Tires Where can I find tires?

[Kelvin]

Summary: I am having a very difficult time finding a correct pair of turf tires for my B7100. I need 20.5x8.00-10 or possibly 21.0x8.00-10.

Discussion...
A while back I purchased a set of used ones which had 20x8.00-10 tires on the front. According to sales brochures and owner's manual the correct size should be 20.5x8.00-10 and of course I somehow missed the 0.5 difference when I was checking them out before the purchase.

According to the local Co-op dealer, Carlisle is the only manufacturer to produce the tire and the tire warehouse reports that there is a several week backlog for the tire. However, when I called a warehouse that carried Carlisle tires, they told me that neither the 20.5x8.00-10 nor the 21.0x8.00-10 tires came up on their computer.

Question: Does anyone make these tires anymore? Does anyone have any hidden in the back of some store somewhere? Used?

From sales brochures, the B7300 uses the same size Ag tires as the B7100 (front and rear) indicating that both tractors use the same gearing. For turf tires, the rear tires were the same, but the front was 20.5x8.00-10 for the B7100 and 21x8.00-10 for the B7300. Any explanations for the difference?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Blu21]

firestone makes 20 8 10s maybe they make other sizes for your needs.they make a decent turf style tire.Blu21

 

[TomG]

Here's an address for the Firestone site: http://www.firestoneag.com/tiredata/tiredatabook.asp
The address takes you right into the tire data section. Other manufacturers probably have similar services.

 

[Kelvin]

While scanning the classified Advertisements on this board I came across two different ads looking for the 20.5x8.00-10 turf tires. They sounded desperate and frustrated.

From the Firestone site (firestoneag.com) I learned that Firestone makes a 21x8.00-10.

From the "Cedar Rapids Tire Company" site (cedarrapidstire.com) I learned that for golf carts they sell a "Carlisle" and a "Dico/Titan Sport Trax" brand 20.5x8.00-10 tire. The Carlisle tire looked like a trailer tire; they didn't have a picture of the Dico...Trax brand tire. They also sell the Firestone 21x8.00-10 mentioned above (only $87.59!!!).

If anyone is close to East Tennessee and needs a pair of 20x8.00-10 turf tires in good shape, I don't believe that I'll be needing mine any more.

 

[Muhammad]

Kelvin,

You might try Ron @ http://www.bruttspecialtytires.com since they have quite the inventory and can probably look into locating just about any tire that is out there. You might have some luck looking into ATV tires for that size range. Also consider changing rims to avoid the availability problem in the future. I'd check, but B7300/B7400 rims might fit your tractor. (Check with a dealer)

 

[Anonymous Poster]

my B7100 had 20.5x8x10 trailer tires on when I bought it. they were okfor 2wd but 4wd pulling was about the same as 2wd. I could not find tires either. I 'm running 20.0x8x10 with no problems. the hight was the same as the others. even on the road i have no binding or slipping.

 

[Kelvin]

Re: Where can I find...(using incorrect tire size)

Callit,
I switched from correctly sized AG tires to turfs. I used the 20.0x8.00-10 front turf tires (matched with 29.00x12.00-15 rear turfs) for several weeks with no apparent problems (at least initially I didn't notice any). I did notice that binding during turns was more severe than with the AG tires. After the switch I also noticed that there was a small amount of hydraulic fluid coming out of the fill port on the top of the transmission when 4wd was used. I'm not sure what the correlation is, but as of now I am reasonably convinced that is has to do with the incorrect turf tires since I never saw that happen with the AG tires and does not appear to happen with the turf tires in 2wd mode.

Nonetheless, I would suggest one simple test for you to try (which is what convinced me that 20x8-10 turf tires are a problem)...

On level ground, turn the engine off and leave the transmission in neutral. Try pushing the tractor and compare the difference when the tractor is in 2wd mode versus 4wd mode. On mine, I could push it easily in 2wd mode but it was difficult to push it in 4wd mode due to the binding. Also, if I remember correctly, I could push the tractor easily when in 4wd mode with the properly sized AG tires mounted. Right now I am having the AG rims sanded and repainted so I can't put them on to confirm.

Let me know if you do the simple test mentioned above. I'm curious what your results will be.

Based upon information from various tire dealerships and information that I have seen on this board, if you can't find 20.5 sized tires (which apparently are no longer produced) it is better to go with a taller tire (21x8.00-10) rather than a shorter tire (20x8.00-10). I have ordered Firestone 21.00x8.00-10 turf tires and will get rid of the 20.8.00-10 tires. From what I have found, Firestone is the only producer to make 21.00x8.00-10 tractor turf tires.

 

[TomG]

Re: Where can I find...(using incorrect tire size)

You may already know this stuff. The 20" tires may create a lag condition between the front and rear drive. I understand that lags are very hard on drive trains. The 21" taller tire probably would create a lead condition, which often is acceptable within limits. I think many tractor drive trains are designed to have slight leads.

There have been a number of discussions here, and maybe the CTB, that give methods for calculating tire rolling circumferences. The percent lead can be calculated from front and back rolling circumferences and axle gear ratios. A dealer should be able to say if a percent lead is within the recommended range.

 

[Bird]

Re: Where can I find...(using incorrect tire size)

I don't know whether I could find it in the archives, but Mark Chalkley has posted some detailed explanations about calculating the lead/lag percentage, and you do want just a tiny bit of lead; no lag.

Bird

 

[art]

Something that we often do on the bigger farm tractors to balance the lead-lag of four wheel drive tractors is to play with air pressure. This will let you know if you do need bigger tires on the front or rear. I do like to run tires for full ground contact but tires are cheaper than running a transmission that is not mated to the tires.