New to the forum and to be honest new to tractors as well so welcome any wisdom you have to offer.
I am in the process of trying to revive my dad’s late 80s B8200 HST 2WD. If has (had) a 5’ shredder, water filled rear turf tires and suitcase weights on the front. I don’t remember exactly but I think the hours are under 300. Dad stopped using the tractor about 10 years ago more or less and it’s been sitting ever since.
The tires have never been changed so they are very old. The rears are 13.6-16 and at least partly water filled. While they still hold air and have a lot of tread left they are weather cracked pretty badly. The fronts are 23x8.50-12 turf, one holds air pretty well and the other goes flat after about 30 min. They are both cracked worse than the rear. The from rims seem to be two piece bolt together type.
I was planning to swap the front turf tires for more traditional 3 or 4 rib tractor tires but I think the front turf rims may be too wide. Does anyone have suggestions for front tires that are more heavy duty than the turf tires?
For the rear I’ve seen some recommend 12.4-16 R4. From what I’ve seen online it looks like an 11” wide rim should be used. I’m not sure of the factory rim width. I found a sticker on the rim saying “13.6-16 B1” and “R B987” but I doubt the rim and the tire are the same width. If I look at new 13.6-16 tire online I believe Ive seen 11” and 12” rims recommended. Will the 12.4-16 R4 fit the factory turf tire rim? Is there any value in trying to swap to a 24” rim and run the 8.3-24 R1 tires? I’ve only checked online but it seems rims and the R1 will cost about the same or more than the 12.4-16.
One of my buddies (not a tractor guy either) suggested replacing the water with tire sealant and just run the existing tires as long as they will last. I expect to actually use the tractor for cutting only 5 or 6 times a year if the current drought ever breaks.
Open to your advice and suggestions so don’t hold back. Shoot, I even looked at retread off-road mud tires but it seems they are a bit too short.
I am in the process of trying to revive my dad’s late 80s B8200 HST 2WD. If has (had) a 5’ shredder, water filled rear turf tires and suitcase weights on the front. I don’t remember exactly but I think the hours are under 300. Dad stopped using the tractor about 10 years ago more or less and it’s been sitting ever since.
The tires have never been changed so they are very old. The rears are 13.6-16 and at least partly water filled. While they still hold air and have a lot of tread left they are weather cracked pretty badly. The fronts are 23x8.50-12 turf, one holds air pretty well and the other goes flat after about 30 min. They are both cracked worse than the rear. The from rims seem to be two piece bolt together type.
I was planning to swap the front turf tires for more traditional 3 or 4 rib tractor tires but I think the front turf rims may be too wide. Does anyone have suggestions for front tires that are more heavy duty than the turf tires?
For the rear I’ve seen some recommend 12.4-16 R4. From what I’ve seen online it looks like an 11” wide rim should be used. I’m not sure of the factory rim width. I found a sticker on the rim saying “13.6-16 B1” and “R B987” but I doubt the rim and the tire are the same width. If I look at new 13.6-16 tire online I believe Ive seen 11” and 12” rims recommended. Will the 12.4-16 R4 fit the factory turf tire rim? Is there any value in trying to swap to a 24” rim and run the 8.3-24 R1 tires? I’ve only checked online but it seems rims and the R1 will cost about the same or more than the 12.4-16.
One of my buddies (not a tractor guy either) suggested replacing the water with tire sealant and just run the existing tires as long as they will last. I expect to actually use the tractor for cutting only 5 or 6 times a year if the current drought ever breaks.
Open to your advice and suggestions so don’t hold back. Shoot, I even looked at retread off-road mud tires but it seems they are a bit too short.