Tire Pressure

   / Tire Pressure #1  

jimainiac

Platinum Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2005
Messages
516
Location
Colebrook, N.H.
Tractor
Kubota L3830HST
I have to admit that I don't pay that much attention to the air pressure in the tractor's tires, as long as they look okay. I've been going in our woods to get firewood, and the old skidder trail has some ruts that I've been trying to straddle as I come out with a load of wood on the forks. I was worried about catching the frozen edge of a rut with the side of the tire and possibly popping the bead. They're tubeless on the front. Yesterday, I decided to check the pressure to make sure they had plenty of air. The front tires are 10 x 16.5 R-4's. The gauge read about 26 pounds, and the sidewall said max pressure 45 pounds, so I figured I'd go with the max. Today I checked the tractor's owners manual, and it says 20 pounds for front and rear. That's quite a difference, and it made me wonder about the pro's and con's of the different pressures.
I know that with cars and trucks you should usually go by the pressure listed on the doorjamb, except for unusual circumstances, but with a heavy load on the loader, it seems like it would be a good idea to have the maximum air pressure the tire allows.
Also, I was going to check the rears, which are 17.5 x 24 R4's and loaded. I couldn't find the pressure specification on the sidewall of either rear tire, and they looked okay, so I didn't mess with them, but the owner's manual does say 20 pounds for them, too.
Any thoughts out there on what would be the appropriate pressure?
 
   / Tire Pressure #2  
Is that 20Lbs with loader?
 
   / Tire Pressure #3  
Jim i have 35 pounds in the front with the loader, an 25 pounds in the back. I went with what Roy Jackson once said about tire pressure. That works good for me.
 
   / Tire Pressure #4  
the front tires on my kubota we keep at 40 to 45lbs an the rears at 20lbs.
 
   / Tire Pressure #5  
I stay around 30 lbs in the front for loader work but run much lower in the rears than others seem to. Last I check I think I was around 10 in the rear. Seems to give me better traction and a better ride.

MarkV
 
   / Tire Pressure
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Is that 20Lbs with loader?

In the owners manual it doesn't specify loader or no loader, the chart just gives specs for various tire sizes that are available for the tractor.
WHOOPS! I just noticed a note at the bottom of the page: "Maintain the maximum pressure in front tires, if using a front loader or when equipped with a full load of front weights."
How'd I miss that? Well, I guess that answers the question!
Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions.
By the way, what did Roy Jackson once say about tire pressure?
 
   / Tire Pressure #7  
In the owners manual it doesn't specify loader or no loader, the chart just gives specs for various tire sizes that are available for the tractor.
WHOOPS! I just noticed a note at the bottom of the page: "Maintain the maximum pressure in front tires, if using a front loader or when equipped with a full load of front weights."
How'd I miss that? Well, I guess that answers the question!
Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions.
By the way, what did Roy Jackson once say about tire pressure?
Basically what you just read in your manual.

Rule of thumb......my words not Roy's.........put enough air in so all the tire tread is level with the ground(works best on concrete for viewing).
 
   / Tire Pressure #8  
The manual for the 4240 says 20psi. I run 30psi, they bulge too much at 20.
 

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