Best all around rear tire?

[bigcountry]

Well as many of you have read, I bought a nice Big Ten today. The rear tires are in diar need of replacement, and I have been debating ag treads vs. turf for it. It will not be my primary mower for my business in the summer (the backup mower to my Honda HT-3813), but will be used with the snowblade and the snow blower (if we ever get enough to justify using them). The Southern Farm Show is coming to town this coming week, and they usually have good deals on tires there, (i.e. $20-35/ea.), so I'm trying to determine the best setup for tires. I know the ag treads will tear up turf, but are there any "turf friendly" ag treads? Also are there any turf tires aggressive enough to be effective in mud and snow? Basically I'm looking for a good compromise on tires, good traction in winter and wet weather, and good turf manners during the times I mow with it.

[MarkM1958]

I'd get the turf tires first and be looking for a second set of wheels for for some loaded AG tires!

[maxtorman1234]

Overall, i'm very happy with my 8.5" firestone ag tires. they are good in mud and snow, and aren't too bad on the lawn. If you spin though, they still tear ground up quick.

[Chris727]

I agree with Mark, If you can get both. Turf tires will serve you well if you have chains for the snow and ice. AG tires are good for situations in which you need lots of traction like pulling a one bottom plow. I had Goodyear AG tires on a Sears Suburban I used to cut my field with last fall. It never tore up the yard and I hadn't had any big slippage problems, though they are 30 years old and the lugs are pretty worn. I liked them much better than my turf tires.

[D-17_Dave]

I've got a set of ag's on my HB212. They are the extra wide tires with a thin cleat. They do very well at not marking the turf with the extra footprint, and have more than enough traction should I need to dig a little. Last year in the 12" of snow with some weight added it pushed the snowblower around with ease. I find them a very good all year tire. I'll try to snap a pic and get some #'s tomorrow.

[RayS]

Personally I prefer turf tires and Tires Unlimited http://tires.truffle.donet.com/default.htm has excellent deals on them. I also see that they have a wider varity of turf and AG tires than they did a month ago. Some months they even have free shipping.

[wantedinct]

I run a/g's front and rear year round. I use the 2210 for mowing, and filling in that hole in my yard, i found as long as im easy on starting off (when mowing) the a/g's work fine, there are a couple of spots(hills) in the yard were i use to get stuck when i had the turf tires, they didnt really rip the spot up,they would just spin, and i would have to start shifting my weight around on the seat to eventually get out. Now with the a/g's i just go right up them, and the tires dont even spin. So now i go from mowing this....

To fillin this...

Personally i prefer the a/g's, but thats just my opinion.

[comet66]

Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. If useing on a customers' property, turfs won't tear up the lawn in summer, and in snow ags won't mark paved surfaces like chains will. I guess you decide the principle use of the machine, and buy acordingly. Then when used for something else, try to be careful not to mess up the customers property.

[ehertzfeld]

Hey Eric, the lawn is beautiful! I should have you come to my house to teach me how to get my lawn looking like that! lol Great pic's BTW how meny bucket loads do you think it will take to fill that in? lol Elon

[Rob-B]

I would also pick turf tires. If you want to get the best traction out of a turf tire, first look for one with a low ply rating. perferable one with a rating of 2 or 4. They'll "clean" out much easier too. Rob

[firefoxz1]

I think you said it in your post. It will not be a primary mower so I would go with the AG's for now and pick up a second set of wheels when a deal comes along, plus AG's don't really dig up a lawn unless it's really soft.

[Ronald Hribar]

I know it is a different subject. But how is the Honda coming along?

[oots]

I agree with comet, it depends on what you are going to use it mainley for.

[bigcountry]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ronald Hribar
I know it is a different subject. But how is the Honda coming along?

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I'm still hunting for a starter for it. As far as I know thats all it needs before I can put it to work as well as putting it all back together. As of 5pm yesterday, my fleet now consists of: 1966 AC Big 10 with the blade, rotary snowplow, and 42" mower (taking the place of a 1984 Murray 11/36) 1999 John Deere GT-235 18hp Vanguard/54" deck 1969 John Deere 140 H1 with the K-321 Kohler w/ matching JD #50 dump cart 1987 Honda HT-3813 13hp Inline-2 Liquid Cooled/38" deck (in need of a starter)

[bigcountry]

Any recommendations on brands of ag tires?

[Chris727]

I bought two kinds of Carlisles not long ago but haven't mounted them yet. A Carlisle tire would be the easiest to find. The 10.5 Super lug is a nice looking tire. The 8.5 Carlsile is good tire but only available in two ply, its tread is a little different from the Super Lug. I've been told you could mount the 10.5's on the standard rims, which I think are 7" wide? There are only a few other brands I've found such as Deestone, and Nanco. Graham has firestones. Not sure where you can find them. I also wouldn't recommend anything bigger than 4 ply. You will get a rougher ride and maybe less traction with the thicker sidewalls.

[rokon2813]

Any Firestone dealer can order them for you if you can talk them into it. And yes you can mount a 10.5 on a 7" rim. In fact you can mount 12's on a 7 if you really want to. If you want the best turf tires you can get, what you need to look for is tread that is nearly straight across, and smaller knobs or treads. Along with everything stated above, ie lower ply ratings, softer rubber compounds also do better.

[bigcountry]

What is the standard wheel size for the Big 10?

[rokon2813]

standard wheels should be 7" x 12" standard tires were 23 x 8.50 x 12. If it was ordered with 23 x 10.50 x 12 its possible it may have 8" wheels on it.

[bigcountry]

Thanks for the info rokon, will sure come in handy. Seeing that the tractor itself does not have the extra options such as head lights, electro/hydraulic lift, hi/lo range gear box, and all that other stuff, I'm guessing mine has the 23/8.50/12's.

[HubbardRA]

Carlisle, Nankang and Dico all make good tires from what I have seen. Hard to tell them apart, since the Nankang and Dico tires are basically Carlisle clones.

[bigcountry]

Are the wheels on the Big 10 reversible to widen the track of it?

[Chris727]

Your tire size should be marked on the side of the tire. And the wheels are already in the widest position, and are not reversible. Some of the old Bolens had wheels with a wider offset, maybe you could find some of those rims to mount your tires on, also if you get AG's make sure you don't mount them backwards. Nick had a post about this in the Show and Tell forum.

[comet66]

A wider track can cause you come grief, if it gets wider than your snow blade/blower.

[bigcountry]

I thought about that as well. I just hope I can get them at the show and not have to go through ordering them because I am not at home much anymore to be able to have enough time to put them on.