Tractor tyres - radia/crossply/premium/budget

[patrickr321]

Hi

I need to replace both tyres on my Valtra 700 - small tractor. One is very worn and the other has a puncture. I could get the puncture repaired, but tyre people tell me that I would have to have inner tube and then couldn't fill the tyre with water - which it currently has for ballast. Tractor's done low hours and doesn't get heavy usage. Mostly yard and field (particularly for hay making) work. Occasional road work at low speeds (20mph max). The cost of a new tyre will be between £500 (budget ranges) and £1000 (Michelin) - radial tyres, which it currently has on. Cheaper for cross ply.

My questions:

1) £1000 per tyre is out of my budget! I know you get what you pay for, but is there really justification in buying a £1000 tyre over a £500 one? - especially for my kind of usage. Any recommended manufacturers on the more budget tyre side? Google is coming up with BKT, Ozka, MRL, Alliance, Vredestein.
2) any opinions on radial / cross ply? I've read that radial handles heat and wear better - but is that only if using at higher speeds? Again, given that the tractor is slow, do I really need radial?

Thanks

 

[farmbrew]

I've got BKT on 3095 as it isn"t the prime mover any longer, seems good, and certainly cheaper

 

[Sharpy]

You can water ballast with an inner tube, plenty were back in the day. Issue might be a water ballast tube is a swine to work with when it inevitably gets a puncture. Could your tyre not be professionally repaired?

 

[Sharpy]

To answer your original question a radial grips better and gives a smoother ride, cross ply has poorer traction and poorer ride. The tyre itself is tougher, particularly the side walls.
I personally would replace with a budget radial, bit only if my tyre couldn't be repaired.
Edit. Missed the bit about one tyre bald and other knackered. Put a pair of radials on.

 

[PSQ]

If you are going to keep the tractor long enough to get the wear out of them then it might be wise to have a matched pair of budget radials, and not have to worry about changing the repaired tyre in the future.
I wouldn’t entertain a crossply, life’s too short to try to save £50 by putting up with shitty 1970’s tyre technology and a rock hard ride.

 

[Qman]

Go on this site and chose BKT radials...https://www.bigtyres.co.uk

 

[Boohoo]

Don't even think about crossply tyres, the reduction in grip, floatation and comfort simply isn't worth it.
I wouldn't rate BKT tyres, the quality is too variable and the price too high for what they are.
Local tyre man is selling GRI tyres as his budget brand of choice. They're impressive so far in terms of comfort, floatation and grip. They measure wider than the size stated on the sidewall, they're easy on grassland, unlike BKT, CEAT etc and they're well priced. I'll try some the next time I need tyres.

 

[Netherfield]

@Terry Elsey Tyres

 

[Flatlander]

Go on this site and chose BKT radials...https://www.bigtyres.co.uk

Had a blow out on rear of my combine Saturday night. Got a pair of bkt radials Sunday morning. Look a nice tire and 1400$ each less the Michelin. For a cheaper brand the lride nice Still 7200

 

[patrickr321]

All really useful stuff. Thanks everyone. I'll look at GRI and BKT. Now wondering about water ballast versus weight(s). Waiting quotes from local tyre firm to see what they come up with. I'll need to use them to fit the tyres anyway.

 

[Timbo]

Hi

I need to replace both tyres on my Valtra 700 - small tractor. One is very worn and the other has a puncture. I could get the puncture repaired, but tyre people tell me that I would have to have inner tube and then couldn't fill the tyre with water - which it currently has for ballast. Tractor's done low hours and doesn't get heavy usage. Mostly yard and field (particularly for hay making) work. Occasional road work at low speeds (20mph max). The cost of a new tyre will be between £500 (budget ranges) and £1000 (Michelin) - radial tyres, which it currently has on. Cheaper for cross ply.

My questions:

1) £1000 per tyre is out of my budget! I know you get what you pay for, but is there really justification in buying a £1000 tyre over a £500 one? - especially for my kind of usage. Any recommended manufacturers on the more budget tyre side? Google is coming up with BKT, Ozka, MRL, Alliance, Vredestein.
2) any opinions on radial / cross ply? I've read that radial handles heat and wear better - but is that only if using at higher speeds? Again, given that the tractor is slow, do I really need radial?

Thanks

Put a pair of budget radials on it - as said BigTyres are very good, but add a further £50-80 / wheel for your local tyre fitter to fit them.

 

[Pistonbroke]

New alliance tyres look fine for your sort of work. Bloke we rent summer keep from had a set in his tractor two years ago

 

[killie_cowboy]

Hi

I need to replace both tyres on my Valtra 700 - small tractor. One is very worn and the other has a puncture. I could get the puncture repaired, but tyre people tell me that I would have to have inner tube and then couldn't fill the tyre with water - which it currently has for ballast. Tractor's done low hours and doesn't get heavy usage. Mostly yard and field (particularly for hay making) work. Occasional road work at low speeds (20mph max). The cost of a new tyre will be between £500 (budget ranges) and £1000 (Michelin) - radial tyres, which it currently has on. Cheaper for cross ply.

My questions:

1) £1000 per tyre is out of my budget! I know you get what you pay for, but is there really justification in buying a £1000 tyre over a £500 one? - especially for my kind of usage. Any recommended manufacturers on the more budget tyre side? Google is coming up with BKT, Ozka, MRL, Alliance, Vredestein.
2) any opinions on radial / cross ply? I've read that radial handles heat and wear better - but is that only if using at higher speeds? Again, given that the tractor is slow, do I really need radial?

Thanks

Forget about bias tyres, bad for compaction, ride and grip as have to be run rock hard as they're not meant to flex. Of the two you mentioned, BKT and Vredestein would be nice options, forget the rest, your Ozka, linglongs and such bottom of the barrel brands. As for alliance, everybody loves them for the first 5 minutes till they realise they're shite and split at 60% tread. Genuinely. Hardly a well worn alliance in the country.

 

[james ds]

Forget about bias tyres, bad for compaction, ride and grip as have to be run rock hard as they're not meant to flex. Of the two you mentioned, BKT and Vredestein would be nice options, forget the rest, your Ozka, linglongs and such bottom of the barrel brands. As for alliance, everybody loves them for the first 5 minutes till they realise they're shite and split at 60% tread. Genuinely. Hardly a well worn alliance in the country.

I’m just back from the ploughing match and there was a stand there selling a alliance tyres , I’m looking for a pair of 710 /70/38 for the Valtra t254 , does a lot of heavy road work . They are priced very well. But are they that bad , the rep claims these new models will do 5000 hrs. Avoid or not .

 

[Drillman]

Budget radial is the answer.

We never put expensive tyres on any tractor, mitchelins wear out just as quick as BKT on our land

 

[Serup]

I’m just back from the ploughing match and there was a stand there selling a alliance tyres , I’m looking for a pair of 710 /70/38 for the Valtra t254 , does a lot of heavy road work . They are priced very well. But are they that bad , the rep claims these new models will do 5000 hrs. Avoid or not .

If it is AgriStar II, i would steer well clear. I've had a lot of Alliance over the years, and most with good succes.

I bought a set 650/85r38 and 600/70r30 AgriStar II for a tractor. After 1650 hours, they where 50% worn and craked in the sidewalls, so alliance bought them back for half the price i paid, because of the 50% worn state. Cheapest tires i've bought, compared to the alternatives, but the most expensive per hour.
I have a similar tractor that i put vredestein xxl on in the same size. They cost 50% more, but at 4500 hours, they still have over 50% thread left.

 

[Serup]

Hi

I need to replace both tyres on my Valtra 700 - small tractor. One is very worn and the other has a puncture. I could get the puncture repaired, but tyre people tell me that I would have to have inner tube and then couldn't fill the tyre with water - which it currently has for ballast. Tractor's done low hours and doesn't get heavy usage. Mostly yard and field (particularly for hay making) work. Occasional road work at low speeds (20mph max). The cost of a new tyre will be between £500 (budget ranges) and £1000 (Michelin) - radial tyres, which it currently has on. Cheaper for cross ply.

My questions:

1) £1000 per tyre is out of my budget! I know you get what you pay for, but is there really justification in buying a £1000 tyre over a £500 one? - especially for my kind of usage. Any recommended manufacturers on the more budget tyre side? Google is coming up with BKT, Ozka, MRL, Alliance, Vredestein.
2) any opinions on radial / cross ply? I've read that radial handles heat and wear better - but is that only if using at higher speeds? Again, given that the tractor is slow, do I really need radial?

Thanks

I bought a set of Alliance farm pro 2 in 460/85r38 a few years ago. They where the cheapest radial tyres my dealer had. They will probably rot before they are worn out, so i wanted new ones.
I would buy them again.

 

[lloyd]

Put Ceat 560 tyres on a trailer two years ago very pleased much better
than the vredestein they replaced.

 

[C.J]

Another vote for CEAT

 

[killie_cowboy]

I’m just back from the ploughing match and there was a stand there selling a alliance tyres , I’m looking for a pair of 710 /70/38 for the Valtra t254 , does a lot of heavy road work . They are priced very well. But are they that bad , the rep claims these new models will do 5000 hrs. Avoid or not .

You always see YouTubers and the likes raving about these new alliance (probably got them heavily discounted too) but you can't really say if they're good or not till a few years down the line. For the amount of trouble people seem to have with the brand, I'd just go with BKT that would have a better record if it's an upper-budget-level tyre you're after.