RTV Tires Wearing Funny

inseeme · Mar 18, 2007

I have never adjusted the toe in is it much to it?? Has anyone else here done that?? I know for a fact i have it some hard bumps and that could be the problem.

gordon21 · Mar 19, 2007

Don't rotate the tires unless they are the same size front and rear. Not all brands use the same sizes for the front and back. Width and/or height may be different. You could have potential problems with side to side clearance, suspension travel and it would affect your final drive gear ratios.

shasta · Mar 19, 2007

Inseeme, My dealer told me that the Kubota RVT four wheel drive functions as a "front wheel assist" similar to their tractors. The front wheels rotate slightly faster than the rears. On soft surfaces this is no problem but , on pavement this overotation will greatly accelerate the wear of the front tires. This wear should be even across the face of the tire. With toe in problems the tires are not aligned properly with the direction of travel so the wear should be uneven across the tire. For example the inside shoulder worn but the rest of the tread is ok. If you spend a lot of time in four wheel drive esp on pavement it may be a cause of the wear that you describe.

inseeme · Mar 19, 2007

Shasta, I believe you have diagnosed my problem, the wear is even across the tire and it is warn twice as much as the rear so you have answered my question. The tires are exactly the same size so no problem rotating them. Thanks for your help, have you had this same problem??

shasta · Mar 20, 2007

no, but I probably would have if my dealer hadn't told me how the RTV four wheel drive works. Enjoy your RTV

Old Coot · Mar 20, 2007

shasta said:
Inseeme, My dealer told me that the Kubota RVT four wheel drive functions as a "front wheel assist" similar to their tractors. The front wheels rotate slightly faster than the rears. On soft surfaces this is no problem but , on pavement this overotation will greatly accelerate the wear of the front tires. This wear should be even across the face of the tire. With toe in problems the tires are not aligned properly with the direction of travel so the wear should be uneven across the tire. For example the inside shoulder worn but the rest of the tread is ok. If you spend a lot of time in four wheel drive esp on pavement it may be a cause of the wear that you describe.

That is an interesting thing. I haven't heard or thought of that in a long time. I had a 70 3/4 ton Chev 4X4 that had the same thing. The manual said never drive on hard road in four wheel drive.
Reason was the front gear ratio was a little lower number ratio then the rear and it would bind up and could cause damage to the drive train. Thanks for jogging my memory. I'd forgotten all about that. Jack

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Mar 23, 2007

gordon21 said:
Don't rotate the tires unless they are the same size front and rear. Not all brands use the same sizes for the front and back. Width and/or height may be different. You could have potential problems with side to side clearance, suspension travel and it would affect your final drive gear ratios.

i haven't seen any tires that are the same size as the front and rear if you want to have the same height tire you better go with the same tire meaning same size like 10 wide tire all the way around on 12" rims or 10"rims because if you go with a wider tire in the rear than the front it will be a little bigger on all model tires.i don't know why they do this ?? i measured a few tires and they all came up with about 1" to 3/4 " diference from front to rear in the hieght of the tire

darkday · Mar 23, 2007

Yeah like gordon said to rotate you must have EXACT same tire all around.

Tractors4u · Mar 24, 2007

I looked at the specs for the RTV at Kubota.com and some of the RTVs have the same size tire from and rear. Height and width. Odd, but true.

TOMMYHPX4X4 said:
i haven't seen any tires that are the same size as the front and rear if you want to have the same height tire you better go with the same tire meaning same size like 10 wide tire all the way around on 12" rims or 10"rims because if you go with a wider tire in the rear than the front it will be a little bigger on all model tires.i don't know why they do this ?? i measured a few tires and they all came up with about 1" to 3/4 " diference from front to rear in the hieght of the tire

TOMMYHPX4X4 · Mar 24, 2007

that's probably to keep things running smoothly . i know with all aftermarket tires if you get a wider tire in the rear then the front it will be taller than the front even though they both say 27" or whatever size you bought. next time i buy tires i will be getting the same width all the way around just so that the tire will be the same height as the back.