(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

New Tractor tires

B

BANDITFARMER

Well-known Member
Over the last 40 some years I've been farming and using tractors I can honestly say no tractor I had or even drove ever had new tires on it. All the used tractors had decent tires on them and they did there job and they lasted till I sold or traded it off. None of any of the tractors had new or like new tires on them. At a sale 14 years ago I bought a set of 15.5x38 T rail duals that the tires were about new for $150, I switched the tires from the duals to the tractor and from the tractor to the duals. Lots of work there, But when you don't have the money this is what you do and this is what I have always had to do.

About a year ago I found and bought a tractor that I had been looking for for 30 years. The tractor is an Oliver 1550 diesel Utility, Kinda rare (maybe not) but I really like the tractor. When I bought it it had 1 new rear tire a BKT 14.9x28 on it and new rear rims, The other 3 tires were junk! Simple plan, Buy another new tire to match the one on the tractor (a BKT 14.9x28) and get 2 new ones for the front. Witch is what I did, Now I have a tractor with all new rubber under her.

For the first time in my life I own a tractor with all new rubber and was proud of that fact. I cleaned her up and got the paint to have color again to look good. She's not perfect and has some battle scares and the plan is to fix and repaint to make her stand proud again. I took her to the show, Lots of people looking at her as they had never seen one before. But the one thing that got me was Why did you put those junk tires on it? WHAT? You should have put new Firestones or GoodYears on it NOT them junky things. WOW! I cant believe it, I put new tires on and get beat up for doing it because I didn't put those high priced tires on it. More that likely it wont see the road unless I take her to the show again and these BKT tires will outlast me for the way I use her. The tractor is in the barn when not in use and I try to take care of what I have, I have to work to get what I have and money is never there so I have to really watch what I do and make things last.

So what's the deal guys? Why do so many people have such a negative vue of these BKT tires? I know there not top of the line, But there still good tires Right? Bandit
a185933.jpg

a185934.jpg

a185935.jpg
 
Don't let it bug you, I'm glad they work for you! I will post back later this pm a pic of my "Goodyear" tire, you'll see how good they are! Lol
 
Don't let these folks get you down. You had a need for new tires and you put on a set you could afford. If these work for you and do what you need good enough I say.

On my old 1955 Ford 960 that I am working getting running and back into the fray has old worn tires that are still holding air. I know they won't last long but I have a friend that is scrapping an old IH gasser that has the same size tires again old and worn but I am picking those up as spares.

We do the best we can with what we have or can get hold of.

Glad you got the old Oliver back in field and congrats on having a tractor with your first set of new tires. Enjoy them no matter what anyone says.
 
Better than the new radials. I've had a set of Firestone and a set of Goodyears that both had excellent tread yet but between 3500 and 4000 hours the sidewalls fail due to the radial flexxing.
 
That is a nice looking Oliver that you have here.I would like to have one like it with the set back axle. Some people always look at the bad and complain. Be proud and thankful for what you have,
 
(quoted from post at 16:16:48 03/10/15) Over the last 40 some years I've been farming and using tractors I can honestly say no tractor I had or even drove ever had new tires on it. All the used tractors had decent tires on them and they did there job and they lasted till I sold or traded it off. None of any of the tractors had new or like new tires on them. At a sale 14 years ago I bought a set of 15.5x38 T rail duals that the tires were about new for $150, I switched the tires from the duals to the tractor and from the tractor to the duals. Lots of work there, But when you don't have the money this is what you do and this is what I have always had to do.

About a year ago I found and bought a tractor that I had been looking for for 30 years. The tractor is an Oliver 1550 diesel Utility, Kinda rare (maybe not) but I really like the tractor. When I bought it it had 1 new rear tire a BKT 14.9x28 on it and new rear rims, The other 3 tires were junk! Simple plan, Buy another new tire to match the one on the tractor (a BKT 14.9x28) and get 2 new ones for the front. Witch is what I did, Now I have a tractor with all new rubber under her.

For the first time in my life I own a tractor with all new rubber and was proud of that fact. I cleaned her up and got the paint to have color again to look good. She's not perfect and has some battle scares and the plan is to fix and repaint to make her stand proud again. I took her to the show, Lots of people looking at her as they had never seen one before. But the one thing that got me was Why did you put those junk tires on it? WHAT? You should have put new Firestones or GoodYears on it NOT them junky things. WOW! I cant believe it, I put new tires on and get beat up for doing it because I didn't put those high priced tires on it. More that likely it wont see the road unless I take her to the show again and these BKT tires will outlast me for the way I use her. The tractor is in the barn when not in use and I try to take care of what I have, I have to work to get what I have and money is never there so I have to really watch what I do and make things last.

So what's the deal guys? Why do so many people have such a negative vue of these BKT tires? I know there not top of the line, But there still good tires Right? Bandit
a185933.jpg

a185934.jpg

a185935.jpg
Click to expand...

As I've said before... I replaced a set of Firestones with BKT's. I prefer the BKT's by a long shot...I've used these BKT's hard now for a couple of years and they have held up fine. I need to buy another set of rear tires for another tractor of mine to replace the current Goodyears that is on it that are not that old and the sidewalls have splits almost where every lug is. They will be replaced with BKT's. Before I bought my first set of BKT's i researched online for several weeks reading comments and reviews. Most of the reviews had people thatwere disappointed in their Titan tires but said the BKT's had help up fine.
 
I bet that wavy bar cracked one is a goodyear isn't it.
I have many used tires on my restored tractors. I'd scrounge around and find a match. I figured I could always buy new tires if needed and put the extra money into parts inside the tractors you don't see. They just sit anyhow and get flat spots.
 
(quoted from post at 08:16:48 03/10/15) Over the last 40 some years I've been farming and using tractors I can honestly say no tractor I had or even drove ever had new tires on it. All the used tractors had decent tires on them and they did there job and they lasted till I sold or traded it off. None of any of the tractors had new or like new tires on them. At a sale 14 years ago I bought a set of 15.5x38 T rail duals that the tires were about new for $150, I switched the tires from the duals to the tractor and from the tractor to the duals. Lots of work there, But when you don't have the money this is what you do and this is what I have always had to do.

About a year ago I found and bought a tractor that I had been looking for for 30 years. The tractor is an Oliver 1550 diesel Utility, Kinda rare (maybe not) but I really like the tractor. When I bought it it had 1 new rear tire a BKT 14.9x28 on it and new rear rims, The other 3 tires were junk! Simple plan, Buy another new tire to match the one on the tractor (a BKT 14.9x28) and get 2 new ones for the front. Witch is what I did, Now I have a tractor with all new rubber under her.

For the first time in my life I own a tractor with all new rubber and was proud of that fact. I cleaned her up and got the paint to have color again to look good. She's not perfect and has some battle scares and the plan is to fix and repaint to make her stand proud again. I took her to the show, Lots of people looking at her as they had never seen one before. But the one thing that got me was Why did you put those junk tires on it? WHAT? You should have put new Firestones or GoodYears on it NOT them junky things. WOW! I cant believe it, I put new tires on and get beat up for doing it because I didn't put those high priced tires on it. More that likely it wont see the road unless I take her to the show again and these BKT tires will outlast me for the way I use her. The tractor is in the barn when not in use and I try to take care of what I have, I have to work to get what I have and money is never there so I have to really watch what I do and make things last.

So what's the deal guys? Why do so many people have such a negative vue of these BKT tires? I know there not top of the line, But there still good tires Right? Bandit
Click to expand...

Well I'll be the first to say it. I think they are an ugly tire. The first time I saw one I thought it was an ugly tire. It might be functional to have the lug thick like that at the point, but it makes it an ugly tire, sorry.....
 
Yes it was, Beside the fact that the tire had that big split in it with the new tire on the other side the tractor sit lopsided. Buying a new one to match the other side was a no brainer to me. Why spend $1000 or more for a pair of Firestones 18.4x28 tires when one 14.9x28 BKT 10 ply tire and tube for $385 did the trick for me. None of my tractors are trailer Queens, There working girls. Bandit
a185944.jpg
 
They'd suit me just fine with many people that don't use a tractor a whole lot the tire will go bad from dry rot before it ever wears out anyway.Most of my tractors are used in the hay field where any type of tire will work even if it has very little tread.I can't ever remember buying a new rear tractor tire but I have bought several tractors just to get the tires off of them and then parted or resold the tractor and usually end up with the tires for free.
 
20 years ago I restored a 67 Mustang. It was a base grocery getter with a 289 and 3 speed. About the only thing it had over a true base unit was a red interior (instead of black) and an overhead console - but no floor console, no AC, no PB, no PS, no positrac.... I bought it as a basket case for $800 at a garage sale and restored it over a the next couple of years.


I took it to a couple shows and was constantly told "What you should have done" and all about the super slick super rare Mustang they had at home in the garage. Usually after a few questions (you say its an original 66 with a 351 Boss engine? A stock 64 1/2 with a 5 speed? You have the mechanical fuel injection that Shelby copied from the Corvette?) and you know how full of BS they are. I can only imagine a tractor show is the same.
 
Bandit I sold Bkt's along with dozens of other different brands of rear tires. BKT will work fine on a utility or chore tractor. The tread was not designed to do field work in USA soils. They were designed to work in European soils. For field work I prefer Firestone but like I said BKT's are dandy for your tractor. As I found while in business, everyone else knows more about tractor tires than I did, their cousin told them etc etc and what they said was the absolute truth. It sounds like the guys you spoke with are in this class of tire experts. 99.9% of them did not know s---.
 
Thank you, I've worked hard to get what I have and new is new to me. I wanted one of these Oliver utility tractors for a long time and finial found one. This will be my planting tractor for one main reason, I can turn 90* and the planter toung will never be close to the tire and the tractor will turn on a dime. Bandit
a185946.jpg
 
There's a good reason right there to keep your tractor home and just enjoy it for yourself. The fault-finders would probably find something else to crab about if it weren't for the tires.

What's got me all twisted up is I've never seen 28" rims with 5 rails. Any 28" rim I've ever seen had 4 rails. I thought only 30" rims had 5 rails. I thought these were industry standards. So I'm wrong all the way around! Any idea what width the rims are? They look almost like they would take a 16.9 tire.
 
Its the first time for me to see 5 rail rims too. The rims are wide for the 14.9's and should have 16.9 or 18.4x28 on them but they are new rims and a new tire was one it so I just put its new mate on. I am thinking they may not make a new 5 rail rim in the size for a 14.9, Only for a 16.9/18.4 width witch is more commend. Who knows? The way the center casting is made it could use 4 5 or 6 rail rims or maybe even different size rims used like 30 inch rims and tires. Anyone see this casting with other size tire and rims other than 28"? Bandit
a185947.jpg

a185948.jpg
 
I'm happy with mine! I'm pretty sure I'm going to wear out before they do. BKT 15.5x38 rears, and BKT's on the front.
a185949.jpg
 
As I have said on here before you could not give me a tractor with those crappy Firestone tires on it. BKT know nothing about but they were not avaible last I got tires.
 
What does the looks of the tire have to do with it's function? Are tire now rated on their looks? NOW FOLKS HERE IS A GOODRICH FIELD AND ROAD. NOW JUDGES JUST RATE IT'S BEAUTY ON A SCALE OF 1-10.
OK, I SEE TWO 7'S AND A NINE!!! IT LOOKS LIKE FIRESTONES ARE THE WINNER OF THE GOOD LOOKS CONTEST!!!
 
About 30 years ago now my neighbor put NEW tires on his Massey Harris 44. Said his old ones were cracking. Heck they looked good to me and still had about full tread. I bought them from him likely traded some labor for them and put them on my JD A. Still have them and they still look good to me ! Pretty much about the right age for my A too.
 
(quoted from post at 17:29:09 03/10/15) Bandit I sold Bkt's along with dozens of other different brands of rear tires. BKT will work fine on a utility or chore tractor. The tread was not designed to do field work in USA soils. They were designed to work in European soils. For field work I prefer Firestone but like I said BKT's are dandy for your tractor. As I found while in business, everyone else knows more about tractor tires than I did, their cousin told them etc etc and what they said was the absolute truth. It sounds like the guys you spoke with are in this class of tire experts. 99.9% of them did not know s---.
Click to expand...

I don't know what kind of soil they have in England but I do know that my BKT's will far out dig those Firestone Field and Roads I had on it. I figured it was because the BKT's have a 45 degree angle vs the 23 degree of the Firestones. Plus I like the fact that the BKT is 8 ply vs 4 ply Firestone.
 
Years ago (1984) I had a MM Super U302 gas that had 1900 hours on it when I got it from the original owner and had never worked in the field, Only loaded manure. I used it for 4 years till I found the Oliver 1550 diesel (I still have) and traded for it. They wanted $4800 for the Oliver and I traded my MM and $300 cash for it. Best part was I gave $2300 for the MM and a like new set of 4x16 White 3pt plows (used 1 time to plow 50 acres) and kept the plows. I sold the plows 5 years later for $1000 so I think I made a good deal on this trade.
 
I have a 68 Chevy 1/2 4x4 that I am rebuilding from the ground up. Its a 6 cyl 3 speed floor shift . I was going to build a V8 do the big tire thing but now its going to be rebuilt as an original type of truck that you just don't see anymore. Its the same way with the Oliver utility, It came new with 14.9x28 and a under the hood muffler. So I guess I am trying to keep it like she was. Bandit
 
I restored this plow, but sold it because it is way more plow than I will ever need. Super heavy. Bought a MM 3 pt 3 bottom (similar to Oliver 3242) to replace it. The 302 is in pieces right now. Get the blocks and heads back this week. Hood and fenders just got painted. I'm hoping to have it done by mid summer.
a185958.jpg
 
BKT tires are foreign made, so they are automatically junk in some people's eyes.

Their opinion has no bearing on the actual quality or value of the tires. You're a traitor for not running your farm into bankruptcy buying the overpriced American-made Firestones or Goodyears.

I have heard a lot of good things about the BKT tires, even from some pretty vocal anti-foreign people.
 
Those tires look terrible on that tractor.
Just terrible.
I think you should sell them to me at about 1/2 price so I can put them on my ratty old Ford. :)
 
I've got 2 tractors with BKT tires and like them. One set is several years old. I personally like them much better than the Goodyears they replaced. My farm is very rocky and the goodyears didn't hold up like the BKT tires have.

BTW that is a nice looking Oliver.
 
This is for Jason S. Jason you are right I wouldn't put field and road tires on anything, However Traction Field and Roads is a far better tire. And that I would recommend to anyone replacing farm rears.
 
I had one front tire on an M5 MM that was a BF Goodrich which had excellent tread (near newer tire when I got the tractor) and a split in the side for being a cheaper made tire...in Poland. Thought it was American made but wasn't. Big name tires aren't everything. You got new tires on it, nothing wrong with that, enjoy them. Nice looking Oliver.
 
I restored this plow, but sold it because it is way more plow than I will ever need. Super heavy. Bought a MM 3 pt 3 bottom (similar to Oliver 3242) to replace it. The 302 is in pieces right now. Get the blocks and heads back this week. Hood and fenders just got painted. I'm hoping to have it done by mid summer.
a185958.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
15-30 7.5x18 old style 3 rib front tires
Replies
11
Views
679
Corn Borer
C
R
Can I use truck tires? 7.5-18
Replies
13
Views
1K
BarnyardEngineering
BarnyardEngineering
C
Tires
Replies
3
Views
275
jon f mn
jon f mn
rockyridgefarm
Thinking of going to super singles on my tandem dual trailer
Replies
9
Views
1K
rustred
rustred
D
Tractor tires
Replies
6
Views
529
Denteen
D
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top