Tire recommendations

MFP8055 · #1 08-25-2009, 01:46 PM

As work on my 1650 continues, I need to think about tires. The front ribbed tires are completely shot, so turf or multi-track tires will go on. The rears have a lot of tread but no traction. My 1610 will walk up hills the 1650 can't move on. I'm considering ag (V bar tread) tires since I want to plow snow (with chains) this winter. I've also noticed that they show up in the photos of many forum member's machines. Any good reason not to go with ags?

Matt G. · #2 08-25-2009, 01:56 PM

If you want to plow snow, keep the turfs and add fluid, weights and chains for the winter. Turfs and chains are the only way to go in snow and ice. Chains will fall into the gaps between the lugs in lug tires. Some weight will help the turfs a lot.

MFP8055 · #3 08-26-2009, 10:23 AM

I wondered about the spacing of the lugs and chains. Years ago I plowed the driveway with an old Farmall that had chains and it did pretty well. A much bigger wheel diameter though. On another topic, can you give me some specifics on the fluids used to add weight to tires? How is it added?

Matt G. · #4 08-26-2009, 10:43 AM

Windshield washer fluid is the cheapest, and RV-antifreeze works too. Rim guard is more expensive but works too. Don't ever use calcium chloride. The RV antifreeze is good if you're worried about losing a bunch of it in the yard if you have an accident as it won't kill animals. I avoid this problem by putting fluid only in tubed tires. There's another thread in here that people were sharing their various methods of filling tires. I use this contraption I made out of some PVC pipe that I fill with fluid and push into the tire with compressed air.

MFP8055 · #5 08-27-2009, 11:08 AM

I like the fluid idea. At about 8 lbs./gal. you can put a good deal of mass where it's needed. I didn't see your filling device though, and it's not on your web page. Getting back to the thread topic, has anyone else used lug (agricultural) tires with chains? I'm still on the fence here, and can see where ags would be useful during the summer months. The price difference from my source is only $10/tire.

Matt G. · #6 08-27-2009, 11:14 AM

I'll have to draw it in 3D CAD since I don't have any pictures of it.

Here's a thought...pick up an extra set of rims and get ags for the extra set...that way you'll have turfs with chains and then ags to use in the non-winter months. That's what I do. My dad has chains on his Farmall B with lug tires, and they fall between the lugs. They help a bit, but nowhere near as much as if they were on turf tires.

MFP8055 · #7 08-27-2009, 11:36 AM

That's good idea if I had a good set of turf tires. The original rubber on the tractor has a very linear tread pattern and I can't move up-hill very well on grass. Turf tires would be an improvement, and ags even better. Putting chains on the "slicks' that I have now would do the job for plowing. Extra rims with ags would be good for the summer. I was hoping the ags would be good year round since I don't want to dump more money into extra rims. Still need to think this through.

Matt G. · #8 08-27-2009, 01:53 PM

If you know where to look, rims are cheap...I rarely pay more than like $10 a pair. Sometimes you just have to wait.

In the meantime, you could fill your turf tires with fluid. No unfilled turf tire is gonna go up a hill of wet grass.