Tri Rib Tires

[8ntruck 6,991]

I am considering installing tri rib tires on the front of my C195.  Current tires are 18 6.50x8 turf savers.

 

Initial search suggests that an 18" tri rib would be happier on a 3 or 4 inch wide rim instead of the 6.5 rims I currently have..

 

If you have used tri ribs on your tractor, please pass on your reccomendations for tire and rim sizes.

 

I suppose this might be an opportunity to consider converting to trailer hubs and wheels as well......

[Pullstart 62,809]

Why tri ribs Bill?  What about 5 or 6 ribs?  The 4-8 tri-ribs on Putt Putt are amazing… but I’d imagine having a wider contact patch on twice the machine wouldn’t be so bad.

[Thor27 767]

 

The V61 5 ribs and ME Miller's wide "fire$tone" tri ribs both come in 18x8.50-8.  If you are wanting a traditional skinny tri rib at that height you will probably have to go up to a 10" wheel and a 4.80-10 and I think that may be a tad shy. but a 4.80-12 is huge.

 

both of those options have you buying wheels, so a good time to do trailer hubs.... imho

[Lee1977 6,648]

The 400 x 8" are only are only 16.4" tall might be a little small on a C-195. I got mine from Greater Cleveland Tire. They look good on my 312-8 I used 3" wide rims.

 

[8ntruck 6,991]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

Why tri ribs Bill?  What about 5 or 6 ribs?  The 4-8 tri-ribs on Putt Putt are amazing… but I’d imagine having a wider contact patch on twice the machine wouldn’t be so bad.

Why tri ribs?  The tractor seems to have an under steer issue.  That just might be caused by the old dried out tread on the turf savers currently on it.  Kind of aggravating when manuvering that large beast in tight areas, though.  I figure a rib type tire would help turn the beast.  The front tires are heavily ozone checked and need to be replaced, so might as well try to improve the machine when I do make the replacement.

[ebinmaine 67,317]

4 hours ago, Thor27 said:

 

The V61 5 ribs and ME Miller's wide "fire$tone" tri ribs both come in 18x8.50-8.  If you are wanting a traditional skinny tri rib at that height you will probably have to go up to a 10" wheel and a 4.80-10 and I think that may be a tad shy. but a 4.80-12 is huge.

 

both of those options have you buying wheels, so a good time to do trailer hubs.... imho

 

Just as a size reference I've got either 4.00 or 4.80/12 on the front of my big wheel project. They're about 21.5, 22" tall. 

Tractor will sit 1.5"  (or less) higher in the front. 

The only issue I'd see there is resetting a mowing deck. 

 

If you go to 12" wheels you can use trailer wheels which can be found dirt cheap. 

 

[littleredrider 409]

I have the tri ribs on my 520-8. Uses stock wheels. I have the steering reduction, but it turns effortlessly. Never measured but looks to be same height as the originals. I also have the Vredesteins 5-6 rib whatever they are on the other 520, and with the steering reduction as well, steers easy. If your gonna have alot of weight on the front, loader, 2-stage, whatever, then might look into the 5 rib. They won't sink into the ground, have more flotation. The tri ribs on ride on the center, so in soft ground or alot of weight, they will sink in. But will only go so far, the rib height is about an inch or so....

[slim67 2,735]

10 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

I am considering installing tri rib tires on the front of my C195.  Current tires are 18 6.50x8 turf savers.

 

Initial search suggests that an 18" tri rib would be happier on a 3 or 4 inch wide rim instead of the 6.5 rims I currently have..

 

If you have used tri ribs on your tractor, please pass on your reccomendations for tire and rim sizes.

 

I suppose this might be an opportunity to consider converting to trailer hubs and wheels as well......

Are they 16 or 18?  Usual tire sizes are 16x6.50-8 and 18 x8.50-8. I went with the same wheels my old tires were on.

[Thor27 767]

One thing worth mentioning is all trailer hubs and wheels don't play well together, at least in the 8" world. I bought golf cart wheels for my 18x8.5-8s cause they were cheap, the 0 offset won't work as it hits the steering knuckle (520 axle). The spacers I bought wouldn't fit over the center of the hubs so I had to bore them. 12mm studs don't work for a wheel made for 7/16 or 1/2" studs.

[ebinmaine 67,317]

14 minutes ago, Thor27 said:

One thing worth mentioning is all trailer hubs and wheels don't play well together, at least in the 8" world. I bought golf cart wheels for my 18x8.5-8s cause they were cheap, the 0 offset won't work as it hits the steering knuckle (520 axle). The spacers I bought wouldn't fit over the center of the hubs so I had to bore them. 12mm studs don't work for a wheel made for 7/16 or 1/2" studs.

All good info there. Thanks for posting.  

[slim67 2,735]

1 hour ago, Thor27 said:

One thing worth mentioning is all trailer hubs and wheels don't play well together, at least in the 8" world. I bought golf cart wheels for my 18x8.5-8s cause they were cheap, the 0 offset won't work as it hits the steering knuckle (520 axle). The spacers I bought wouldn't fit over the center of the hubs so I had to bore them. 12mm studs don't work for a wheel made for 7/16 or 1/2" studs.

Did you happen to look at the negative offset wheels? I used 5/3 offsets when I did lifted golf carts.

[RED-Z06 2,220]

I just put Vredstein 5 ribs on 6" wheels and intend to put the 18/8.50 on my 416...im very happy with the tires.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

18 hours ago, Lee1977 said:

Greater Cleveland Tire

Dat's where I get all of mine.

 

Fair people.

 

Don

[Andy N. 2,136]

This past fall I put tri ribs on my 520-H and V61's on my 418-A. All purchased from Miller Tire. Both work great for, but the tri ribs do tend to leave marks in the lawn when I make sharp turns. Tri ribs are tubeless. V61's have tubes.

 

 

 

 

I got to use the 418-A the other night plowing snow and they worked much better in my "U" shaped driveway pushing wet heavy snow around the turn. We are supposed to get 8" of snow this weekend which will hopefully give me a chance to use the 520-H with the single stage blower.

 

 

 

 

[kpinnc 11,934]

I have those same tri ribs on my Bronco. They are pricey, but make the tractor drive like it has power steering, even with more than 100lbs of suitcase weights up front. 

 

I may not buy another set due to the cost, but they are excellent tires!

 

 

[RED-Z06 2,220]

Fwiw i installed my V61s with no tubes in...frankly, sketchy rusted but clean wheels.  No leaks yet

[jeepdan 321]

2 hours ago, kpinnc said:

I have those same tri ribs on my Bronco. They are pricey, but make the tractor drive like it has power steering, even with more than 100lbs of suitcase weights up front. 

 

I may not buy another set due to the cost, but they are excellent tires!

 

 

Those look nice. What size tire and brand are those?

 What size wheel?

 

Edited December 31, 2021 by jeepdan

[kpinnc 11,934]

28 minutes ago, jeepdan said:

Those look nice. What size tire and brand are those?

 What size wheel?

 

Firestone 16x6.50-8. 

[Stormin 9,981]

  I have tri ribs on the Black Horse. That is set up for ploughing with narrow tyres on the rear. Sit in the furrow better. On hard ground the steering is a lot lighter.

 

 

 

 My C-125 which is my mowing tractor has trailer tyres on the front on trailer wheels and hubs. The trailer tyres don't mark the ground like tri ribs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[8ntruck 6,991]

Thanks for the input, folks.  

 

Think I'll go with V61 5 rib tires.  The 18" size, tubed and filled.  I'll see how well the stock wheels clean up and probably will use canvas white to repaint them.

[6wheeler 603]

On 12/29/2021 at 11:09 PM, 8ntruck said:

I am considering installing tri rib tires on the front of my C195.  Current tires are 18 6.50x8 turf savers.

 

Initial search suggests that an 18" tri rib would be happier on a 3 or 4 inch wide rim instead of the 6.5 rims I currently have..

 

If you have used tri ribs on your tractor, please pass on your reccomendations for tire and rim sizes.

 

I suppose this might be an opportunity to consider converting to trailer hubs and wheels as well......

These are 4.00- 8's that I put on my D-250. They are a bit smaller. But? No problem. I like them for plowing. I put tubes in to push the sidewalls out to the factory rims. Works for me.

[JohnnyO 9]

Thanks for the suggestions from each member who answered me. As stated, I researched the "transmission fluids, viscosity, all that and discovered that some people have stated that straight STP was used in their heavy, construction equipment, as well as other additives. I didn't see anything about straight "automobile motor oil"...so the 1/4 STP I added to my old C-101 should be okay for my use. I do have a question I'd appreciate response to:

16 x 650 -8's turfs are on the 101 presently. Will be using it basically for snow plowing a flat, concrete driveway. Much of the drive is newer concrete and I hate to use chains on it. Have lug rears (Carlisle's) and wheel horse weights. The TURF TIRES are a bear to turn with the front blade on. Turfs "slide" in the snow under effort left or right. I cannot find anywhere, looked extensively, for 3-ribs for my front wheels. They are sold out..everywhere. I CAN GET the five ribs. So my quesiton is this please, anyone? Are the five ribs fairly decent in the snow? (At least better than the turfs?) and Secondly, does any one know or have experience between turfs, and the five rib front tires as to "easier turning" than the turfs with a blade up front? I can get the five ribs a couple of places. There's the V6l I think, and also other places as well. Appreciate someone's help or advice as to this. 

Edited January 16 by JohnnyO
added info..I forgot to ask if the 5-rib fronts whould be better in snow than the 3 rib? Thanks.

[JohnnyO 9]

The 101's rear was complete drained of the "original" flushed out, and filled with heavy weight rear oil, 3/4 full, rest with STP, finger in the fill hole to the first knuckle, then closed.

[oliver2-44 9,710]

24 minutes ago, JohnnyO said:

The 101's rear was complete drained of the "original" flushed out, and filled with heavy weight rear oil, 3/4 full, rest with STP, finger in the fill hole to the first knuckle, then closed.

@JohnnyO That transmission is significantly over filled. It only needs 2 quarts. I suspect you will have gear oil being slung out under the shifter boot. 
Also this is a year old post. You would get the best replies if you started a new post of your own. 
 

Lots of helpful info here, just trying to steer you to the best results to your questions. 

Edited January 16 by oliver2-44

[JohnnyO 9]

Sorry, if I have sent my message to the wrong forum? or subject? I'm new to this site, although I read a LOT of good advice from it. No, I did not overfill the transmission..I appreciate the advice concerning that. I will try another way, to discuss the "3 rib vs. the V61...fronts for my 101...I appreciate your time answering.