Man]

I would replace them both and tube them.

I wouldn’t tube a new tire. Assuming they hold air a tubeless tire is better.

 

[cathy liebchen]

I wouldn’t tube a new tire. Assuming they hold air a tubeless tire is better.

Our experience is the front tires often leak at the rim so we tube all of them. Nails aren’t an issue for us

 

[Hay Dude]

Nothing worse than a tube leaking under a tire. What a PITA to fix.

Have any y’all bought tires lately?
I was fixin to put tires on my baler last year. Last years price was $2,400.
I did them this summer.
This years price was $3,200. 33% increase.

 

[Hay Dude]

It all distills down to how cheap you are actually.

Yeah you never know who might be struggling and who may have married into wealth, inherited a bunch of money, etc.

 

[crashz]

If the tires are ok, just one leaker, I'd throw tubes in both fronts (the other will start as soon as you fix the leaker). If you replace the tire, do both. The tire diameter between the two shouldn't cause much undue wear (front to back is more critical), but again, the other tire will soon go.

 

[KennyG]

When my tractor was about 5 years old, I damaged a sidewall on one front tire. I just replaced it. Now at 11 years, the one I didn't replace is pretty worn, so I will probably replace both. Never had a problem before with one worn and one new though.