Compact Tractor Ag Tire Questions

[Rich Riddle]

Hello,

I am searching for either 8x16 or 8.3x16 rear agricultural tires for a compact tractor. The tractor currently has on a set of turf tires but to push snow this winter ag tires seem a better choice. A set of rims for the tires would also prove nice, but I don't even have a clue how to find the tires at this time. Any help you can provide will be appreciated.

[Jebediah Eckert]

Unless you get lucky on a used set they can be quite costly with rims for sure. I have the R4 industrial on mine and have no problem in the winter. I have a plow on the front and use it to clear a 300' driveway in New England. I would think a cheaper choose would be to get a good set of chains, that should work better for traction then even the ag tires alone. Plus they would be a whole bunch cheaper and when they are off your not rutting up your lawn or trails? You can also fill your tires for extra weight.

Unless you you are already in need of new tires and rims because they are old and warn this maybe a cheaper way to go.

[Rich Riddle]

The turf tires don't look all that bad. Luckily many of the Kubota parts fit the Yanmar.

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[Jerome Stanek]

I agree about the chains we used them on some of our equipment here in the Cleveland area

[Jebediah Eckert]

After seeing the pictures........chains for sure

[Mike Lassiter]

you have more rubber in contact with the ground with the turf tires if you are on pavment or concrete than ag tires would have. R4 tires better than R1 tread due to flat fatter lugs on hard surfaces. I have had same size tractors (increase of HP in same series) with both R4 tread and now R1 tread. I use loader a lot. R4 tires more plys and carry heavier loads than R1 tires and fatter tires. I think R1 somewhat better grip in dirt but in your concern I think more weight in tires by adding fluid in them along with chains would give best traction for stated use.

[eugene thomas]

I have john deere 2305 with turf tires. have fluid in rear tires and have nice set of chains that never needed for them Wisconsin winters.

[Rich Riddle]

I am more than willing to purchase chains instead of ag tires. but how do you determine what size chains you need? Who sells them?

[Matt Meiser]

There's a tractor tire company in Wauseon, OH that probably has whatever you need if its made. http://www.millertire.com/

You might look at R4 industrial tires as a good compromise. You commonly see those on Bobcats. I had them on my John Deere about that size and they weren't too hard on the lawn but got reasonably good traction in the winter or muddy conditions--but I had a loader which I could use to pull/push myself to freedom (usually.) I'd think they'd be better than chains. I'd get them loaded with beet juice too.

[Randy Rose]

I am more than willing to purchase chains instead of ag tires. but how do you determine what size chains you need? Who sells them?


tirechains.com will guide you through the sizing process

Chains or Ag`s will both help. Have both, prefer Ag`s ( Ingersoll & Kubota)
Either way, adding weight ( in the tires or otherwise) makes a huge difference.

[Jason Roehl]

Chains for sure.

I haven't driven too many tractors in the snow (an old Farmall narrow-front, once), but I do have quite a bit of seat time in both tracked and wheeled Bobcats in the snow. Traction isn't that great. Even clearing a driveway with only a slight slope, I would easily be spinning the tires half the time.

[Matt Meiser]

Usually my only problem with losing traction was trying to move a mountain of snow, or icy conditions--like when the snow pack on the driveway or road melted and refroze a few times. I did not have loaded tires but if I put the box blade on instead of a back blade my traction improves significatntly--the latter weighed a couple hundred lbs more. I was looking into getting the tires loaded when we decided to move.

[Kent Adams]

Chains and a mixture of anti-freeze and water in the tires. I had a compact 33D New Holland, still miss it, and I used to plow our 500' driveway at our cabin in the panhandle of WV when we had very big snows. No problems at all. Any local tractor store can get you chains that fit and you might want to take the tractor in to have them put the anti-freeze in the tires.

[Matt Meiser]

Anti-freeze as in radiator anti-freeze? If you get a flat, that's a real issue as the anti-freeze is highly toxic to animals who will be attracted to the sweet smell. Calcium Chloride is the traditional option but corrosive. Some use windshield washer solvent which is a lot less toxic. The beet juice stuff is near ideal though--its a byproduct of refining sugar beets into sugar and non-toxic. And its heavier than water or windshield washer solvent.

[Mike Lassiter]

around here calcium no longer used due to rusting tubeless rims. I was told they put "alcohol" in them. Like used in windshield washer fluid I think. Non corrosivfe and very low freezing temp. I have fluid in both back tires plus 2 - 110 pound wheel weights on each side in my current tractor. A 2011 John Deere 4720 cab tractor with hydrostatic transmission and MFWD. I ordered it new and traded a 2006 4520 John Deere dab tractor i bought at one year old. Same size with a good bump in horse power. Both MFWD, the 4520 had R4 tires while this one has R1 tires. R4 tires flatter tread and fatter tire were R1 is taller and narrower. I have mashed R1 front tires flat several times with loader. The added weight is very helpful especially when loader is used near capacity. I have had rear tires on 4520 spin on top of the ground when bucket full and had to go to MFWD so front wheels could move tractor.
The rims with turf tires are much wider than the rims for R4 and especially R1 tires. You will spend several hundred dollars to get new tires and wheels. You might find used ones at tractor salvage. You aren't going to want to be swapping fluid filled tires around much. They are heavy and potentially dangerous if you have to do they by yourself. Having a tire and wheel fall on you weighing several hundred pounds that you are unable to get off you by yourself could become a big problem.

[John Ziebron]

Rich, you didn't say what type of surface you will be plowing. I have a compact Kubota tractor about your size with turf tires. For many years I've plowed a gravel drive and you need chains on your tires whether the tires are loaded or not, although I recommend they be loaded. I have a front loader for my tractor and the dealer automatically loaded the rear tires with Rim Guard (beet juice, safe for the environment if there's ever a leak and non corrosive) when I bought it 14 years ago. The home I moved to last year has an asphalt drive and so I do not use chains any more because you are scraping down to the surface and getting better traction because of it and chains could indent the asphalt. This is also true for a cement drives. You said "push snow" so I'm assuming that you have a front mounted plow. In addition to adding weight to the rear for traction I would recommend adding weight to the front of your tractor to help prevent it from being pushed opposite to the side your blade is angled to. I had my front tires loaded with Rim Guard but you could also use wheel weights, suitcase weights or some other homemade weights. In addition to having loaded rear tires I also have a back blade on my tractor which allows me to pull snow where I can't get at it with the front blade but, more importantly, adds more rear weight for traction. Can't tell from your picture but I'm assuming you have a 3 point hitch on the rear. So any implement back there for added weight would help or you can make a cement weight inexpensively. If you need chains the best place to buy them from is www.tirechains.com. And if you haven't discovered it yet, the best and biggest site for tractor information is www.tractorbynet.com. They even have a separate snow removal category in their forums.

[Keith Outten]

Rich,

Too bad the size won't work, I have four Kubota R4 tires and rims that were on my BX 1500 in my barn. FWIW I used to push snow with the FEL using these tires and they did a great job but the BX 1500 was a pretty heavy little beast and had 4WD.
.

[Garth Almgren]

I second Tirechain.com - I've bought a couple sets of chains through them for my vehicles and I've been impressed with the quality for the price. Here's chains for 8.3x16 (http://www.tirechain.com/8.3x16.htm) or 8x16 (http://www.tirechain.com/8x16.htm).

Rich, you might also want a set of chains on the front as well - being able to go in the snow is nice, but being able to turn in the snow is nice too. :D

[Jim Becker]

Rich,

Too bad the size won't work, I have four Kubota R4 tires and rims that were on my BX 1500 in my barn. FWIW I used to push snow with the FEL using these tires and they did a great job but the BX 1500 was a pretty heavy little beast and had 4WD.
.

What are the sizes, Keith...my BX22 needs new fronts. I don't recall if the BX1500 had smaller wheels/tires than the BX 18xx/BX22xx/BX22 or not. If the sizes work out, I'd try to work out a deal with you.

{edit} Oh, bummer...BX1500 is 16x7.5-8 where my BX22 is 18x8.5-8 for fronts. "Chuzbut!"

[Rich Riddle]

I really appreciate how kind nearly all folks are in the Creek. It's hard to imagine a nicer group. Helping with the tractor means the world to me.

[Keith Outten]

Jim,

Your right about the tire size and its a shame that mine won't work on your tractor. All four of these tires are like new so I am hesitant to just dump them but I would like to get them out of my barn. My SIL has my old BX1500 but he doesn't need the R4 tires to mow grass.

[Jim Becker]

Mine has the bar tires (ag bars, but "wide and fluffy" tires) and the R4s would have been fine...if they fit. They are worth some money, so you might consider advertising them on CL or a local FaceBook buy/sell group. The fronts with rims are worth about $80 new to buy...the rears clearly more. Some nice mad-money sitting there!

[Keith Outten]

Thanks Jim,

I will get some pictures and get them on Craigslist.
.

[lawrence dosson]

Rich
there is a scrap yard for compact tractors called west Kentucky tractor parts
you might check them out just google west Kentucky tractor parts you might even be close to them

[Randy Rose]

Rich, you might also want a set of chains on the front as well - being able to go in the snow is nice, but being able to turn in the snow is nice too. :D

+ 2 on that !
Here is my inelegant yet effective solution to pushing a full blade of snow uphill while turning

[Myk Rian]

I'd get them loaded with beet juice too.
Making beet wine?

I vote for chains. Easy on, easy off.