Auto tires on a tractor?

[RonC]

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]

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]

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]

</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]

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

 

[RonC]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Inspector507]

Here's a web site for the used aircraft tires
No Flats

 

[Von]

Here is a photo of my old Oliver 550 with 16" truck tires on the front end. I had the same problem you are having. Changing the tires made a huge difference. Plus helped the front end from sinking in on soft ground.

 

[mikim]

I went to Gensco (see Inspectors link) and they sold me wheels & tires for my old 8N - I don't remember what it costs - but I just told them I had the 8N and was tired of plugging mesquite thorn holes - they knew just what I needed and I never had a flat after that. They lost air a time or two - but I never knew it til I checked 'em!

 

[Anonymous Poster]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now that would defeat the purpose of owning a 4WD....... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif )</font>

Anybody mow in 4WD? I would think that would be hard on the running gear and not necessary in most circumstances.

I have had an old pair of auto tires on the front of my '52 MM RTU for 15 years at least. They cost nothing, and if you tore one up or they fell apart you could replace them for the same /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Bird]

Car and light truck tires on the front end of 2WD tractors is quite common in my area.

 

[tdenny]

David when I'm using my RFM on my front pasture I'm always in 4WD. It's kind of steep and 4WD is really a necessity. This isn't really nice turf grass though - when I mow my real yard I NEVER use 4WD.

 

[RonC]

I went to the Tire Barn and purchased two tires for $5.00 each and put them on they will probably do the job. One of the things I never considered was the width up front. I might just be a tad bit wider than my rear tires but not much. Thanks for all of the help and responses. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif