Need help identifying tractor tires and understanding inflation

kmooneyham · Jul 17, 2021

Hello, this is my first post, and I really do need some help. A bit of background on me, so hopefully you all will understand why I need help. I'm an aircraft mechanic and electronics technician. I troubleshoot problems, take apart expensive equipment, and put it back together successfully all the time. I've been doing this for over 30 years. However, when working on aircraft, very little is left to chance. The books have a LOT of specifications that must be followed, or at least ranges of numbers that your ____________ (fill in the blank) must fall into. Inflating aircraft tires, you pretty much follow a chart that has things like aircraft weight, etc. Tractors don't seem to be anything like that, and I'm not someone who can just "eyeball" things. I want them to be right.

I've owned a Kioti CK3510HST for maybe a year now. Doing some reading around the net, I've been concerned that my tires were overinflated. The tractor has Goodyear (Titan) industrial tires, but even looking up the numbers on the side of the tire, I'm still confused as to which ones exactly. I see numbers like R4 and R14 on the internet, but none of the accompanying pictures on any site seem to look like the tires I have.

My rear tires are 15-19.5-5NHS and my front tires are 27x850-15NHS. Nowhere that I can find on the tire does is say a name of the tire model or anything that says "model number", etc. There are other numbers, but when I search for them, I really don't find anything.

I've also read that you do calculations based on the weight of the tractor, the load, etc, but that's still dependent on the model of tires installed. Hopefully someone here can give me some pointers, or send me in the right direction, as this subject is confusing me to no end. Thank you all in advance.

CH4Ohio · Jul 17, 2021

All of my tires have print molded into the sidewall that says "Max inflation xxx PSI at XXX max load", or something like that. I just be sure I'm somewhere reasonably under that. They usually also say "don't inflate beyone xxx PSI to seat bead" or something similar. (Just like car and truck tires.)

Yours don't have any text like that on the tire? Why not call the Kioti dealer and see what they recommend?

CH4Ohio · Jul 17, 2021

You can also check out pics online to determine whether you have R1, R4, R14, or TURF tires.

Septemberwheat · Jul 17, 2021

I thought you had questions around financial & currency inflation!

oosik · Jul 17, 2021

Welcome to TBN and the forum. Your tires DO have max inflation pressure shown on the tires. At times it's just hard to find. Take a wet shop rag and wipe down the outside sidewall. Helps all the info show up. It will say - Max press - XX psi.

If you don't have an Operators Manual for your tractor - get one from you local Kioti dealer. It will show recommended pressures for several various tire sizes/types.

CH4Ohio · Jul 17, 2021

I know I'm a little slow sometimes . . . tend to give people the benefit of the doubt . . . but I'm beginning to think that this aircraft technician who wanted to calculate the proper tire inflation on his Kioti and who couldn't figure out what kind of tires he has, might not be on the level. Just a hunch.

Oh well, at least he didn't ask about BigFoot . . .

oosik · Jul 17, 2021

I know how a fellow that's in a very technical field can have his "worldly thoughts" seriously pigeon holed. He goes on about his business and the rest of the world whizzes right on by.

Give you an idea of what MY tractor is set at. I have R-1's - 6 ply - front and rear. Firestones on the rear - Titans on the front.

The rears - sidewall say 18 psi max - Kubota says - 18 psi - I run them at right around 16 psi. Gives me FULL chevron contact with the ground - all the way across the tire. Front tires - sidewall says 30 psi - Kubota says 26 psi - I run them at 30 psi. I use my grapple to move very heavy loads. I have to be careful making turns with a heavy load. There is the potential to roll the front tires right off the rims. I'm careful - never had it happen.

dirttoys · Jul 17, 2021

Septemberwheat said:
I thought you had questions around financial & currency inflation!

Bingo, I was all prepared to tell you inflation is what happens the second you retire. immediately making your savings insufficient to support your life style.

Agree with above, I have not had a tire that didn't have max PSI stamped on it. Dumb question, but, did you look on the inside side wall by any chance?

Best,

ed

plowhog · Jul 18, 2021

Tire inflation is when your new set of tires costs more than the old set.

RancherGuy · Jul 27, 2021

kmooneyham said:
... I've been concerned that my tires were overinflated. The tractor has Goodyear (Titan) industrial tires, but even looking up the numbers on the side of the tire, I'm still confused as to which ones exactly. I see numbers like R4 and R14 on the internet, but none of the accompanying pictures on any site seem to look like the tires I have.

My rear tires are 15-19.5-5NHS and my front tires are 27x850-15NHS. Nowhere that I can find on the tire does is say a name of the tire model or anything that says "model number", etc. There are other numbers, but when I search for them, I really don't find anything.

I understand where you are coming from. You live in a world where safety is #1 to prevent catastrophes, but in the ag world where a tire never exceeds 20 mph and is multi-purpose for multiple environments, I encourage you to relax.

If your tires are GY Industrials, they are most likely R4 or R14. Max tire pressure is only required when you are running max load. If your loading is much lower, the pressure can be much lower and in fact a lower pressure can give you better traction.

I like to keep front tires pressured up for multiple reasons. First, to deal with loader use where they not only carry the loader and the load, but weight coming off the rear axle is is transferred to the front. Second, to try to reduce wear or tread roll-under.

I like to keep the rear tires with the tread fully contacting the ground, which helps with ride quality. For my Kubota 37hp, I keep them at 8 psi. Even at that, mounting the rear shredder does not create any concern about being under inflated.

I will tell you that when I buy a tractor from a dealer, it seems that the pressures are always at max, so letting air out is one of the first things I do.