When you begin to get your tractor ready to do the work you need it to, there are some crucial factors you need to consider. Determining the right tire fit for your vehicle should be at the top of your list. Your tractor’s tires play an essential role in whether the machine delivers power to the ground. For this reason, tire selection should not be taken lightly. Variables such as soil conditions, size, tasks to be completed, and price must be factored into your buying decision.

Tire Types

As you begin your journey to finding the right tires for your tractor, considering the different types of tires and the conditions they work best in will better inform your buying decision. The different types of tractor tires you can find include the following:

R-1 Tires

R-1, or agricultural tires, remain the most popular option for the majority of farming operations on dryland. They have great traction-grabbing lugs that run at deep angles, keeping a perfect grip on dry ground. When the field conditions run from average to ideal, R-1 tires are the ideal choice for your tractor.

R-2 Tires

R-2 tires generally have deeper treads, which are useful for mucky and wet ground found across rice paddies and other wet-ground situations. Deeper treads allow your tractor to maneuver through these tricky conditions without worrying about getting stuck in the middle of your work.

R-3 Tires

R-3, also known as turf tires, is fantastic for general use and loose terrains such as sand and gravel while offering minimal ground disruption on sensitive landscapes. When you want your tractor to leave as minimal a trace behind as possible, R-3 tires are ideal. They are perfect for use on golf courses and for lawnmowers. These treads are roughly half as deep as R-1 treads.

R-4 Tires

R-4 tires are the most commonly applied tires for construction or industrial work. They have excellent traction due to interwoven lug and tread design and will also reduce the impact for heavy-duty rigs. Perfect for going over harder surfaces, such as gravel and concrete, R-4 tires can withstand the pressures associated with heavy-duty construction work.

Radial vs. Bias Ply

Radial vs. Bias-ply tires has been an ongoing debate for vehicles of all shapes and sizes for years. Although the distinction was solved long ago in the automotive market, tractor owners should note the following information. When deciding between radial and bias-ply tires, you want to factor in the terrain, climate conditions, overall handling, and how fast you want to go. You can make your best-informed decision once looking at all of the variables.

When tractors are operating at lower speeds, bias-ply tires are less expensive to replace, repair, and maintain. They also offer more durable sidewalls, which aren’t as damage-prone when obstacles and debris get in the way. For tractor owners that deal with large swaths of farmland, bias-ply tires will generally serve them well.

Radial tires are generally more expensive, but they offer smoother handling and operating, have longer tread life, and perform well on harder ground. For construction vehicles, radial tires provide the best ride for the terrain and give your operators the best chance to finish the respective jobs. Radial tires also have less impact on turf, so they are a great option if you’re operating on sensitive terrain. They are perfect for golf courses and other types of terrain where you want the vehicles to move quickly but not tear up the landscape itself. Additionally, radial tires run at a lower air pressure, which makes them an excellent choice for increased operational efficiency and fuel economy on harder ground.

Load Rating

A critical component of tractor tire performance revolves around its load rating. Load ratings are determined by seeing how much weight a tire can handle and still operate while fully inflated. With tractor tires, speed also affects load ratings, meaning that the slower you go, the more you can generally carry and vice versa.

With a low load rating, your tires will fail to operate efficiently. Load ratings are designated via stars that reveal the maximum tire pressure, which is measured in PSI. These stars can generally be found after the diameter and width ratings.

The ratings are:

  • - 1-star = maximum of 18 psi
  • - 2-star = maximum of 24 psi
  • - 3 star = maximum of 30 psi

Combine those PSI numbers with the size of your tires to determine the total load rating capacity.

Once you know what you’re looking for, you’re ready to start browsing our inventory of rear and front tractor tires for sale. If you’re still not sure, watch the following video for a brief recap!

For additional information on how you can buy ITP Tires online and meet all your other tire needs, or to speak to a member of the Tires4That team, contact us today.

on