Let’s talk TIRES

[Lee1977 7,020]

21 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

Clean tires for a century old, my 1962 tires fell apart last january

I went back and changed that! I have been around longer then most, but not quite that long.

Edited December 15, 2024 by Lee1977

[ebinmaine 70,494]

 

Here we have some BKT TR315 Trencher/Agricultural tires. 

23 x 10.50 x 12

 

I don't have these mounted yet. They measure 21 3/4" x 9 1/2" as setting. They'll definitely grow some with the rated 20 lbs air pressure. 

 

4 ply. 

 

These are available online for anywhere from $90 to $120 each all year. I paid $80 each on a sale. November 2024. 

 

 

I believe these will be excellent for our particular usage. I like a slightly heavier duty tire than most. These have a good aggressive sharp square edged full width bar 45⁰ ish AG tread which should self clean nicely and also retain decent ride quality for those who like a smoother tire. 

 

 

My usage is on mid 70s C Series. Stock size was 8.5 wide. The added couple inches MAY cause clearance issues with Automatics. Spacers solve that. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Handy Don 13,321]

The Carlisle (brand is now owned by Carstar) Sawtooth tire is a very close replacement for the Wheelhouse-branded 4.8/4.0-8 front tires on the 1961 to late 60’s short frame models.

I have them on my 854 paired with the original Silvertown “All Purpose” 6-12s rears and, to my eye, they look good. Load rating is plenty strong and steering grip is good.

Edited December 18, 2024 by Handy Don

[ebinmaine 70,494]

Here's a few more from our Herd. 

 

 

Carlisle Tru Power.

Stated size. 23 x 10.50. 

Measured 21.5 x 10. (Important to note these are fluid filled. I've never put air in. Air filled tires are usually larger.)

4 ply? Industrial tires. 

These are EXCELLENT tires. We use them on the forklifts at work. 

Traction is excellent. Wear is excellent. 

I've had them on 4 or 5 tractors now. 

They're pricey..... would I buy them again?  Used, yes. Not new.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carlisle Super Lug.

Stated size.  6-12.

Actual size.  20.5 x 5.5.

We have them on the front of my C160-8 Cinnamon Horse and Trina uses the same on the rear of her 657 Pony. 

Great tires. Wear is good. Traction is good. 

 

 

 

 

 

Kenda Super Turf.

Stated size. 23 x 10.50. 

Actual size.  21.5 x 10. (Important to note these are fluid filled. I've never put air in. Air filled tires are usually larger.)

Wear seems minimal. 

I'd buy again if needed.  

 

 

 

 

Carlisle X/Trac.

Stated size.  4.80 x 8

Actual size.    4.5 x 15.5, maybe 16?

 

We have these on the front of  Trina's 867 Pigpen which is her primary snow pusher and sees a lot of service year round. 

 

Steering traction is excellent for woods work and general rough terrain. Usable in fresh snow. 

 

Would we buy again?  Absolutely.  

 

Interwebs pic. 

 

[RED-Z06 2,473]

24x12x12 in 300 series, 2" spacer in back, tires are K9 Trencher, both are 80% loaded and tubed.

 

 

Edited December 19, 2024 by RED-Z06

[RED-Z06 2,473]

Different brand...but this is a 26x12x12 Versaturf on a narrow 8.5" rim.  Being a radial tire it still holds a pretty flat tread on the unusually narrow wheel

[oliver2-44 10,298]

I'm looking for some original turf looking tires for my 551 Suburban project.

My 400 Suburban will get ag rears and tri rib fronts. 

I think I'm going to use the Carslile Saw tooth tire on the front.

But I'm open to other suggestions

  https://www.carlstar.com/our-products/product-detail/sawtooth/

 

I would like to find an original looking turf for the rear. 

These firestones are interesting but too pricy.

anyone have any suggestion for original rear turf tires.

https://www.millertire.com/6-12-firestone-town-country-turf-4-ply/

[Handy Don 13,321]

6 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

I'm looking for

I'm content with the Sawtooth fronts on the 854 both in look and function--and the price two years ago was quite reasonable.

I have an original pair of the Silvertown “All Purpose" (NLA) copy of the Firestones that came to me unused (the nubs were still on them!) and again, I like the look and function very much.

Yes, the Firestones are pricey, but they are just the right thing for look and function. A-to-Z might well have a usable set of used ones (or Silvertowns) for a fair price, even if they need shipping.

[Handy Don 13,321]

On 12/21/2024 at 6:40 AM, oliver2-44 said:

I'm looking for some original turf looking tires for my 551 Suburban project.

My 400 Suburban will get ag rears and tri rib fronts. 

I think I'm going to use the Carslile Saw tooth tire on the front.

But I'm open to other suggestions

  https://www.carlstar.com/our-products/product-detail/sawtooth/

 

I would like to find an original looking turf for the rear. 

These firestones are interesting but too pricy.

anyone have any suggestion for original rear turf tires.

https://www.millertire.com/6-12-firestone-town-country-turf-4-ply/

 

Four tires all look in pretty good condition. And they come with a roller!

 

[oliver2-44 10,298]

This thread has mainly talked about new tires.

But I'd like to switch direction and get some comments on "Old original Tires"

I have some 1962 original turfs on rusty rims down in the farm barn.

They are like the ones on this WH 700, but from a different color tractor.

Would you remove them from the rims?

Any suggestions on how to do it gently and not tear the beads?

 

 

I also have these 1961 Silverton Ags on my 701.  The tires look in good shape, but are rock hard. The rims are rusty and needs blasting or significant mechanical cleaning. 

Any ideas as to why the tires are rock hard?  They seem a little heavy, are they possible filled with calcium chloride?

Would you risk removing they tires from the rims to clean them inside and out?

Then paint them with tire paint?

Another option would be to give them several coats of RuGlyde.  I've used this on some 1980's  work tractor tires. 

It was summer and I coated them inside and out and put sealed them in black plastic garbage bags. 

Then set them in the sun to bake.  After several applications and heat soaks they sure seemed to become more pliable

has anyone used RuGlye on restoration-Show tires?

 

[Handy Don 13,321]

I would avoid breaking the bead on any old tire if you can possibly avoid it. If you must, I’d tube them when remounting. 

Tire rubber ages and gets hard. It’s chemistry. They give up the volatile components over the years. You can restore the surface but not the deeper aging. Newer tire compounds drastically lessen this effect. 

[SylvanLakeWH 27,351]

2 hours ago, Handy Don said:

Newer tire compounds drastically lessen this effect. 

Not sure I agree on this... I would suggest that many tires, especially trailer tires, the opposite is the case...  

[RED-Z06 2,473]

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Not sure I agree on this... I would suggest that many tires, especially trailer tires, the opposite is the case...  

Newer tires are mostly nylon, they just dont last

[Handy Don 13,321]

18 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

Newer tires are mostly nylon, they just dont last

Agreeing. They don’t harden the same way but it is likely that the softer, grippier compounds wear more quickly--the chemistry uses a different kind of plasticizer.

[RED-Z06 2,473]

57 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Agreeing. They don’t harden the same way but it is likely that the softer, grippier compounds wear more quickly--the chemistry uses a different kind of plasticizer.

I get customer mowers in that are a couple years old, tires already dry rotting.

[kpinnc 13,622]

On 12/25/2024 at 9:37 PM, RED-Z06 said:

get customer mowers in that are a couple years old, tires already dry rotting.

 

The OEM tires that came on my wife's truck had to be replaced at half the miles of the warranty because of dry rot. The tires on my truck were just replaced for the same thing, at less than 10 years and 60K miles. 

 

I've seen tires from the 60s that still have no dry rot. It's sad how much new stuff sucks!

[Bill D 2,083]

On 12/25/2024 at 9:37 PM, RED-Z06 said:

I get customer mowers in that are a couple years old, tires already dry rotting.

Lemme guess, Chinese tires?

[kpinnc 13,622]

1 hour ago, Bill D said:

Lemme guess, Chinese tires?

 

Nowadays, it's pretty hard to know which is which. 

[Easton Rich 466]

Agreed.

[RED-Z06 2,473]

2 hours ago, Bill D said:

Lemme guess, Chinese tires?

Carlstar, Cheng Shin, its all the same trash.  Ive opted to mostly forego the premium brand name pricing and just get whats cheap.

[kpinnc 13,622]

14 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

Carlstar, Cheng Shin, its all the same trash.  Ive opted to mostly forego the premium brand name pricing and just get whats cheap.

 

I have to agree. What a shame. Carlisle were once some of the last produced here. 

[ebinmaine 70,494]

4 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

Carlstar, Cheng Shin, its all the same trash.  Ive opted to mostly forego the premium brand name pricing and just get whats cheap.

 

Same here. 

The last set I mentioned above,  BKT TR315,  are made all over the world. Tread looks good. 

We'll see how the lifespan is...

[RED-Z06 2,473]

Id love to order a set of 26x12x12 Firestone 23⁰ and 18x8.50-8 Vredstein V61s from miller but its like $800 shipped...for $300 i can get something similar that works just as well.

[Bill D 2,083]

I've got a set Deestone Ag tires on my 416H. They're made in Thailand.  Anything not made in China has my vote.

[kpinnc 13,622]

On 12/29/2024 at 11:31 AM, Bill D said:

I've got a set Deestone Ag tires on my 416H. They're made in Thailand.  Anything not made in China has my vote.

 

Well I knew Deestones were smaller than advertised, but I was shocked by these. 

 

The ags are Deestone 23x10.50-12 on 8.50 wide rims. 

 

The Carlisles are 23x8.00-12 on standard 7.50 rims. 

 

Very little difference... 

 

 

Edited January 13 by kpinnc