BX23S Front Tires

itguy

Member

Equipment
Kubota BX23S, CB0546, GS0548, LR0560, PFL1242, RCR1242, SGC0554, WB10, QH05
Sep 4, 2020
30
11
8
WA State
Hi,
I'm looking for a better tires for the front, something with a higher ply and found these
BKT Skid Power HD tires that are 8 ply.

Anyone familiar with these tires or have another recommendation for front tires?
 

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,271
2,104
113
Bedford - VA
These are 4 ply .... but I have had them on my BX25D for 2 years..... holding up well - better than the OEM - but only 4 ply - but the cost is rather cheap

TIRES
 

itguy

Member

Equipment
Kubota BX23S, CB0546, GS0548, LR0560, PFL1242, RCR1242, SGC0554, WB10, QH05
Sep 4, 2020
30
11
8
WA State
These are 4 ply .... but I have had them on my BX25D for 2 years..... holding up well - better than the OEM - but only 4 ply - but the cost is rather cheap

TIRES
Thanks,
I've seen those tires and they do look good. I've read that a higher ply increases the strength of the sidewalls and ride better.

I found the BKT's for $70 with free shipping so that's a good deal.

I see you have spacers and filled tires, I just received my 2" Bro-Tek spacers I'm installing today. Why did you also fill the tires, and did you do that yourself?
 

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,271
2,104
113
Bedford - VA
I see you have spacers and filled tires, I just received my 2" Bro-Tek spacers I'm installing today. Why did you also fill the tires, and did you do that yourself?
Well - the tire fill was more from grip and or balance too! Yes I did fill them myself - used windshield washer fluid - I found that taking the tire stem out - allow the tractor to flatten the tire......then as you cut on your pump, jack the tractor back up! It actually allow a free space to "suck" up the fluid. Repeat this once the pump changes pitch.

I found that the spacers are the best add on - instant feel
 

DustyRusty

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23S
Nov 8, 2015
4,953
3,694
113
North East CT
I haven't looked for the 10" diameter rim, but I did find an over the road, DOT approved 8" tire that is the same size as the OEM tractor tire. It was for a heavy piece of machinery, that has a built in trailer. The weight rating is much higher than the tractor tires, and will probably last the life of the tractor if you keep it out of the sun.
 

cmorningstar01

Active member

Equipment
B7500HST LA302 FEL 5'Finish Mower B5100E 46" Snow Plow 22 ton splitter
Mar 27, 2011
341
80
28
Pemberton NJ USA
In my opinion the 8 ply rating is not needed on a B7100, Your tractor weighs less than 1200 lbs and has a weight carrying capacity of an additional 400lbs on the rear and 400-500lbs on the front if you have a loader, 8 ply tires are going to give you a stiffer ride not a more comfortable ride.
My 5800lb F 150 which has a 1000lb payload has 6 ply tires, most automobiles have 4-6 ply tires, some light trucks have 8-10 ply tires
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
9,673
3,925
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
Kenda K514 (?)... I tried buying them 2 years ago, Amazon don't like me, no dealar in Canada, and of couse the Chinese virus has limited my travel options.
The Kenda version is 6 ply, good for 1000#+
More plies should give stiffer sidewall,tougher tire what you need for offroad use especially with a loader.
Let's face it , hauling 500# in a bucket, you ain't going fast ! As long as the tractor moves, all day long, 'high speed comfort' isn't needed
 

Henro

Well-known member

Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
2,341
113
North of Pittsburgh PA
Hi,
I'm looking for a better tires for the front, something with a higher ply and found these
BKT Skid Power HD tires that are 8 ply.

Anyone familiar with these tires or have another recommendation for front tires?
I may be off base, but it sounds like you want more plys to increase stiffness in the front tires.

If so, maybe you should consider getting the front tires foam filled. There will still be some flex, but the tires will be MUCH more resistant to vertical and side loads.

On a small front tire the cost is not that much. AND you do not have to worry about punctures any more. The front tires on both my BX and B have been foam filled for almost two decades, and I have been totally satisfied.
 

itguy

Member

Equipment
Kubota BX23S, CB0546, GS0548, LR0560, PFL1242, RCR1242, SGC0554, WB10, QH05
Sep 4, 2020
30
11
8
WA State
I may be off base, but it sounds like you want more plys to increase stiffness in the front tires.

If so, maybe you should consider getting the front tires foam filled. There will still be some flex, but the tires will be MUCH more resistant to vertical and side loads.

On a small front tire the cost is not that much. AND you do not have to worry about punctures any more. The front tires on both my BX and B have been foam filled for almost two decades, and I have been totally satisfied.
I was looking to increase the sidewall strength for the fronts, one person at the dealer told me to increase the air pressure as the stock tires can tend to unset off the rim under heavy loads, but another person told me to not go over the recommended inflation.

I've seen posts from others who have had this issue and somewhere I read a higher ply would help in that regard.

I have not heard about the foam option so will look into that.
 

Henro

Well-known member

Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
2,341
113
North of Pittsburgh PA
I was looking to increase the sidewall strength for the fronts, one person at the dealer told me to increase the air pressure as the stock tires can tend to unset off the rim under heavy loads, but another person told me to not go over the recommended inflation.

I've seen posts from others who have had this issue and somewhere I read a higher ply would help in that regard.

I have not heard about the foam option so will look into that.
I got mine foam filled at a large tire dealer about 45 minutes away. My son in law got all four tires on his BX23S foam filled last fall just after purchase, with my encouragement, and with the incentive that I would pay half as a "tractor warming" present.

Foam filling is common for construction equipment, where they cannot afford lost time due to punctures. My tire place was able to adjust the stiffness of the foam in the tire to give some flex similar to an air filled tire, but I think the tires are still stiffer.
 

itguy

Member

Equipment
Kubota BX23S, CB0546, GS0548, LR0560, PFL1242, RCR1242, SGC0554, WB10, QH05
Sep 4, 2020
30
11
8
WA State
In my opinion the 8 ply rating is not needed on a B7100, Your tractor weighs less than 1200 lbs and has a weight carrying capacity of an additional 400lbs on the rear and 400-500lbs on the front if you have a loader, 8 ply tires are going to give you a stiffer ride not a more comfortable ride.
My 5800lb F 150 which has a 1000lb payload has 6 ply tires, most automobiles have 4-6 ply tires, some light trucks have 8-10 ply tires
I have the BX23s not the B7100, and the tractor weight is 1570 lbs and the rear can hold more than 400 lbs since the backhoe weights 607 lbs.

From what I can find it seems a higher ply does add more sidewall strength but that is probably not as important with larger tires with more air volume. The fronts on the BX do not have much volume/height between the rim and top of tire so it made sense to me stronger sidewalls would help.
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
9,673
3,925
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
The made in India stock front tires on my BX23s are rated for 700#,each. It'd be nice to see the REAL weight on them,cause the numbers get 'fuzzy' once you add in base weight of tractor, loader frame,SSQA section, bucket and oh yeah...some dirt in the bucket....and of course the BH section AND bucket.
I don't KNOW what the weight distribution is 'front vs back' though it'd be nice to know.
What I do know is that the new front tires on my fork lift are 12 ply and don't complain about 6000# on them.