Need advice on new tires for my M48 Tank
 

Hi everyone, I'm very excited to find this forum! I'm a new Cub Cadet owner, picked up a used M48 Tank a couple weeks ago. It's a 2008 with ~410 hours, model 53CB5DAV750.

I've used it to mow my two acres twice. Very little of my space is exactly flat, and my rear tires are both mis-matched and worn, so I slid around a bit. I've been reading about how to mow on slight slopes, what tires are best, etc.

Based on that research it sounds like I want to put some good ag tires on the back, and possibly even fill them with antifreeze depending on how things feel.

So here's my dilemna... My parts manual shows 23x9.50x12 tires, and that's what's on my Cub. I cannot find any place selling ag tires that size, only 8.5 or 10.5.

So my questions:

1. Anybody know where I can find a 23x9.50 ag tire?

2. Can I go to the 10.5" tires? I do not have 1/2" of clearance between the inside of the current tire and the lift assembly rod (? I think that's what it's called) going back on the left side. I'm afraid a wider tire would not fit and would rub on that rod or arm.

3. Can I go to the 8.5" tires? From my research it seems I would be at greater risk over losing my seal, plus I'm going the wrong direction to improve traction.

Thanks for any insight or advice. I can post a picture or two if that helps.

Kip

First, welcome to OCC......... :Welcome2:

Click on this link for Tire Sources.... Tires

How about some pictures of your present tires and the clearances you have..

:TTWWP:

I put 23x10.50's on my tank. There is no issue with clearance, you will be fine. Ags tend to want to slip sideways also. I think you will be better served with a tire that has more aggressive tread for an ATV. I'll see if I can find a pic of what I have in mind.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps3e16418e.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...psdc6c4ed1.jpg

My property is flat. My need was to be able to get thru mud in the rainy season. With hilly terrain I would use something like the link below.

http://www.everythingcarts.com/p-313...FQwvaQodwA8ALw

Attachment 65024

First, thank you for the replies. I'm going to attempt to add pictures. The first is of the back. Yes, it's a bit beat up. The previous owner clearly didn't have the pride in his Cub I have. I'll be welding a new bracket on the frame and painting.

The second is my right rear tire with a tape measure so the 9.5" tire is clearly measured and shown.

The last two are the right and left rear tires, respectively, from the top front. Again with a tape measure, showing very, very little clearance between the tire and what I believe to be the brake lines.

Again, I'm a new owner of both a Cub and a lawn machine of any kind. I aimed high :)

I'm grateful for any insight or advice on how 10.5" tire might or might not work on this model, and any treads for a hilly, sort of side sloping lot.

Thanks,
Kip

Maybe those turns in the brake lines give me enough clearance to add 1/2" on this inside without a problem? I'm reluctant to spend the money for 10.5" tires and mount them only to have them too wide.

What about using some spacers or wheels with a different offset? Can you post some pics from the side?

Here are some side pics. So you're saying I might be able to go to 10.5" with new tires *and* wheels? Have to admit, I'm in new territory here so will have to get educated.

Ran into another issue today, should probably post a separate thread, but I'll start here.

Was checking level on the deck. My front left was low by 1/2." I tightened it up all the way and it's still about 3/8" lower than the front right. Then in the pitch I tightened up the back right all the way but it's still 1/8" lower than the front right. I know the front right is fixed but I'm not having any success adjusting to it.

I see no problem on going wider as long as you move the wheel outboard. Worst case is that you'll need some custom spacers. I don't know of anyone doing wider wheels for the 4 bolt wheels. I will do some digging around and see what I can come up with.

I'm thinking something like this but for your bolt pattern should work to move the wheel outward about 1" and that would allow you to install a wider tire. :bigthink:

Seeing the side pics of your Tank answered my question of why they wouldn't fit. My brake rods are located inside the frame and yours are located outside. I can see where your's would be much easier to adjust like that than mine. I learned something there. I didn't know they had made that change.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps2ce1d91a.jpg

Nice looking Cub!

Mine was not as well kept by the previous owner. At some point I'm going to get some 'Cub black' and repaint my rear fender. I need to have a piece of flat iron bent and welded on to recreate the angle bracket on the left rear, so I'll paint after that. Than I can add the hitch plate. I also plan to repaint the floor panel.

Actually it hasn't run right the last two times I've mowed. It'll go for a bit then dies and the only way I can keep it running to get back to the garage is full choke and closed throttle. The first time I used an air compressor and put pressure in the tank, that seemed to clear things out and it ran another hour that day and almost two today before the same issue returned.

Not sure if that's a fuel line, fuel pump or carburetor issue. I thinking to take it to the local service center for a once over, something I probably should have done before plunking down the cash off Craigslist. I'll bet they can figure out why I can't get my deck level. Then maybe they can help me with wheel spacers and mount some ATV tires, too :) Good thing I saved a bundle buying used...

Starting with the first residential cub zero turn my parents bought probably 15+ years ago any zero turn we have used has gone no more then 2 cuttings with turf tires. we put the lugged ag tires on all of them. The do way less damage to the grass and the mower doesn't slide sideways. Between my dad and I we have owned 4 zero turns, with the most recent finally stepping into a light commercial (bobcat) supposedly the bobcat turf tires were to be an improvement and he wouldn't slide. This was not the case. after mowing once, there are now ag tires on it. I would like to try atv tires, but I know the ag tires work great

Thanks, Sam Mac. Looks like my bolt pattern is 4x4" or maybe 4x102mm. So far no luck on Google searches for anything that size, everything is bigger. I'll keep digging, and keep digging for 9.5" tires that might be better on hills.

I need an odd size, one I haven't found in my online searching. 4x4. Four lugs, 4" between them, then maybe 1/2" at most thick. I know a couple places I could get them machined for a price... any advice or sources to share?

First off...:Welcome2:. My apologies for being a bit tardy with that.

In the picture that DX3 posted of his machine, it looks like the wheels are of the lug nut-pilot type and not hub-piloted. If that is the case, could you make a simple spacer from a piece of plate with the bolt pattern you need? And, if the wheels are indeed lug nut piloted, the holes wouldn't need to be super precise in regards to size and position - plate flatness would be your biggest concern. Longer wheel studs should be an easy find as well.

Again, welcome to the group!

Thanks, litlmikeyl. I need to find a machinist then, or at least a machine shop for the plates. Solid advice :)

I'm really eager to get some new, better tires on my Tank and frustrated it's turning out to be such a challenge. Ah well, 'no hill for a climber' as my Dad used to say. I'll keep after it.

Try searching for wheel spacers for golf carts, most every golf cart has a 4x4 bolt pattern and there is a huge aftermarket available for the customization of carts. Oversize tires, wheels, and lift kits often require offset wheels or spacers to provide extra clearance. You could also search for spacers to fit older British sports cars like Austin Healy Sprite or MG Midget, they also run a 4x4 pattern. I recently purchased some 1" spacers at the Carlisle swap meet for a Healey race car.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Golf-Cart-Wh...-/371314628899

Group 44, thanks! That did the trick.

All sorts of 4.4 spacers. I need to learn some more about 'hub fit' and exact sizing and installation but I'm eager to figure this out.

Photos in a couple weeks with my new tires :)

Like litlmikeyl stated you shouldn't have to worry about the hub fit as long as the hole in the center of the spacer is big enough to clear the center of the hub( usually not a problem). The wheel on your machine is mounted with tapered seat lugs and is centered on the studs, not the hub, the adaptor or spacer doesn't have to be hubcentric (centered on the hub). I prefer the machined adaptors with the studs already installed, it is much less work to install and you don't have to hunt for longer studs the will fit you existing hubs without modification. It will also save you looking for wheels with an oddball offset, a 1" thick spacer/adaptor should let you mount a bigger tire without having to worry about ant clearance problems.

OK, got some spacers and lug tires on their way. Stay tuned for photos after the install...

You may want to think about loading the tires also. You can probably get 7 or 8 gals in each one.