Mixing Radials and Bias....

Dan Swanson · Sep 9, 2009

I have a good pair of michelin 480/70 R34 radials on my 806 70% tread or so. They are just about 1" taller than a 16.9 X 34 bias per spec. I would like to run clap-on duals from time to time to improve floatation. I have a like new 16.9 x 34 bias tire but I can't for the life of me find a desent 2nd bias. Cheapest chinese tire I can find is right at $600. I have located a near new 16.9 R34 chinese radial tire for $250. I know I should match the tires as close as possible but would it cause any problems by running the bias and a radial on the duals? The tractor's heaviest load is a 14' chisel/sweep used for summer fallow which isn't much of a load compared a 4 bottom plow I have. Thanks, Dan

JMS/.MN · Sep 9, 2009

I"ve been running radials on the inside, bias on the outside, for decades. No problems. Do you mean one dual is a bias, the other side is a radial? Really can"t imagine a problem with that either. Normally run the duals about 2/3 the pressure of the insides.

mark2009 · Sep 9, 2009

(quoted from post at 15:12:04 09/09/09) I have a good pair of michelin 480/70 R34 radials on my 806 70% tread or so. They are just about 1" taller than a 16.9 X 34 bias per spec. I would like to run clap-on duals from time to time to improve floatation. I have a like new 16.9 x 34 bias tire but I can't for the life of me find a desent 2nd bias. Cheapest chinese tire I can find is right at $600. I have located a near new 16.9 R34 chinese radial tire for $250. I know I should match the tires as close as possible but would it cause any problems by running the bias and a radial on the duals? The tractor's heaviest load is a 14' chisel/sweep used for summer fallow which isn't much of a load compared a 4 bottom plow I have. Thanks, Dan

I've always heard that too, that you shouldn't run a bias inside, and a radial outside as well (not sure if it is true). We've got some old radials that we took off, but are hesitant to put them on the duals (duals are in worse shape than the spare radials) because of that.

Anybody know if it is true?

Janicholson · Sep 9, 2009

My opinion is that there are handling and safety issues when mixing tires of different carcass design. but only on road vehicles. Tractors (in this country are (exceptions exist) not driven fast enough to feel this effect. Running them mismatched will make no difference. I would adjust the pressures so they leave the same depth tracks in soft soil. JimN

John B. · Sep 9, 2009

I don't see a problem with that.
Make sure you have the same size tires on each side of the tractor though. If you have one bias on the right put the other bias of same size on the left.
What I'm saying is you don't want a smaller diameter set of tires on one side the tractor. This would make your differential gears walk constantly. (as if you were driving in a circle, which makes your gears walk). This is mechanic talk hope you understand what I'm saying.

Dan Swanson · Sep 9, 2009

Yes, that's what I want to do. Run the same size Michelin radials on the inside and run the 16.9 bias on one dual and the 16.9 radial on the other. They are with in an inch of each other. Thanks Dan

RodinNS · Sep 10, 2009

It will work... and I doubt ti will harm anything. That said, I think that you will find, depending on ground conditions, that you will have more pull on one side or the other when you mix one bias and one raidal on the duals. The other thing you will probably notice is that the bias side will ride like hell on the road, find ever damn hole that exists and generally shake the crap out of you.
If you've got confidence enough in that 250 buck chinese radial, buy two and sell your bias. Lord knows there should be a market for that.... especially if it's a firestone.
If not, then I think I'd find a use bias to match (roughly) the one you have.
I run bias GoodYears on the duals and Firestone radials on the inside. I'm basically at the point with that setup that I only put the duals on if I absolutely need them... It's so much smoother on soft singles.

Rod

Mixing Radials and Bias....

Dan Swanson

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JMS/.MN

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mark2009

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Janicholson

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John B.

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Dan Swanson

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RodinNS

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