Tire Pressure

Bluesteel · Jan 10, 2015

How much pressure are you running in your rear tires? I don't have any fluid yet but I noticed the tread or bars on rear tires are not fully contacting the ground. R4 industrial tires. I would think you would want the entire tread making contact. Thanks.

oosik · Jan 11, 2015

Here are a couple of ways to do this. #1) look in your Op Manual and see what the manufacturer recommends #2) Get your tractor on a very hard surface and inflate/deflate the rear tires until the entire width of the bars make full contact with the surface. Make sure both rears end up with the same pressure.

I run 18 pounds in my rears - its what Kubota recommends - it is the exact point where the bars make full ground contact. Strange - things seldom work out this way.

SandburRanch · Jan 11, 2015

It depends if you are looking for more traction or less compaction. Less pressure and more contact probably won't change traction significantly if any but having more contact will lessen compaction.

k0ua · Jan 11, 2015

Bluesteel said:
How much pressure are you running in your rear tires? I don't have any fluid yet but I noticed the tread or bars on rear tires are not fully contacting the ground. R4 industrial tires. I would think you would want the entire tread making contact. Thanks.

20 lbs. That is what the manual recommends. They are loaded with Methanol/water mix. They are R4 43.16-20 tires.

George2615 · Jan 11, 2015

My rears are loaded. I run 18-20 lb. pressure. Tires are R4's 43x16-20. I ran the same pressure before loading.

Bluesteel · Jan 11, 2015

Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm going to set the pressure at 18lbs. I'll see how much they have in them from factory.

Bluesteel · Jan 11, 2015

I checked pressure in both tires and they were dead on 18lbs. I didn't change anything even though all the tread isn't contacting the ground or in this case my garage floor. Doesn't spin or slip on the freezing rain and snow we just got. Was more concerned about uneven tire wear. Thanks to all who checked and replied.

lostcreekranch · Jan 11, 2015

Bluesteel;

Put ballast in your rear tires, you will not regret it. Windshield washer fluid, RV Anti-freeze, beet juice, etc. I use straight water here in S. Texas. We have the LS XR4046HC also and, as memory serves, about 40 gallons per rear tire to 75% full.

You'll think you have a different tractor.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

oosik · Jan 12, 2015

I did not mention - my tires are loaded with Rim Guard. I have R1 - 16.9 x 28 rears that hold 69 gallons each or around 738 lbs per tire. You talk about increased traction - - there is no comparison between empty and filled. And adding fluid - rim guard(beet juice), RV antifreeze, regular antifreeze - does not place any added load on the rear axle either.

I would go empty rather than CaCl (salt) solution. CaCl solution is corrosive to everything it comes in contact with. I used it for 20+ years in my previous tractor and fought it dissolving the valve stems - annually. Dam, it was a mess!!! Don't use a salt solution.

You know, those R4 tires of yours may have a slight "wrap around" on the tread bars and the bars may NEVER make full contact with the ground - no matter how much air you let out.