Best tires for the PT

[woodlandfarms]

OK, I can go to the tire group and ask this, and probably will, but wondered what everyon has purchased here. I need a bar tire, would love a quad tire, but I have no learned they won't hold the weight (which I do not understand, must be something about the sidewalls). My tires, I think, are 26.12.12. Anyone care to weigh in on this?

 

[MossRoad]

No. I got into a R1, R4, turf discussion here about 14 years ago and learned my lesson.

 

[woodlandfarms]

bwahaha.. OK, well let me make it easy on everyone. I need extreme agressive tread. Like I said, if I could put a quad tire on I would, but I guess they won't support the load (no clue why)

I see Carlisle, but I also see Deestone and Nanco, better price and what I percieve as a deeper tread.

 

[SELKIRK]

How about something like this.

https://www.stopandgotires.com/tire/industrial/industrial?sku=51S361&name=Carlisle Trac Chief

 

[SELKIRK]

Or this one.

https://www.stopandgotires.com/tire/farm/farm?sku=94022410&name=BKT TR-315 R-1

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a link to the Carlisle tire catalog PDF.

http://www.carlstargroup.com/cms_files/original/Carlisle_2012_Tire_Catalog_FNL_VIEW_1___1_.pdf

 

[ponytug]

Carl,

The load ratings come from the number of plys, and the composition (steel, kevlar, polyester). You need a load rating high enough to support the tractor weight, plus load. For my 1445, that is 3300+1800=5100lbs/4 or at least 1275 per tire. ATVs don't run that heavily loaded, so the tires don't have the strength. Extra plys in the sidewall help keep you from rolling the bead off the rim, and from puncturing it. I doubt you would be happy with ATV tires from a durability perspective, given your conditions.

If you really need aggressive traction, I would recommend chains. I can't say enough great things about the ones Ken recommended. Just for the record, I'm running Carlisle R4, and I add chains if I know things will be tough, like mowing thistle on 20 degree slopes.

All the best,

Peter

 

[woodlandfarms]

Hey Peter. Yup, I got chains, run the year round. How my PT is set up is that the inboard tires are all Skidsteer, like 10 or 12 ply tires, and they seem just a bit shorter than the Carlisle. The outboard tires, that have chains, are nearly bald Carlisle balloon tires.

My chains are getting old though, starting to stretch and one has failed (and been repaired. Not sure how many more years I will get out of this set of chains... Like I said, year round use, makes such a difference but side slope there is no stiction beyond 35 degrees, get to 45 and there is major pucker, also coming off a 45 onto a driveway tends to mess the chains bad.

 

[MossRoad]

I wonder if people ever read that you're doing 35-45 degree slopes... not percent grade. DEGREES. Good gravy that's steep!

 

[woodlandfarms]

Carl,

The load ratings come from the number of plys, and the composition (steel, kevlar, polyester). You need a load rating high enough to support the tractor weight, plus load. For my 1445, that is 3300+1800=5100lbs/4 or at least 1275 per tire. ATVs don't run that heavily loaded, so the tires don't have the strength. Extra plys in the sidewall help keep you from rolling the bead off the rim, and from puncturing it. I doubt you would be happy with ATV tires from a durability perspective, given your conditions.

If you really need aggressive traction, I would recommend chains. I can't say enough great things about the ones Ken recommended. Just for the record, I'm running Carlisle R4, and I add chains if I know things will be tough, like mowing thistle on 20 degree slopes.

All the best,

Peter

So one thing on this load rating I need to get clarity on, they say that the quad tire is rated at 500lbs at 50MPH. So if you on a PT doing 8 does it change the rating?

 

[MossRoad]

So one thing on this load rating I need to get clarity on, they say that the quad tire is rated at 500lbs at 50MPH. So if you on a PT doing 8 does it change the rating?

No. Same thing with car tires. There's load rating and speed rating.

 

[Poorman1234]

Please see "Quad tires for PT Tires" thread by WoodlandFarms.

I bought the 23-10.5-12, 4-ply Kenda 502, but the Carlisle shown there was by second choice. It is just slightly more turf-like vs. the Kenda which has wider tread spacing.

As for traction...I am delighted with the Kenda 502. For the first time since owning my PT, I was able to push snow up my driveway slope in the section with a 1-2 grade.

Still no word on life - Kenda tires still too new. However, side grip and wall strength seem to be similar to the turf tires I replaced with no issues when ripping stumps out of my very slopped wooded area. Another factor I like is that even at full rated pressure of 20 PSI, (thus full load rating) the tires have a flatter profile than the turf tires I replaced. I am sure the Carlisles would be similar here too.


Best of luck

Rick
2000 PT422

 

[ponytug]

Carl,
I've never heard of chains stretching. Wow, you must be pounding the heck out of them.

I don't do 45 degrees, but I do have some 30+ degree transitions to my roads, and I don't get chain slipping. That may because I have them on the skid steer type tires. I don't know.

FWIW: I put the chains on, move back and forth, tighten them, then drive for a few minutes and then tighten them up all around. After that, I just listen for them. If I hear clinking, I know that they have loosened, and I tighten them up again. I rarely have to retighten more than once, and they don't move around on the tires. Then again, mine have tread on them...

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

When I had a little Simplicity lawn tractor with chains, I'd let a lot of air out of the tires, put the chains on, then air the tires back up. They never got loose once I started doing it that way.

 

[PABenz]

I have the original turf tires on my 2004 PT422 w 900+ hours on it. I use the snowplow, blox blade, rock bucket, mower and more. I have never got stuck, but came close a few times. We've had some 2 foot plus snows over the years in western PA and I like these tires. Yes I slip and slide sometimes, but the turfs have not done me wrong. Only thing I did was put 4 tubes in the tires because of some flats and air leaks over the years.

 

[MossRoad]

Yep. I have three of my original turfs (I shredded the 4th by abuse) and they are probably still 90-95% of new. I regret putting a different style on the 4th rim. Its worn out. When I get some spare cash (in about 9 more year, when my last is out of grad school), I'll buy a couple more like the originals. That turf tread pattern works great on our very level paved driveway for snow plowing, great on the lawn, and great in our very sandy/steep soil out at our tree farm. However, they plug up in mud and clay horribly. I found that while working on ball diamonds and on a few projects for friends. So, every tread pattern has its pluses and minuses.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I thought Parental obligation for education ends with a bachelors. You are a good man.

 

[MossRoad]

The kids have some skin in the game. They both have jobs, earn scholarships, get excellent grades, etc... so they are contributing just about half of the bill for college and grad school.

My advice to anyone is start a 529 plan the day the kid is born and put $20 a week in it. You can easily save up 4 years of college tuition by the time they hit 18. Room and board.... that's the killer!