tractor pullin' with flat spotted tires.

[Cecil Stults]

Folks,
I have a 1951 John Deere AR that I have been resurrecting from the field.
I am planning to try it out in the local Yocal tractor pull coming up.

All systems go except it has badly flat spotted tires. They hold air and they look very good because it the tractor was used for irrigation mainly running a belt.
So the lugs are almost perfect but there are flat spots. with 15 lbs of air they stand just fine but when it drive it down
the road I can feel the weak spot coming around. I had it in high gear the other day and it was flopping me around like a rag doll.

I am wondering what will happen to these tires when I try to pull a sled with it. I have never entered a tractor pull. I am wondering if I will peel the tires off the tractor and go out in shame.??

Any tips???

 

[MIKE R]

It sounds like they just need to be worked back into shape. I don't see anything wrong pulling with them. When I park my tractors and don't use them for a while the tires get like this but after a couple minutes of use they are back to normal.

 

[Cecil Stults]

Mike, thanks for the reply. This tractor set in the Texas heat and cold (ok warm) for all it's life. the owner told me it had been sitting for 20 years in the spot I pulled it out of. But I am going to pull it this weekend anyway. Probably throw a broom in the back of the truck to sweep up the lugs...

 

[MIKE R]

I have found from pulling my Case Sc it does best starting at half throttle and raising it up as the engine lugs down as it is less likely to spin the tires. (Matches the power to the weight of the sled) You can also utilize the brakes on the tractor for getting more power to the wheel that is not spinning by braking on the one that is spinning. You will have to find the tricks with your own tractor and the conditions of the track.

 

[RaydaKub]

If I were in the stands and saw a tractor peal the tires off I'd be mighty darn impressed. I'd blame the tires and think the guy driving it was cheated out of showing off his true power house.

 

[Verticaltrx]

My guess is that the tires will hold up fine, but the traction will be reduced. When the tire comes around to that flat spot it will change the profile/contact patch and probably won't pull great under load. When it's time to get a new set, look into any of the Firestone 23* tires. The traction of a 23 degree tire is impressive compared to other tread designs.

 

[Cecil Stults]

yes my concern is that I would Peel the tires off - - - as in the 60 year old hard rubber tires coming apart under the strain of pulling. Hopefully not.

 

[Verticaltrx]

Give it a shot and see what happens. I have to admit, while I like the nice paint and appreciate all the time that goes into restoring a tractor, my favorites are the ones straight off the farm. At one of the bigger antique tractor pulls around here some of the crowd favorites were the old Farmall M and Oliver 1650, both of which looked like they had never been touched in 40 years (a bonus to the Oliver, the old timer driving it probably bought it new, lol)

 

[vwnotrunning]

How many TBNers actually participate in pulls. I think a posted video of the first pull is expected now!

 

[MIKE R]

How many TBNers actually participate in pulls. I think a posted video of the first pull is expected now!

Deffinatly a video. I pull with my Case Sc but it is for fun between the 6 of us that show up. Its more just friendly compition between friend.