Starmaxx, Titan, Interco, BKT - All OK?

[Norcal M5]

Hi Folks,
Shopping for ag R1 tires for my compact tractor for better traction out there on the hills and the four above brands look affordable and acceptable. Any of these I should steer clear of?

 

[Ford tractor]

Titan bought Goodyear Ag tires. I have some and like them.

Firestone and Micheline are also good tires.


Starmaxx and BKT are (I think) low cost china "stuff". Interco, I think is us made, but not sure. I heard they went bankrupt and are now made in china too.

 

[Norcal M5]

Interesting! Where they are made is important. I did some research:
- The BKTs are from an Indian company and they are made in India or Italy.
- Starmaxx is made in Turkey.
- Michelin is French and their ag tires are made in Hungary and other places.
- Firestone seems to be the only one made exclusively in the U.S.
- Interco is a U.S. company and they make a lot of truck tires in the U.S. They could make their ag tires somewhere else and it's hard to tell. One guy on a tractor blog says the ags are made in India, but there isn't much data on this.
- Titan tires are made in the U.S. and Brazil. I have seen some available from traders of Chinese goods, so at least some appear to be Chinese (gray market?).

 

[Norcal M5]

More info:
- Continental's Ag tires (soon to be renamed Mitas AC) sold in the U.S. are all made in U.S.

 

[MHarryE]

Firestone is a division of the Japanese company Bridgestone but most of their ag tires are made in Des Moines and have generally been very good but remember they make several grades. Titan started out in the wheel and related component manufacture and bought Electric Wheel from Firestone. Then they bought Armstrong tires but eventually sold OSS small tire manufacturing to Carlisle but bought up the biggies, Goodyear and Continental ag. At first I would have shied away from Titan but now I believe they are one of the best. Sure they make some tires in Asia but that is where the market for those tires is. The other brands I am not so familiar with but I would feel good about any Titan, Goodyear, Firestone, Continental and, if I could afford it, Michelin, the best. Others - need to know your dealer and how he will support you. We tried one of them 10 years ago and ended up with sidewall blisters but a lot can change in 10 years.

 

[wny770]

What size tires? Close to western NY?

 

[Norcal M5]

11.2 - 24 rears and 7-14 fronts. I'm in CA.

 

[wny770]

Too bad. I have a new set of Titan R1 tires and rims I'd sell, but I'm in New York. Kinda long drive:confused2:

 

[Norcal M5]

I'm OK with paying the shipping if they are the right ones. I have 8 lugs in the rears with a 6" pilot hole and 8" between lugs and the fronts have 6 lugs with a 4.5" pilot hole and 6" between lugs.

Is this what you have?

 

[wny770]

That's them, but I wouldn't ship them unless I could not sell them locally. Check around NH dealers in your area for a set of take offs.

 

[Norcal M5]

Much thanks, but did that. Not to worry, Hey Wheel can build the wheels for about $700 and the tires will be about $650. Not too bad, really.

 

[Norcal M5]

Update: was talking to salesguy at Nebraska Tire today and learned that they consider ag tires made in turkey and Hungary to be superior to U.S. Asian and Indian below U.S. :confused2:

He thought I might be happier with Continental or Starmaxx and not happy with Interco.

Another U.S. manufacturer is American Farmer.

 

[Norcal M5]

I found some tires handled by East Bay Tire which is relatively close to me. The only rears they have for me are EDT Farm Dawgs. Anyone have any experience with these?

 

[wny770]

Well, I have the set you need, but I am in Western NY. How much to ship? (from zip 14210, a business). I am asking 1180. I have a pic on the classifieds.