Tail wheel meets truck tire: Replace?

[piaffepony]

If you are towing loads with it regularly, yes I would have it replaced. I would also probably drive it 35 min to get a new one myself…but you do what you think is safest.….like force the Fiancé to drive it while you have a beer on the couch.

It took me a year just to let him drive it to the gas station and maybe only 3 or 4 times! In my defense though, it's a paid off crew cab long bed...and I could never come close to replacing just the chassis for what I paid for it brand new with a new flatbed.

 

[repete]

The key word here is fiance. Tell him he damaged the tire and see how he responds.
This is your future...... Do you want him to think his safety level for you is "it's good enough for her".

 

[zzvyb6]

I was a tire engineer. Water will get into the tread package, rust the steel wires and you will be faced with a 'belt edge separation'. That's a sudden & immediate failure (blow out). You should have a spare somewhere in that rig, yes or no? For steered tires, you need equivalent pairs. 1 possibility is to move 2 equivalent tires from the rear and put the pair and the good front back there. Damaged tire might work as a spare. If it leaks down, scrap it. Consider the value of your complete rolling package vs. the cost of a pair of tires. It's chump change. Around here, you damage, you pay. If a tragedy occurs, Love won't cover the costs.

 

[kthompson]

piaffepony, my oldest grandson is dating a young lady who's ride is a white Dodge like your set up but only standard cab. Tells me you two have class. Now to the male and I will include my grandson equally here: just because he knows how to start a tractor or any other equipment does not mean he really has any idea what all he needs to be watching for. Mine took my brand new cab tractor last year and did not think the brush rubbing the side of the cab was any issue, hey it is a tractor! This is a teachable moment.

As to the tires, I had set of a major brand who failed with about the same age as your due to thread separation. I had two different dealerships tell me sadly rather common. Saying to to say if the belts are exposed to water as I would replace. Other wise would follow the advice have it looked at. Also junk yard is mostly like your best bet on wheel cover.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

You guys must be looking at a different set of pictures than I am.

That tire is most likely just fine. The "damage" doesn't even go all the way to the bottom of the tread lugs. C'mon guys, jeeze. It's a 10 or 12 ply truck tire, not some kid's scooter or wheel barrow tire. You're going to "nanny" her into buying new tires, which will certainly make the tire shop happy, but is completely unnecessary.