Tire filling decision for JD955

[Joeley]

I've read dozens of threads here and I know this comes up alot. Hope you don't retreading old waters.

I have a JD955 sub-compact with rear turf tires, 36x13.50x15. I bought it used with FEL and snowblower, and occasionally use a brush cutter for maintaining woods trails mostly. The FEL doesn't get much use, lately just for little gravel filling jobs on driveway not amounting to much and to balance brush cutter weight.

When I bought the tractor used, it had calcium chloride filled innertubes in these big turf tires. It's been working fine until the inner tube failed on one of these rear tires around the valve stem. The tire, which is in good shape, is out for for repair and the shop is having a hard time finding a replacement tube. I plan to refill the one tire with Rim Guard, leaving the other as is with chloride until it fails or preemptively repairing it the same way as the tire now being worked on.

My questions,

1. Should I make due with an innertube that is close to size for filling? Nearest might be a 13.6/16. (Does that sound right?)

2. Should I instead go tubeless and fill with Rim Guard?

3. Alternatively should I forego the filling and just reduce my FEL use to lower loads, less height?

My main concerns are snowblowing on relatively flat areas and occasional runs through the woods for brush cutting with possible associated tire damage by rocks and sticks through sidewall. The tractor gets light use, and I'm more concerned about the hassle factor of dealing with repairs or maintenance issues and its vulnerability to such damage. It's stored in a garage mostly. I live in the far northern Midwest in the sticks.

It seems that the pros and cons of tube vs. tubeless have been well discussed here. Any other insights given my use? Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[JAE 3400]

When I had my tires filled with Rimgard the guy could not locate the proper tubes so they are filled tubeless. The only thing he said was to maintain at least 12 psi at all times. So far so good. I sat on the fence about filling my tires for a while. I had my last tractor for 17 years turf tires not filled If I had known the difference it made I would have had them filled from day one.

 

[forester2]

Just had mine filled w/ Rimguard/ no tubes no problem

 

[rambler]

You _don't_ want one filled, one not filled, whatever else you do.

I prefer tubes, but my bigger cabbed 90 hp tractor had CC in all 4 tires, no tubes. Been that way since 1977. Whatever works.

You have a better tractor with the ballast than without it, option 3 never ever happens, be honest with youself.

--->Paul

 

[dfkrug]

I have a JD955 sub-compact with rear turf tires, 36x13.50x15.

Although I have not tried it myself, I would think that a slightly off-size tube
would be OK for your application.

I have lots of seat time in 955s, an excellent compact tractor (NOT a sub-
compact). Your owners manual says that you should not even mount the
FEL without using 3-pt ballast. At 2000 lb naked, 33hp, and 2500psi
hydraulics, there is really no tractor out there quite like it.

 

[Joeley]

You're right about the compact (I guessed) - at 33 HP it's not in the "sub" category. Thanks for advice so far, I was definitely not going to go one filled one unfilled but it bears repeating (and being _honest_ about FEL use). Also the fact that the weight may not exactly match was a concern (don't know how much chloride is in the one tire).

Keep suggestions coming.

 

[Reg]

I would go WITHOUT a tube, primarily so I could Plug it myself without de-mounting if/when a hole appears that is small enough and in the right place for a DIY repair.

If you have a STRONG preference to have a tube I suggest you go for one slightly smaller, a bit of stretch being better than folds and wrinkles.

 

[Joeley]

I decided to go tubeless on the repaired tire as it's in good shape and can't find exact match tube anyway. Plus it may be an easier repair. I plan to fill with Rimguard, hopefully matching the level of fill on the remaining calcium chloride filled tire. Thanks for your help!