Kubota M6060 tire change

   / Kubota M6060 tire change #1  

Mathias NY

Bronze Member
Joined
May 20, 2011
Messages
63
Location
Williamson, NY
Tractor
Kubota M7060, Kubota BX 2350, Case DO, Case DC, John Deere B, John Deere H
I've been researching the M6060 and was wondering about how difficult it is to change tire sizes on a 4wd model. It seems the most common tire combo is 9.5x24 front and 14.9x28 rear. If I came across a used tractor, would I be able to change out the gearing to use 280/85R20 fronts and 14.9x28 rears? The gear ratio for this matches some of the other tire combos offered for the tractor, even though these tires are not offered. I tried asking at the local dealer, but their answer was not detailed enough to be useful.

Thanks for looking :)
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change #2  
Well........ My 2009 M6040 has 9.5x24 front and 16.9x28 rear. These are OEM tires. I don't know if the different sized rear tires would require different gearing. Also I've never heard of anybody "changing out the gearing" to use different sized tires. Quite honestly - I seriously doubt that is an option.

When changing tires - I do believe the rolling radius becomes one of the most important measurement to match between OEM tires and replacement tires.
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change #3  
Per the Service Manual: When you intend to mount different size of tires from equipped ones, consult your distributor about front drive gear ratio for details. Excessive wear of tires may occur due to improper gear ratio.
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change #4  
I've been researching the M6060 and was wondering about how difficult it is to change tire sizes on a 4wd model. It seems the most common tire combo is 9.5x24 front and 14.9x28 rear. If I came across a used tractor, would I be able to change out the gearing to use 280/85R20 fronts and 14.9x28 rears? The gear ratio for this matches some of the other tire combos offered for the tractor, even though these tires are not offered. I tried asking at the local dealer, but their answer was not detailed enough to be useful.

Thanks for looking :)

Here's a good discussion:
As already suggested check with the dealer or look at machinefinder.com and see what tires other people are using. Also make sure you have the correct size rims. Here is something you may also find of interest.

Tire Ratio

On tractors with MFWD the need exists to have the front and rear tires cover about the same amount of ground, while going in a straight line. So when in MFWD the rear tires are not pushing the front tires or the front tires are not pulling the rear. This avoids putting stress on the drive train.

This is achieved by matching the front and rear tire sizes to the front-to-rear gear ratio. To determine if your tractor has the correct tires on it one needs to determine the rolling circumference (RC), this is the distance a tire travels in one revolution. It is very important to understand rolling circumference when trying to determine the proper tire setup for your tractor. Since both the front and the rear tire on MFWD tractors are engaged, the front tire requires more revolutions to cover the same distance as the rear tire. It is necessary to know the gear ratio of the tractor in order to select the tires that will adequately match the tractors front-to-rear gear ratio. The gear ratio on the typical MFWD ranges from 1.2 to 1.5; therefore, the proper setup should allow for front tire over-speed up to 5% (consult with the tractor manufacturer for the preferred lead percentage).

On my 5210 rear tires are 14.9D28 the RC is 166, front tires are 9.5D24 the RC is 124 and the front to rear gear ratio is .751. If you take 166 * .741 = 123, indicating these are the correct tires. This could also be expressed as 124 * 1.34 = 166.

To compute RC the formula is = 2 * 3.1416 (pi) * Radius. Radius is defined as = sidewall height + rim radius.

A tire size of 14.9D28 (14.9 width of tire in inches, 28 diameter of rim in inches) would be 378/85D28. The first of three numbers in a size (378/85D28) is the tire's section width in millimeters, measured from sidewall to sidewall. Millimeters can be converted into inches by dividing it by 25.4. The second number (378/85R28) is the tire's aspect ratio or profile. The number is related in a percentage. This means the tire痴 sidewall is 85 percent tall as is wide. This is a ratio of sidewall height (rim to tread) to section width. The section height's measurement can be calculated by multiplying the section width by the aspect ratio. The answer will be the sidewall height.

Rear tires: 378 mm x 0.85 = 321.3 mm + 14" x 25.4 = 355.6 mm
RC = 2 * 3.1416 * (321.3mm + 355.6mm) = 4255.5 mm / 25.4 = 167.54 in

Front tires: 241.3 mm x 0.80 = 193 mm + 12" x 25.4 = 304.8 mm
RC = 2 * 3.1416 * (193mm+304.8mm) = 3128 mm / 25.4 = 123.15 in
The difference in size of your tires may be too large.
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Thanks for the replies. The dealer just told me that I would need to change all 4 of the wheels, but since he wasn't interested in hearing anything about tire sizes, I don't think he was actually considering my questions.

From the Kubota website I have figured the following information:
9.5x24 front, 14.9x28 rear, 1.31 ratio
9.5x24 front, 16.9x28 rear, 1.38 ratio
My desired combination:
280/85R20 front, 14.9x28 rear, 1.38 ratio

This tire combo isn't listed on their website, but I don't see why it wouldn't be possible since it's offered on the M5660SU. I'm just not sure how complicated (or expensive) it would be to change over the gear ratios.
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change #6  
To change out a front ring and pinion is not only complicated, it's quite expensive too!

Once you secure the parts that will cost a thousand dollars plus, you have to shim in the pinion to the ring gear...

Don't forget to get new bearings, seals and gaskets too...

SR
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change #7  
To change out a front ring and pinion is not only complicated, it's quite expensive too!

Once you secure the parts that will cost a thousand dollars plus, you have to shim in the pinion to the ring gear...

Don't forget to get new bearings, seals and gaskets too...

SR

Won't you have to split the tractor also?
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change #8  
Won't you have to split the tractor also?
Depends, IF it's just the front diff that needs to be changed, no...

The times I've looked at what the OP wants to do, it's the front R/P that needs to be changed, the rear stays the same...

SR
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Sawyer - Thanks for the information, this helps. I wanted to understand where they controlled the gear ratio and the front R/P does make the most sense. I'm guessing that it would probably cost a grand for the front wheels, a grand for the parts, and maybe a grand for the labor. For the right deal, it might be worth the project, but otherwise I'm think I should just buy new.
 
   / Kubota M6060 tire change #10  
Another thing about going to a bigger or wider front tires...

When I bought my last new tractor, I wanted to make sure it came from the factory with good sized rubber on the front, as I wanted the extra traction and flotation. Also, I wanted to see a HD front end that could take that bigger rubber being there.

One thing that turned me off to Kubota was the skimpy rubber they put on the front of their 60hp tractors... Also their front ends looked a bit light to me, and to ME that explained the smaller rubber up there!

Just something to think about, IF you was going to try to step up the rubber size on a Kubota.

BTW, the tractor that I bought has 11.2x24 Super Traction Radials on the front!

SR
 

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