Robert R
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2005
- Location
- Raymond , CA
Hello: The 30 year old R4 tires on the backhoe need to be replaced. The tread is starting to peel off the casing and the side walls have 3 inch long cracks. The existing tires have a 8 ply rating and were made in Eastern Europe.
This type of tire is now being made in Asia and there are a number of manufacturers. The list includes Deestone, BKT, AG Plus, Titan, Carlisle, Otani, Harvest King, K9, and Firestone. There is little to no information on the internet regarding the quality of these tires. I am primarily concerned about sidewall cracking. Prices range from $450 (Deestone) to $950 (Firestone) for the 12 ply rating. The prices can change by $100 on a weekly basis depending on what the tire warehouse is trying to get rid of. The Simple Tire store states that they will not sell a tire that has been stored for more than 4 years. This would imply that the rubber on the current generation of tires has a short operating life and my expectation of 20 years of service from a new set of tires is unrealistic.
Two questions:
Is there any advantage in using a 12 ply tire when a 8 ply rated tire is sufficient? My guess is that the 12 ply rated bias ply tire tire will have stiffer sidewalls and will flex less when rolling. This may delay the development of sidewall cracks. There is not a significant difference in the price going from a 8 to 12 ply rating.
Can someone make a recommendation for a tire brand based on the tire condition after five or more years of moderate service?
This type of tire is now being made in Asia and there are a number of manufacturers. The list includes Deestone, BKT, AG Plus, Titan, Carlisle, Otani, Harvest King, K9, and Firestone. There is little to no information on the internet regarding the quality of these tires. I am primarily concerned about sidewall cracking. Prices range from $450 (Deestone) to $950 (Firestone) for the 12 ply rating. The prices can change by $100 on a weekly basis depending on what the tire warehouse is trying to get rid of. The Simple Tire store states that they will not sell a tire that has been stored for more than 4 years. This would imply that the rubber on the current generation of tires has a short operating life and my expectation of 20 years of service from a new set of tires is unrealistic.
Two questions:
Is there any advantage in using a 12 ply tire when a 8 ply rated tire is sufficient? My guess is that the 12 ply rated bias ply tire tire will have stiffer sidewalls and will flex less when rolling. This may delay the development of sidewall cracks. There is not a significant difference in the price going from a 8 to 12 ply rating.
Can someone make a recommendation for a tire brand based on the tire condition after five or more years of moderate service?