Tire Pressure

[Atchuuu]

Looking for help. Can't find air pressure for the following tires. They are R4. Don't know the age. The ride is really rough so I think it may be tire pressure. If weight of tractor makes any difference it is on a Kubota L4330HTC 3,860 lbs.

Front tires - Akuret 10-16.5NHS
Rear tires -Titan - 17.5L-24

I did search the forum archives but could not find what I was looking for.

Thanks,

 

[ericm979]

Did you check the owner's manual?

For rears I air down until the edges of the lugs are touching the pavement or are pretty close, with a typical implement on the back (and not on the ground). On my 4000lb Branson that's about 18 psi. The fronts need higher pressure when you're carrying heavy loads.

 

[Atchuuu]

Found this online. It isn't the manual for the L4330. (models are listed at the top) Anyone know if the tire specs are the same?

 

[Zebrafive]

R4s have heavy side walls and will ride rough. If you have a loader, for the fronts, inflate to the maximum marked on the side of the tire. Rears you will have to experiment with, One way is inflate to maximum marked on the tire then chalk a couple lugs and drive on a hard surface. Deflate and test drive until chalk wears off all the way across.

 

[Atchuuu]

Any idea how long tires last? The lugs look okay for the most part. There are some that have cracks or are missing chunks. The sidewalls are faded but not cracked.

 

[oosik]

OK - this is how I do it with my R-1 tires. Air my fronts up to max allowed, as shown on sidewalls. Tractor out on rock hard driveway - air down my rear tires until I just get full contact of the ribs - all the way across the tread. This will be 16 to 18 psi.

How long will tires last? Keep them out of the sun when not in use and you can pass them on to your grandchildren. Bought my first tractor new in '82 - traded in 2009 and the rear tires were still in excellent shape. That's right - 27 years - no checking - no breakdown - no seperation.

 

[Atchuuu]

Thanks to all for the replies.

OOSIK - Good to hear on lifespan on tires. Just checked the prices and hope I don't have to replace them anytime soon.

 

[MHarryE]

My nephew’s articulated 4wd tractor. All 4 outside duals look like this. No problem with them putting 250 HP to the ground.

 

[oosik]

Tire prices - - no KIDDING. Those rears on my Kubota M6040 - right around $1500 each for Firestone or Goodyear(tire, mounting, RimGuard). You can see where my tractor is parked - my avatar. Just a big 'ol carport stall - but its all that's needed to keep the sun off them.

 

[tvman]

Hey guys, for what it's worth, I also have aL4330 HST, and it rides awful on paved roads. Took it to a Case dealer down the road to see if they could find the problem and they said there was nothing wrong. I really don't think they spent too much time with it though.

Since it was about 13 years old I decided maybe it was the side walls breaking down. I started looking for replacement tires and about fainted when I saw the prices. I got on the internet and typed in 17.7-24 tires and found a tire shop in Kansas that had some for about 1/2 the price.
I talked to the owner and found out that these were brand name blemished tires.

I bought them, free shipping, and found they were Titan tires. All they had done was buff out part of the name Titan! The tires are great but sadly it still rides horrible on pavement. I'm just going to live with it.

 

[oosik]

TVMAN - You know - my Kubota M6040 doesn't ride as good as my Jeep - out on the asphalt - either. AH - maybe it might be because the Jeep is designed for highway use with suspension - my tractor is designed for dirt - no suspension - FEL with 820# grapple hanging out front - 1100# Rhino rear blade on the 3-point.

I have no desire to preach to you on how your tractor should or should not ride - but come on Man - its a tractor. Besides it appears you have shod it with R-1 tires. If you wanted a smoother ride - go with R-4 tires.

Yeah - tires are expensive. You did well to find Titan at half price - - they are a top of the line tire.

Now - get off that asphalt and get out in the dirt - and have a great day.

 

[majorwager]

A bias ply tire will develop a slight flat depression when they are in static position for any duration. When driven immediately afterword on a hard surface, the tire will lobe, out of round until the friction warms the tire and it resumes a round uniformity.

Radials do not suffer the same condition but they are more expensive and uncommon on compacts and light utility tractors. Radial shoes are more common w/ AG R-1's but many construction TLB tractors , R-4, are equipped w/ radial tires.

 

[Texasmark]

R4s have heavy side walls and will ride rough. If you have a loader, for the fronts, inflate to the maximum marked on the side of the tire. Rears you will have to experiment with, One way is inflate to maximum marked on the tire then chalk a couple lugs and drive on a hard surface. Deflate and test drive until chalk wears off all the way across.

+1............ Pressure in the front keeps the sidewalls rigid, needed for FEL work. The opposite is needed for rears. There are a couple of rules of thumb: Let the air out till the edges of the tire contact a hard surface; concrete floor..........let the air out to a level that will allow you to carry your max 3 pt load with slight sidewall bulging.

On fronts with a FEL I use the max press on the sidewall of the tire. On non FEL tractors 20 or so......just enough to keep the sidewall (outer tire) somewhat rigid in turns without brake assisting. On rears, 15 psig on the right of the tractor with a side mounting mower (disc/drum type hay cutter), other side 13. All other tractors 13, including ones hauling 1000# bales on the 3 pt. After that time to attack the seat. You won't believe what time and money I've spent on seats and such to get a smooth ride.....but I think I'm finally there.

 

[oosik]

And then there is this OTHER factor - age. As I get older I seem to be less tolerant - I want things a tad softer, smoother, easier, quieter.

The nice thing is - retirement allows for most all of those "wants". Its taken quite a while but I HAVE learned to slow down a bit.

Softer tires DO give a smoother ride...........

 

[Gary Fowler]

Tractor tire pressure has a bit but not much influence on ride on a tractor. Since there is absolutely no suspension give, and you are limited in the amount of air pressure that you can run due to load and sidewall deflection in turns on the front, the best money you can spend to make a smoother ride is getting a suspension seat.

Don't waste money on new tires because they are going to be pretty much the same ride regardless of the tire type. The better the seat, the smoother the ride with air suspension being the top of the line.