Rear tire thoughts and feelings

[Longtree]

Hey all - I'm sitting here watching the snow fall and thinking about spring when I hope warm, dry weather will mean I can put some more work into my cub. It's been neglected for many years (not by me!) and the rear tires are cracked and one's gone flat, rim is rusted through, etc. Looking around on the net for some options to replace the tires come spring when hopefully I've been able to put a couple hundred $ aside over the winter.

I'm just a guy in NJ with half an acre of grass and a little gravel drive, I dont plan to do any "serious" work with my cub - I just bought it because I love the look of it and I wanted a project to learn about mechanical stuff and I love old things. That said, I want to keep Ag tires on it....would like for it to look as "original" as possible, but I dont plan to restore it or put it any shows or anything. Right now it has BF Goodrich "Silvertown" 8.3-24 on it and they're nice looking, but dont exist anymore it seems.

Wondering what insight any of you might have into tires for the casual owner who likes an original aesthetic and probably will only buy these 2 rear tires to last the rest of his life

Anything (or brand) to avoid? Any insight is welcome - just curious to hear what the group thinks! Thanks

 

[Mike in Louisiana]

I would put add on here for used tires. Lots of folks change to turf tires to keep from tearing up their grass. If you can’t find used tires look locally to save the shipping cost.

 

[Gary S.]

I'm in a similar spot- original tires and 1 rim are in sad shape. Mine are filled and won't do that again so weights are needed as well. 20 years ago we were in the same spot with the Ford so dad got new rims and Ag tires. After driving it around our hilly property we decided that the Ag's were a poor choice should have bought turf. Every time you step on the brakes those sharp treads tear up the grass like a skinning knife. My big problem if you call it one- is that the '49 is mostly used for plowing snow, I now spend my winters in Florida.

 

[Eugene]

The rusted through rim should be either repaired or replaced.

There are products to make tire cracks more presentable.

My opinion, if the tires are still usable, use them.

 

[inairam]

I would keep an open mind about turf tires. For your situation, they are more practical. Here is a post about turf tires viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106764&hilit=tires

If you like the tires you have can take the rims to a truck tire place and have a tubes put in them.

As for rims UPS to your door. $85 each a few years ago.

Aaron wenger
717-656-9876
Wenger systems
264 voganville rd
new holland pa

 

[Longtree]

I would put add on here for used tires. Lots of folks change to turf tires to keep from tearing up their grass. If you can’t find used tires look locally to save the shipping cost.

Thanks Mike.....Have thought about used - I'm not in a very farm-centric area though, so anywhere I have found has been a pretty respectable drive. If I find a good deal I'd be open to it, though. Got months to look around while the snow piles up

 

[Longtree]

I'm in a similar spot- original tires and 1 rim are in sad shape. Mine are filled and won't do that again so weights are needed as well. 20 years ago we were in the same spot with the Ford so dad got new rims and Ag tires. After driving it around our hilly property we decided that the Ag's were a poor choice should have bought turf. Every time you step on the brakes those sharp treads tear up the grass like a skinning knife. My big problem if you call it one- is that the '49 is mostly used for plowing snow, I now spend my winters in Florida.

Gary - mine are filled too. Thats why the one rim rotted out - tube must have burst inside - it's pretty ugly. The other looks alright so far. My property is very level, so hilly terrain and all isnt going to be an issue fortunately or I guess I would be re-seeding pretty often . Was hoping to get mine ready to plow some snow this winter but the hydraulics are all frozen up (another winter project for me)...just bought mine in May from a local guy who was using it as lawn decor....it's been a road getting it to run and look halfways decent again. Fun

 

[Longtree]

The rusted through rim should be either repaired or replaced.

There are products to make tire cracks more presentable.

My opinion, if the tires are still usable, use them.

Eugene - thanks - I actually bought a really nice used original rim over the summer - just need to save up some time and money to get the poor old disaster it's replacing OFF and try mounting whatever tire and tube I end up with on the replacement.

I definitely dont' mind WEAR (if I did, I'd have to replace the whole tractor haha ) but my tires (at least the RH one) are pretty far gone I think. Maybe once I wrestle the poor thing off the rotted rim it'll be better than I thought, but I'm not hopeful :/.

 

[Longtree]

I would keep an open mind about turf tires. For your situation, they are more practical. Here is a post about turf tires viewtopic.php?f=1&t=106764&hilit=tires

If you like the tires you have can take the rims to a truck tire place and have a tubes put in them.

As for rims UPS to your door. $85 each a few years ago.

Aaron wenger
717-656-9876
Wenger systems
264 voganville rd
new holland pa

Hi inairam - thanks for the info. I realize that turf would likely be more practical for what I intend to do with my cub, but I bought her more for the way she looks than a practical need. now that I have her there're a bunch of things I have realized I can do on my little piece of property (plow snow, tow a trailer, mow, etc) but she's really more of just a fun, cool looking toy for me, so I'd rather try to keep with as much "original" as I can. And as far as the rotted rim - I tracked down / bought a nice used original rim - just need to paint it and get new rubber on it / in it . Thanks though!

 

[Don McCombs]

PM sent.

 

[Jim Becker]

. . . I actually bought a really nice used original rim over the summer . . .

Check the rim width against your "keeper" on the other side. You don't want to end up with mismatched sizes.

 

[Longtree]

. . . I actually bought a really nice used original rim over the summer . . .

Check the rim width against your "keeper" on the other side. You don't want to end up with mismatched sizes.

Jim - yes - good call. Actually when I got the "new" one home I briefly panicked because it looked bigger! ...but calipers say its a match. ::whew:: Thanks!

 

[Glen]

Hi,
The rim for a 8 x 24, or more modern 8.3 x 24 tire was the 351428R91 rim, they are 7" wide.

Below is a page from the Cub parts manual, showing the different rims they used. There are narrower rims for narrower tires.

http://www.farmallcub.info/manuals/cub_ ... 015-03.jpg

Below is a pic of the marking in a Cub rim, it has the date when it was made also, to the left of the size.

 

[MiCarl]

Post some pictures of the tire. They may be way better than you think. Unless they crack through to the tube they should continue working just fine.

I bought a Farmall H last fall. The rear tires have cracks that would fit a number 2 pencil. They've been just fine for a year now.

 

[Eugene]

Ditto. I have significant cracks in my working tractor tires and one with a large flap cut in the side wall. No sense purchasing new tires when the old ones still hold air. And, a new tire could easily get a cut ending it's useful live as a tractor tire.

 

[Longtree]

Below is a pic of the marking in a Cub rim, it has the date when it was made also, to the left of the size.

Glen - that rim is amazing....I wonder if mine has a date inside too - its in my garden shed awaiting cleanup and paint - now I'm curious. After cleaning all the crud and rust off of the front wheels I bought, I found maker names and info on them too. To the newbie who likes detail, it's like finding little bits of treasure. Cool!

I work a fulltime job yet despite this Covid thing, so getting pix right now is a challenge, but I'll see if I could maybe do so by the weekend....

It sounds like you guys are all pretty much saying to stick with what I have or go used. Which is not what I expected, but I like the idea of saving some cash, keeping stuff out of the landfills and hanging on to a bit of the older "detail" of the thing. I worry about the bead of the one with the wrecked rim, but I guess thats a bridge to cross when I come to it. Interesting thoughts - thanks folks

 

[Urbish]

If you do end up buying new tires, you can't go wrong with Carlisle. But there are many other good brands.

 

[BigBill]

Look at eBay for new ag tires with tubes either tucker tire or miller tire look for free shipping. New rims too. You can upgrade to 9.5x24 tires/ tubes.

 

[Clemsonfor]

Most people who have working tractors run the tires till they will no longer hold the tube in. Or so cracked or missing so many pieces of rubber the tube keeps getting poked and going flat, OR they are totally smooth. These are not like car tires where you can be going 80mph in traffic down the interstate and a blowout can kill you or others. Most people here I don't think make a living with their cub so down time is not like a current big ag farmer where it kills him to be down. So most of us the worse problem to have on a blow out is you stop work where you are. If the tire it totally destroyed from a real blow out you can just drive back to the yard or barn. If the tube just got a hole and the tire is still good drive your truck and trailer down there, take it off and then go get it fixed.

 

[Dusty B]

Just FYI I think many of the irrigation systems use the 8.3 X 24 tires ? Possible source for used tires??