Auto tires on a tractor?

RonC · Jun 12, 2003

I have a JD 850 with rib and AG tires. I am in the process of buying a finishing mower If I can find a good used one. I want to start mowing about six acres. I haven't been in this business very long but know that when I cut with my bushhog the front tires will tear up the ground pretty well. An individual I know said he put a set of car tires on the front of his tractor and he got a smoother ride and it did not tear up the ground as bad,,suggestions/comments?

Chief · Jun 12, 2003

Not sure if I would do that. The tires must be a matched set if 4WD to match front and rear axle rotation rate. If you can match the correct tire diameters, I suppose you could do that if you used a heavy load range tire, such as load range D or E depending on tractor axle weight rating. There are also places that sell modified aircraft tires for use on tractors which would probably be a better type tire to use since the wall thickness and ply rating would be very heavy. I would suggest going with what the manual states and find a turf tire.

Inspector507 · Jun 12, 2003

I've seen several Yanmars with car/truck tires on them. If 4WD, just keep the ratio of the replacements the same as the old tires.

markie61 · Jun 12, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If 4WD, just keep the ratio of the replacements the same as the old tires )</font>

Could you just run it in 2wd mode? Jus' wonderin'......

Inspector507 · Jun 12, 2003

Now that would defeat the purpose of owning a 4WD....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RonC · Jun 12, 2003

Maybe I should have mentioned that my 850 is 2wd only. I am wondering if the car tires would hold up in the field when I am bushhogging. The small stumps could be pretty rough on a car tire.

DDT · Jun 12, 2003

I will bet the weight rating on car tires should be atleast the same as your front tires. match load ratings. the front of your 850 is not very heavy unless you use a loader.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 13, 2003

I've had old bias wore out car tires on my old Ford 960 tractor for over a decade - you can pick up used ones from any tire place for $5 a piece & use innertubes(!) & have fun, will work fine for you. I figured you has 2wd when you mentioned rib tire.

The car tire doesn't turn worth a darn in the dirt field, but carries well on snow & will be easy on the sod as you are hoping. My tractor gets a real workout on a real farm, dirt, snow, ice, manure, hay, rocks - the tires will be fine. Used will be nice & smooth for you, sure don't bother to buy new!

--->Paul

bgott · Jun 13, 2003

Go to Google and punch in " used aircraft tires". The tire ( it had a single rib on one side and an aircraft tire on the other) my 8N wore when I bought it was a 14 ply. The tire had been flat with the bead broken for years but it stood up like it was aired up. It would lean a little if you cornered wide open. These tires are supposedly unpuncturable when used for bushhogging.