1882 Project Super Size Me! - Page 2

garydee · #11 03-21-2026, 05:35 PM

I too would advise against using 8 ply tires on a garden tractor. There are NO SPRINGS on these tractors to cushion your butt. Unless you have an air ride seat you are making a BIG mistake!

No ground surface is so smooth that you won't feel like you are being jarred with those tires. To let you know how serious this can be, I will tell you about a time when I was rolling my lawn, going this way and that to smooth it out. After a little while, I had to stop to go to the bathroom and when I did, I was peeing blood! I had to see a urologist to be treated for a damaged urethra, which was no fun, especially when the doctor shoved that cystoscope you know where to check things out.

I put no more than 10 psi in my rear tires and I now have an "air ride" seat. It consists of an old front tire tube from my tractor with a little bit of air in it to support me with my groin in the center of the tube (where the hole is) to keep the "vitals" off the seat. The tube is held on the seat under a nice Cub Cadet seat cover. I simply can't be in that seat without having the tube on it now. Since then there have been no problems!

Listen to those members on the OCC site who have more knowledge and experience than you have at this time, or you will probably be sorry before long! Experience is a great teacher that takes a considerable amount of time (and pain) to develop, as you may soon find out!!

fried · #12 03-21-2026, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garydee

I too would advise against using 8 ply tires on a garden tractor. There are NO SPRINGS on these tractors to cushion your butt. Unless you have an air ride seat you are making a BIG mistake!

No ground surface is so smooth that you won't feel like you are being jarred with those tires. To let you know how serious this can be, I will tell you about a time when I was rolling my lawn, going this way and that to smooth it out. After a little while, I had to stop to go to the bathroom and when I did, I was peeing blood! I had to see a urologist to be treated for a damaged urethra, which was no fun, especially when the doctor shoved that cystoscope you know where to check things out.

I put no more than 10 psi in my rear tires and I now have an "air ride" seat. It consists of an old front tire tube from my tractor with a little bit of air in it to support me with my groin in the center of the tube (where the hole is) to keep the "vitals" off the seat. The tube is held on the seat under a nice Cub Cadet seat cover. I simply can't be in that seat without having the tube on it now. Since then there have been no problems!

Listen to those members on the OCC site who have more knowledge and experience than you have at this time, or you will probably be sorry before long! Experience is a great teacher that takes a considerable amount of time (and pain) to develop, as you may soon find out!!

Ouch! Seems pretty serious. I ordered another tube to go in my leaking down tire turf for the time being until I regroup on this. The other is still holding air at pressure.

Oak · #13 03-22-2026, 08:54 AM

I have 8 ply Firestone 23* tires on one of my 982's that I use for plowing and I don't notice any difference in the ride. I got a super deal on them on Ebay but I did have to take them to a tire store to get mounted because I couldn't do it.