School me on (tractor) loader front tires?

BobinSD · Aug 21, 2012

Hello,

My JD 3020 with a 148 loader is in need of new front rubber. Fronts look like a car/truck tread to me, but the tread is all gone and the tires are checked, cracked, and all of the writing is scrubbed off of the sides. I think they might say "Armstrong", "Flotation" and "11L-15". (It is a 15 inch rim).

I use the tractor mainly to move snow w/ a rear mounted snow blower, a little bit to mow, and occasionally move a little dirt, mulch, gravel (summer, on gravel yard or grass), snow, or firewood bucket (winter, on snowy surface) in the loader. It is used very infrequently.

The guy at the tire store says I need 3 or 4 rib tires and the only reason these "truck tires" were on it when I bought it was to save money. Another source tells me that I probably want a newer version of what's on there now.

What say youse?

jon f mn · Aug 21, 2012

3 or 4 rib is what was on new and if you were plowing all day and loading manure and silage all day I would say you need them. But if I was doing what you are and didn't really care about apperance I would find nice used truck tires. There are MANY tractors out there running them.

Allan in NE · Aug 21, 2012

Hi Bob,

Since it's got a loader, spring for the 10-ply tri-ribs and be done with it.

Nothin' makes you madder than to pop a cheap tire in the middle of a job.

Just My 2¢

Allan

patiolant · Aug 21, 2012

Another option that I put on my MF65 is 10 ply rib implement tires made by Carlisle ( mine are 26-12.00-12, but they also make a 12.5L-15). Not great for turning in mud/manure due to their width, but can handle a very heavy load and don"t make gouges in the driveway and yard when turning. They can handle a bucket full of wet sand and not give/sag at all. Also great in the bush for moving firewood out with the loader. I"ve had them for a decade, and will replace with the same when needed. Not sure how they handle on snow, but they may slide some when turning.

Owen Aaland · Aug 21, 2012

I took the 3 rib tires off my loader tractor and replaced them with worn out mud & snow truck tires. In soft ground the tri-ribs would push the mud out the side and the front would sink down. The old truck tires with the flat tread have much better floatation.

It once loaned my tractor ou to a guy cleaning up an old lumber yard. He had several flats from running over nails. When it came back he had replaced my old bald tires with nice new M&S tires. I'm sure he thought he was doing a good deed. Unfortunately the old bald tires actually worked better than the new ones with good tread.

xfarma · Aug 21, 2012

Hi Bob
If you want to be able to turn the wheel and have the tractor go where you want it to then do what Allen said, if you don't mind steering with the brakes most of the time then I guess anything will work.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 21, 2012

11L 15 is a common tractor loader backhoe tire. They are built heavy to hold the weight and have a truck like tread. They steer better than car tires and made stronger than tractor fronts or implement tires.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 21, 2012

11L15 are common implement tires. If they say Armstrong they probably aren't highway tires. I know they make them in a multi-rib and are a good choice for a loader tractor as long as they have the right ply rating. I ran an industrial MF loader that came with 11l15 front tires.

BobinSD · Aug 21, 2012

Any problems (tire damage) cranking the wheel around when I'm not moving w/ the ribbed tires? I notice with this tractor, especially in cold weather, the tractor starts, then a couple of minutes later the hydraulics kick in and the wheels jump. (not complaining about this here new-fangled power steering, just an observation)

thanks,

Ray · Aug 21, 2012

The 15" truck tires are probaby 10 ply and will last a lot longer than implement tires,especially if you use them on the road a lot.

RodinNS · Aug 21, 2012

An 11L15 tri rib in a heavy ply rating might not be easy to get today. It's a rather 'old' size today. 11L16 is a more common backhoe tire today. That said... if you look around and are happy with an off brand tire you'll probably get the 11L15. I'd aim for a 12 ply if I could get it and settle for a 10 ply if I had to. You can also get a diamond or industrial tread on 11L15's but you're not going to have the steering control with those...

Rod

Royse · Aug 21, 2012

If what you had worked good for your use, put them back on it.
If you slid around when trying to steer, then I would look at the others.
I had tri-ribs under my little loader tractor and they dug in bad for yard work.
I now swap them with truck tires if the ground is soft and I need the flotation,
but put the tri-ribs on for winter.
YMMV

BobinSD · Aug 23, 2012

[i:654c4848f0]I had tri-ribs under my little loader tractor and they dug in bad for yard work.

I now swap them with truck tires if the ground is soft and I need the flotation,

but put the tri-ribs on for winter.[/i:654c4848f0]

Do you have a spare set of rims, or remount the tires twice a year? I think it"s worked "OK" up till now, but would like all the control I can get on the snow. OTOH, I don"t like to tear up the yard/ground...

Royse · Aug 23, 2012

Do you have a spare set of rims, or remount the tires twice a year?

I have a spare set of rims.
Six bolt, 16 inch rims that fit many tractors and implements.

BobinSD · Aug 23, 2012

Hi Allen and all,

The 11L-15 tri-ribs available locally are 8 ply. Is that too thin?

Thanks,

Bob

Royse · Aug 23, 2012

Are 8 ply too thin?

Kind of depends on what you're lifting.
My truck tires are 6 ply and I have moved 1200 pound round
bales with them.
Albeit a bit bouncy. :lol:

shinnery · Aug 24, 2012

You might want to look at www.noflats.com. They sell used aircraft tires and seem to have 16 and 26 ply in that size.
Bryce

BobinSD · Aug 24, 2012

Bryce,

Is this necessarily a bad idea? Somebody locally had made the same recommendation. (Not sure how to interpret your smiley).

Bob

xfarma · Aug 24, 2012

They will probably be fine, the 148 is a farm loader, and you're not using it alot.

shinnery · Aug 25, 2012

I have a pair of A/C tires on the front of a MM M5 LP (14 ply I think) and I have a very hard time figuring out if they have any air in them. I just found where they came from and thought there might be interest.
Bryce

8)

BobinSD · Aug 27, 2012

Lost me again. Is that good or bad (no matter how much you pump them up, the look flat, or even at 10 PSI the sidewall is so stiff they work fine?)

School me on (tractor) loader front tires?

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