Choosing the Right Tractor Tires
When dealing with expensive components on heavy equipment it pays to know a little bit about what you’re looking for to narrow down your choices and ensure you make a purchase for something you need rather than what’s simply available in front of you. Tractor tires are quite a big expense compared to our cars and trucks, and it’s important for both your tractor’s continued function and accuracy of operation to make the right choice. At Boehm Tractor Sales, we know all the choices surrounding specific vehicle or equipment components can get out of hand when faced with the full range of choices at your disposal. Picking out the right tires for your tractor shouldn’t be any more difficult than understanding what the work you have in mind needs and what your tractor can handle. Read on for some more information about tractor tires or head into our Shiner, Texas location where we stock tires as well as the best new and used tractors around.
Types of Tractor Tires
Contemporary tractors make use of a couple basic types of tire. These tires come in ratings, starting at R-1, agricultural or farm tires are the standard for dryland farming. They’ll give you all the traction you need with sets of lugs as opposed to intricate treads. If you’re dealing with wet, mucky ground like those in rice paddies and other rather specific farming operations, R-2 offer an increased tread depth so your tractor can find ground even when in the muck. R-3 tires, or turf tires, are perfect for operation on looser ground like gravel and sand while also keeping ground impact to the minimum. R-4 are common in industrial use and offer much more traction through an interwoven tread and lug design. They also have a less harmful impact on turf, but they might be too big for many rigs. Most will be satisfied with R-1 or R-3, but if you’ve got wet land or are operating on hard ground, look for R-2 and R-4 tires respectively.
All of these tires are suitable for the rear tires, depending on your specific needs. Front tires can also come in these styles, but usually it’s best to go with front tires specifically ribbed for extra grip. Single-rib tires (F-1) are great at penetrating deep into soil for extra steering control. Three-ribbed or F-2 tires also for control but offer minimized lateral side-slip from the raised center rib. F-2M have four ribs and are best for heavy loads on hard surfaces.
Bias Ply vs. Radial
At lower speed bias ply tires are less expensive to maintain and replace than their radial counterparks. They’re extra-durable, with a sidewall resistant to damage from obstacles and debris. Though radial tires tend to be more expensive, they offer operators a smoother ride, their treads last longer (particularly on hard ground), and they won’t impact the soil or turf as harshly. They can run at lower air pressure as well, so that can save on fuel and improve efficiency.
Load Rating
Type and rating don’t matter if you don’t have your load requirements satisfied. Without a high enough load rating, your tractor tires won’t be able to efficiently operate. Overweight vehicles will either burn fuel at increased rate or else lead to equipment that simply won’t function. Load ratings designate the maximum tire pressure measured in PSI. These ratings come in stars and generally show up after the width and diameter ratings. The ratings are as follows: 1-star have a maximum of 18 psi, 2-star have a 24 psi maximum, and 3-star have 30 psi maximums. Those psi numbers combined with tire size determine total capacity.
Knowing the basics of heavy duty tires can help you get the right ones for your tractor. As long as you know what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to narrow down the choices and decide on the perfect match. For more tractor tire trips, or if you’re simply interested in checking out our stock of new and used tractors, head into Boehm Tractor Sales in Shiner, Texas, where we proudly serve Victoria, Seguin, New Braunfels, Columbus, and the greater Austin area. Head in today and have a chat with our team of experts who’re more than eager to answer all your questions and help you find what you’re looking for.