The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Following from Mike Kuscher's Major post on the subject, I have contacted Land Tyre Services who quote ex VAT for 12.4x28" rear Dexta X-ply tyres as follows:
Cheap make (eg Barum) £125
Better make Goodyear/Vredstein £150
Inner tube £24.
Free fitting
Land Tyres are just off M40 nr Gaydon.

Any views on whether it is worth paying the extra?
All the best,
Ben

Ben,

You pays your penny and you takes your choice. How are the Goodyear better? If they are a stronger tyre, or more ply, then it's worth the extra. If it's just the name, why bother.
All I will say is that I now wish Dexta tyres fitted the Major.
Two rears and two fronts, with innertubes gave me no change fom £700

Mike

Hi,

Just to say that I agree with Mike that you must always judge like for like specifications.

I have been lucky enough to visit many tyre manufacturers around the world and have no problem recommending the replacement tyres coming out of India like BKT, Supreme or Apollo. Indeed I purchased a full set of Supreme's for my TEF20.

The Chinese tyres are a bit of a mixed bag and I'm not yet sure which brand relates to which factory.

Cheers
Alan

I'm using Barum Tyres on both Nuffy and Henrietta. They are not bad but I do notice that the walls are starting to show age cracks after about four years.

Brian,
The cracking you see is caused by ozone oxidization. When I worked this was a specialist subject of mine. I am not too sure about Czech (Barum) made tyres as they tended to use German technology, but we did a lot of work with BKT (Supreme), Apollo and MRF in India and I like to think the quality shows.
All tyres will suffer from oxidization after years of use. Waxes are used to bloom on the tyre surface during manufacture and this offers protection until it gets abraded away.
What we should do is to rub cold cream into the tyres like our women fold do to stop wrinkles.
Cheers
Alan

All, Thanks for the info, very helpful, Ben

OK Alan,

Maybe you had better come here and explain to Kath why she should calm down having found her Oil of Ulay in my tool box

Mike

Mike,

If you are buying face cream try Boots No.7 and save the vouchers for me. I will collect them when I see you.

I am saving them up so I can get Keeley Hawes!!

At risk of getting back on topic , am I right in thinking that most of our tyres are cross ply?
What are the pros and cons of radials for our old tractors?
Thanks,
Ben

Ben,

You may find this link of interest.
http://www.michelinag.com/agx/en-US/pro ... radial.jsp

It was often said in the tyre industry that Michelin undertake original R&D and that other companies copy what Michelin do.

Perhaps the question is... what do you want your Dexta to do - Work, look good or both.

If I had known making a joke about Cold Cream would bring the worst out in Mike and Brian I wouldn't have done Ben. But you might be interested to see this product...


Not sure if you can get it in Europe.

Cheers
Alan

Alan,
Many thanks for the link. It seems that 320/85R28 is the radial equivalent of 12.4R28? Also radial tyres are ALOT more expensive than X-ply - getting on for twice the price, eg Vredestein 'Traxion85' vs 'Tractor Transport' tyres. It seems BKT make a suitable radial, 320/85R28 radial RT855.

Radials generally have better performance, but may be more prone to damage, eg from rocks etc, a concern for me, as my Dexta is working on a hill farm.

Thanks for all the info I need to pluck up courage and spend yet more £££, but on which tyres?
Ben

And if you go Radial, you probably need your cream from Channel

Mike

Mike Kuscher wrote:And if you go Radial, you probably need your cream from Channel

Ah but which No. ?! More decisions
BTW Is anyone using radials?
Ben

Ben,
I use all Radials.

I doubt if the old diagonals (cross-ply) for the traction wheels are still easy to find.
For the implements, yes.

Jos

Cross plys ae still readily available over here.

A radial is more for high power pulling work as it puts more treads on the ground.

Radial tyres were not available on Dexta and Major tractors and I would feel that the extra expense is not really worth it.

You would have to run them at a high pressure to avoid rim slip, something that we suffered with when radials first came out until manufactures tightened the specification on the rim size. The Dexta rims are not to that specification.

Brian wrote:Radial tyres were not available on Dexta and Major tractors and I would feel that the extra expense is not really worth it.

You would have to run them at a high pressure to avoid rim slip, something that we suffered with when radials first came out until manufacturers tightened the specification on the rim size. The Dexta rims are not to that specification.

Brian,
Thanks for the warning.
From my limited research all the cheaper tyres are X-ply, typically £120-£150ex VAT. The cheapest 12.4R28 radial I have found is a Semperit at £200, or 11.2R28 at £180 both exVAT
Any further info welcome,
Thanks,
Ben