What is the perfect tire wear for antique pulling?

massey1080

New User
I'm looking at a pair of used tires for antique pulling. They appear to be wore
too much in the middle and not on the edges. I would guess the centers to be 10-15%
and the outer 1/3 of the tires are maybe 20-30%. It appears there were ran
with a little too much air (just a guess). A few guys in my area just think wore out tires are
the magic touch to winning, but I can't imagine that will work. What is the perfect %
of tread left for you guys that are competitive in your local area? Thanks
 

If the centers are worn more, they were run with too much air in them. Our rules say no cut tires, road worn (the front of the tread taller than the rear) however are allowed, which are "naturally" cut. As far as the perfect wear for pulling, depends on the track conditions and how much power you have.
 
Don't believe you will ever find the "perfect" tires. Different sleds, tracks, tractors, track crews, etc...makes for different results on different nights. Generally: a tire with no more than 3/4" lug height, worn off on the back side (like a cut tire) and straight in the front (not rounded at top or bottom of lug) is what you want. Hard to find. Most folks prefer a 23 or 30 degree lug but I have seen folks do very well with 45 degree tires. I have even run the "wiggly tread " Goodyear in uncut tire classes with success. Much of it may be trial and error until you find the right match for your application. Happy hunting! !
 
Grab the tires you describe,awesome,will work on hard to medium hard pulling tracks very well,no tire works good every time.the more tread,-- the more dirt you pile in front of the "BUCKBOARD" !!!!
 

The wear that you describe, while if it were a car or truck tire would mean it was run overinflated, it is how 90% of tractor tires wear. It is simply because road tires are meant to have the whole width of the tread surface on the road, while in order to get a tractor tire to be on the surface all the way across, you have to have it seriously underinflated.
 
Road worn tires are a joke. just go to top-cut and end the arguments and DQ from the home town pullers. Your tires are DQ but there tires which look the same are outlawed, the only reason is you are not local puller.
 
Yes: place using "road worn " tires are asking for confrontation. I have seen and owned some road wear tires that could not have been a better pattern if they had been cut. Have also seen tires that the owner claimed were road wear that were not! ! Going with top cuts gets rid of some of the cheating and allows a person to "match up " tires that were not. One less area of arguments.
 
My guess is that they will work good.....Heres my pair of road worn 14.9x36's....They are about 15%
in the center and 35% on the outer....They hook good....A friend paid $1.00 for them on a sale..
a158414.jpg
 
Looks like Firestone SAT : should do fairly well. As I started before: a lot is trial and error to see what works for you. Don't know the price: but: my attitude is to not pay more for them than you can resell them for if they are not doing what you expect.
 
Can't see exactly how much tread is on them but they look good, some unusual wear I think comes from a lot of those tires being radial, wrong air pressure, and not aligning the double bevel wheels straight when installing. I like those 23 degree firestones and the 151 field&road as well, if the price is right buy them
 
(quoted from post at 09:14:40 04/27/17) Here is a pic of the tires in question. Thanks for all replies so far!
a158428.jpg

That looks like typical wear for a tire that has been on the road a lot.
 
The top cut tires on my tractor. Were pulled non cut before me! I have won a little with them. Even in a full cut class. Yes road worn is a joke.
 
I have been trying to talk our sled owner into going to top cuts in the stock class. Only a few fortunate people can find (or afford) a good set of sharp un cut tires.
 
Main problem being: folks come up with all kinds of ways to "enhance" the lug shape without ever taking a grinding disc to them and leave grind marks. Gets real touchy what is "natural" vs "enhanced" . Top cut eliminates the "guess work " and "home cookin' ". (Someone being disqualified because of illegal tires while "home boys " run whatever they want. Yep, I have been victim of home cookin' )
 
Home cooking? How 'bout you ask for speed clarification @ get "it's 7 or 7 1/2, but we'll work with you, @ the discretion of the sled operator"
 
I have worn Firestone 151 field and roads on my super m. So far they have impressed me on the tracks around here. The tread is about 3/4" high.
I have used Safemark tires and the Firestones and the Firestones grab the best all around.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top