Replacing tires on a Wheelhorse 520H

[tom2p 2,394]

35 minutes ago, JCM said:

In the 30 plus years I have been playing around with WheelHorse tractors I have only had to buy tires twice and went to a dealer to have them done. I did my own tires on dirt bikes for many years with tire irons and I would rather do what I do for a living and pay a  shop to do them , pick them up when ready and install them back on the tractor. JMO

one guy we rode with was an ISDE rider - and fixing flat tires is a big part of off road riding and especially ISDE 

 

so he changed a lot of tires including our tires - and usually with a stop watch running 

 

worked for me !

 

 

( btw - I use motorcycle tire irons to change tractor tires )

 

Edited April 21, 2020 by tom2p

[JCM 9,130]

@Lee1977    That is the exact tractor that was sitting next to the 312-8 that I bought in 1989, Could not come up with the extra coin to drive that out of the showroom.

[tom2p 2,394]

Carlisle Turf Master and Hi Run tires in 23 x 10.50 - 12 size are available for around $70 per tire at Wal Mart (on line) 

 

that price includes shipping 

( the Carlisle tires are currently marked down from $94 )

 

Edited April 21, 2020 by tom2p

[WHX?? 48,776]

20 minutes ago, Achto said:

 Some places in our area get a little funny if you didn't buy the tires from them 

Excellent advice Dan .. in shopping for trailer tires I came across this.

More advise here Dive if this is a one time deal and you don't have the tools or expertise to DIY  find a tire you want & take the info to a local tire shop and ask if they can help you out. If they can't  get you the tire you want be up front and ask them if you supply the tire what they would want to change them out. 

Many of us here change GT  tires like our underwear so it's our second nature to figure we are going to shop online and DIY. Maybe not so for others tho. 

I picked up these heavy six ply skid steer tires for a build for the princely sum of basically free. Since I didn't have the changer at the time to do them myself at the time I took them to a tire shop for mounting which they did for twenty bucks. I wouldn't have gotten out of bed for that.  

[SylvanLakeWH 25,490]

4 minutes ago, WHX24 said:

 

Many of us here change GT  tires like our underwear so it's our second nature to figure we are going to shop online and DIY. Maybe not so for others tho. 

 

 

 

 but,

So... @WHX24 You change your ...tires?...or underwear - Like what... every twenty years or so? 

 

 

[WHX?? 48,776]

Going  again here Sylvia but let's just say I change them more than some Michiganders  we know..... no names mentioned here... he just changes them inside out... 

Edited April 21, 2020 by WHX24

[Lee1977 6,642]

1 hour ago, JCM said:

@Lee1977    That is the exact tractor that was sitting next to the 312-8 that I bought in 1989, Could not come up with the extra coin to drive that out of the showroom.

I bought it last March from a guy that picked it up at an estate sale. I gave $1000  for for it put a new set of tires fixed the electrical Added an electrical fuel pump. Clean it up put Agriguard on the rusted areas spot  painted  a few places. Here is a picture of when I brought it home. Just could not stand those rounded two ply tires.

 

[tom2p 2,394]

24 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

I bought it last March from a guy that picked it up at an estate sale. I gave $1000  for for it put a new set of tires fixed the electrical Added an electrical fuel pump. Clean it up put Agriguard on the rusted areas spot  painted  a few places. Here is a picture of when I brought it home. Just could not stand those rounded two ply tires.

 

the rounded 2-ply tires are wimpy - but they ride like you are on pillows  lol 

 

[ebinmaine 67,271]

6 hours ago, tom2p said:

Carlisle Turf Master and Hi Run tires in 23 x 10.50 - 12 size are available for around $70 per tire at Wal Mart (on line) 

 

that price includes shipping 

( the Carlisle tires are currently marked down from $94 )

 

 

 

That's the way I'd go right there.

 

 

We have a HF manual changer.

I definitely recommend them.

 

If you buy one be SURE to bolt it to the floor.

 

If you were a little closer we could help you out.

 

 

Make a few calls and ask who charges what. Wally world may mount them.

 

 

 

 

[JCM 9,130]

@Lee1977       Good deal. My Dealer had the 89   520- H  Priced at $  4000.00  and a 42'' SD deck for $ 700.00 . For an additional $ 1700.00  you could have the ultimate snow remover, the  44''  two stage with a set of rear wheel weights.

[AHS 1,439]

8 hours ago, JCM said:

In the 30 plus years I have been playing around with WheelHorse tractors I have only had to buy tires twice and went to a dealer to have them done. I did my own tires on dirt bikes for many years with tire irons and I would rather do what I do for a living and pay a  shop to do them , pick them up when ready and install them back on the tractor. JMO

Just bring em to a tire place and save yourself the headache! 😁👍

[WVHillbilly520H 10,373]

I'm gonna throw out a different brand here OTR (OE supplier for Kubota) so... The rears are OTR Lawn Trac R1 (AG) 23x10.50-12 or if you want to stay with turf OTR Grassmaster same size for the rear 16x7.50-8 front I also have my snow chucker set with the R1s on the front. I run the rear tires fluid filled plus iron weights for improved stability and traction and I don't tear my grass up only when spinning out with OLD age hardened turf tires that would bite. Also the Kenda turfs were OE on the xi series so decent tire as well I wouldn't put anything heavier than a 4 ply back on as the 6 ply do not "flex" and therefore reduce traction IMHO.

Edited April 21, 2020 by WVHillbilly520H

[Lee1977 6,642]

Just for your information I did get a deal on the tires gave $258.36  for 2 - 24 x 950 x 12 and 2- 18 x 650 x 8  Carlisle Turf Masters 4 ply this was on 3/18/2019.  I just checked Midwest Traction's prices the same tires now are $260.74.

Edited April 21, 2020 by Lee1977

[Divemaster2000 13]

I am really debating myself on some "ag-lite" tires.  I say that because they are a shallower tread then what I consider a true ag tire.

 

Lee- those tires are slightly different sizes than stock.  Why did you go with those?

 

That tire changing tool looks interesting.  I just might get one of those.

 

I wish I had the ground breaking attachments some of you do- and, the snow blower.  Ah, well.

 

I am going to try to paste some tire photos here to show the current situation.  I am going to do a separate post.

 

 

 

[Divemaster2000 13]

[Divemaster2000 13]

Please let me know if these are visible, and clear enough.

 

There's plenty of tread, but the rubber is deteriorating.

 

[ebinmaine 67,271]

That top picture shows your sidewall issues very clearly.

[Lee1977 6,642]

51 minutes ago, Divemaster2000 said:

I am really debating myself on some "ag-lite" tires.  I say that because they are a shallower tread then what I consider a true ag tire.

 

Lee- those tires are slightly different sizes than stock.  Why did you go with those?

 

That tire changing tool looks interesting.  I just might get one of those.

 

I wish I had the ground breaking attachments some of you do- and, the snow blower.  Ah, well.

 

I am going to try to paste some tire photos here to show the current situation.  I am going to do a separate post.

 

 

 

I wanted taller tires and my 520 is an early model with the standard Wheel Horse axle and the 7x12 rear rims. I put 400 x 8 Triribs on my 312-8 and it made the steering much easier so i went with the 650 on front of the 520 didn't want the steering any harder.

The 24's and 18's  make it a little tighter when sliding a 48" deck under it but it's not much more difficult then my C-120 with 23's and 16's.

 

Edited April 21, 2020 by Lee1977

[chalupaalien 0]

21 hours ago, Sparky said:

I always recommend these...Carlisle All Trails...best of both worlds  .

 

 

What size are those?  Did you get wider rims as well?  Considering these for my 314-8 but still want to be able to fit chains and think the 10.5 may be too wide for me.

[ebinmaine 67,271]

3 minutes ago, chalupaalien said:

 

What size are those?  Did you get wider rims as well?  Considering these for my 314-8 but still want to be able to fit chains and think the 10.5 may be too wide for me.

 

@Sparky will be along to tell you what he did to his particular tractor.

I did put 10.5 wide tires on my 74 c-160. Cinnamon horse.

I put aluminum wheel spacers inside to space the rims out so the chains would clear the brakes.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,300]

23 minutes ago, chalupaalien said:

 

What size are those?  Did you get wider rims as well?  Considering these for my 314-8 but still want to be able to fit chains and think the 10.5 may be too wide for me.

  Those tires at 23-10.5-12’s. I bought a pair of the 8.5” wide rims like come on the 520’s and the GT-1800’s. I keep the air pressure lowish and have 25# inner weights and 50# outer weights so I can skip tires chains. 
  Very happy with these tires! 

[Oldskool 6,640]

On 4/20/2020 at 6:26 PM, Divemaster2000 said:

Hi! 

 

Greetings from Maine.

 

In searching for information on replacement tires on my 520H (it has original tires,  now weather cracked, about 30 years old on it) I found this forum.

 

I found some older threads, but nothing newer, so wanted to ask for input.  I am looking for inexpensive but decent quality tires all the way around.  I am debating on going with turf tires, as it has, or possibly going with 'ag' style tires on the rear, and 'ribbed' tires on front.

 

My mowing includes lawn around the house, but also around some apple trees (not really an orchard, yet), and occasionally mowing down some raspberry bushes.  So, I am not sure the ag tires are needed, but they do look good.   But, I don't want to tear up our lawn...

 

I would appreciate your time.

 

Thanks, and have a great day!

 

Bob

Greetings to a Mainah from a Mainah. Depending on rim size maybe an ATV tire will get you want you need

[Divemaster2000 13]

I was thinking of going with two sets of rear wheels- one turf, one ag.  That's why I asked what other wheels would fit on the 520H.  I was thinking same size tires.

 

But, now that I know about the 'dual purpose' trail type tire, I am considering just getting a pair of those for the rear.

 

For the front, the turf tires are OK, but I am liking the ribbed tires. So, I will be pricing out the different options.

 

 

edit:  How much can variation can the wheels accept in tires?  I'm not planning on going larger, but I have seen some note that they used a narrower tire (6.5 instead of 7.5, for example.)

 

Edited April 27, 2020 by Divemaster2000
thought of more questions

[ebinmaine 67,271]

7 hours ago, Divemaster2000 said:

variation

Going wider is risky because sometimes you will not have enough room without rubbing tractor components like brakes on the rear or spindles on the front.

 

An inch narrower shouldn't be an issue.

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,271]

I'd highly recommend getting whatever tires you buy fluid filled.

Increase in traction is excellent.