L3240 R1 front tire replacement

[cschlaps]

Good afternoon all,

I am looking for recommendations for replacements of the 7.2-16 R1's on a 3 year old L3240. About a year ago, I lost one of the original OTR Traction Master tires to a puncture, and the dealer replaced it with a Carlisle 7-16 Farm Specialist R1. The Carlisle has been disappointing, and simply doesn't take the weight that the original Traction Master on the other side can take. It already needs to be replaced after just one year - not due to wear, but due to sidewall stress. Even at a higher pressure, it flexes under weight and now the sidewall has blistered.

The original Traction Master has 500 hours on it, so I plan to replace both at the same time now. I really don't want to go with the Carlisles, but I can't find much information online for the Traction Masters...and they are much more expensive than the Carlisles.

Does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions based on actual use? What has held up better? Are there any others out there that I should look at?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[dennisgw]

Did you go to the OTR site? Don't see some prices but they do have a lot of tires listed.
Tires | OTR Wheel

 

[PHILIP8N]

I have used both Goodyear Ag (now owned by Titan) and Firestone 3 rib front tires. Happy with each. Did you look at these manufacturers web-sites for proper size and rating? Philip.

 

[GarthH]

I have found the dealer the best prices for tires if it is ordered with the rim. I had a front turf tire that was repairable and after I checked the tire shops the tire was at least 30% cheaper at the dealer. With the rim I dealt with the tractor sales guys and not the parts department.

Garth

 

[crazyal]

My 4240 has larger front wheels, 8.3x16 so what I've found for replacements is not going to help you much but I'm thinking of going with a R1W over the regular R1 tires. I found Firestone makes some that are very close on diameter but are wider. They have the same ag tread but offer a much higher weight rating. Firestone makes a 7.5x16, it's a little bigger but not sure how much in the real world that translates to.

 

[cschlaps]

The Firestone's are intriguing (over 50% more weight capacity than the Carlisles) but the diameter is 2" more than the Carlisles...so I might be getting into trouble there.

I'm trying to find the specs online for the original OTR tires, but that website is lacking information....so all I can do is compare the specs of my 500 hour worn tire against a new tire.

 

[milkman636]

.......... I'm thinking of going with a R1W over the regular R1 tires...........Firestone makes a 7.5x16, it's a little bigger but not sure how much in the real world that translates to.

The rolling circumference is greater on the r1w's. Its important to check the math to make sure that you keep within the front wheel overspeed limits. The r1w offers alot better weight rating for front loader applications.

 

[cschlaps]

Does anyone know where to find the original Kubota specs for rolling circumference and gear ratio? I can do the calculations for the new tires....but without knowing the design parameters to compare against it is a bit of challenge...

 

[Chilly807]

You're right about the Carlisle FS tires, my L3400 with the 463 loader is about all they'll stand. Your 724 loader should be able to pretty much flatten them !

Sean

 

[milkman636]

The factory service manuals usually cover all the ratios in depth. Its the best place to start if you have one.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I can't comment on the exact tires you are looking for, but we have always had excellent service out of Goodyear/Titan and Firestone/Bridgestone tractor tires.

 

[crazyal]

The rolling circumference is greater on the r1w's. Its important to check the math to make sure that you keep within the front wheel overspeed limits. The r1w offers alot better weight rating for front loader applications.

The real question is what's more important? Circumference ir radius? Since they are radial tires. The Firestones have a diameter of 31.2 but a static load radius of 14.0 and a circumference of 95 (from the Firestone website). The manual says 7x16 and 7.2x16 as recommended sizes and that you could experience increased wear if you go with a different size also to check with your dealer.

My best advise would be to check with a dealer that sells the Firestone tires and ask them.

 

[cschlaps]

After a week of additional research, I don't have much additional information to report, but here is what I know:

- The OTR website is lacking any technical information, and phone calls have not been returned, so I haven't been able to get tire specs from them.

- Mulitple Kubota dealers in this area have not been of much help either, other than to look up the Kubota part number for the tire. Depending on the dealer, a factory replacement is in the $200-$250 range.

- I don't have the factory service manual, so I can't determine what the factory front tire specs should be....so I can't determine if I can go to the Firestone radial that has been discussed in this thread.

- There is one online site (Ken Jones tire) that has the factory 4 ply OTR 7.2x16 tire for $149, but it is out of stock. They also have an 8 ply of the same tire that is in stock, but price is not listed.

So at this point, I think that I will order a pair of those tomorrow and will hopefully be done with this. I'm tired of my tractor sitting out on the sidelines...

 

[cschlaps]

Two weeks later, one last update. I ordered the 8 ply tires ($200 each) on a Monday, got them on Wednesday, and installed them on Thursday. The load rating is around 1300 pounds, and they take a fully loaded bucket very well. They can be run at a much higher pressure too (40+psi), so no more worries about rolling a tire off the bead, or crushing a sidewall.

So the final verdict - stick with the better tires and don't waste your time (and money) on the cheap ones.

 

[rdsaustintx]

When calling the dealer, do not talk to parts. Talk to SALES and tell them you want to order whole goods, rims and tires. The prices are VERY reasonable.