As large agricultural vehicles, tractors require different wheels and tires than regular, smaller machinery. Because of that, these tires might also be more expensive than the type of tires used for personal vehicles, such as cars, trucks, or SUVs.
If you own a tractor and are in the market for new tires, you might be wondering how expensive these are. So, how much do tractor tires actually cost?
How Much Do Tractor Tires Cost?
Tractor tires can be quite expensive, depending on the model, type, and size of the tractor. For example, the rear tires of a tractor can cost anywhere from $100 to $2000, which means they’re quite expensive.
The front tires of a tractor are slightly less expensive, but buying them will still cost you a fortune. As a result, it’s often best to look into used tires, which are sold for lower prices but often still in good condition.
Why are tractor tires expensive?
Tractor tires are expensive for a wide variety of reasons.
First of all, tractor tries are quite large. In fact, they’re one of the largest tires available on the market, especially industrial tractor tires.
Their size means that they cost much more than smaller tires since they require more rubber to be produced.
What’s more, tractor tires need to be much stronger than car tires. That’s because tractor tires often haul lots of weight in the form of other agricultural equipment, such as plows, harvesters, or seeders.
In addition, tractors often drive on muddy soil or, if they’re industrial, on concrete. As a result, tractor tires need to be made to withstand these harsh conditions.
Tractor tires are also very heavy, which is another reason they’re very expensive. This comes back to how much material needs to be used to manufacture them.
All of these reasons add up to the high price of tractor tires.
How often do you need to change tractor tires?
How long your tractor tires should last depends on several factors. With that said, the general rule is that any tires older than six years are at risk of damaging the soil and not having as much traction.
Also, as a general rule, you should change your tires every 25,000 to 75,000 miles (40,000 to 121,000 kilometers).
On the other hand, if your tractor is mostly used to perform heavy-duty tasks, you may need to replace the tires more frequently.
In the same way, if you don’t use your tractor too often or only use it for light jobs, you may get away with keeping the tires longer.
So, it all depends on the usage and how well you take care of the tractor tires.
Are tractor tires hard to find?
Tractor tires aren’t something that needs to be changed too regularly. So, until the time comes, many farmers and tractor users don’t think about buying them the next time.
Unfortunately, this might make finding new tires quite difficult.
Tractor tires have always been quite hard to find since they’re not as common as car tires or other types of tires used for smaller vehicles.
What’s more, there has been a rubber shortage recently. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, rubber has been used for other purposes, such as the production of rubber gloves. And tractor tires weren’t as important.
So, with a shortage of rubber, the main ingredient in tractor tires, it has been hard for tractor users to get their hands on this type of tire. Because of that, many had decided to purchase used tires when they needed to change theirs.
Why is there a difference in price between the front and rear tractor tires?
Simply by looking at a tractor, it’s evident that the front tires are smaller than the rear tires. And this is one of the simplest reasons why rear tires are more expensive.
As a rule, larger tires are always more expensive than smaller tires. They require more material to be made. They also need to be stronger to withstand the weight of the driver’s cabin since it rests on the rear wheels.
Plus, tractor tires on their own are very heavy. A single tire can weigh anywhere between 400 to 600 pounds (180 to 275 kilograms). And this number can be much higher for rear tires. So, that’s also why they tend to cost more.
With that said, if you need to buy tires for your tractor but can only afford one set, experts recommend going for the rear tires.
New and fresh rear tires help guarantee that your tractor doesn’t get stuck in the soil and doesn’t put too much pressure on it. That way, you can avoid destroying the area where you use your tractor.
The front wheels tend to roll without putting too much pressure on the ground. So they can go longer without being replaced.
Is buying used tractor tires a good idea?
Since tractor tires are so expensive, many people buy used ones. It can be a good idea to save so many as long as you ensure the tires are still in good condition.
Luckily, many people sell used tractor tires, either because they don’t use them anymore or because they bought a different tractor.
Still, it’s important to make sure that the used tires you buy are in relatively good condition. There are many scams out there, so it’s important to carefully assess the tires before buying them.
Additionally, be sure to make sure that the tires match your tractor’s wheels. Using the wrong tires can damage your wheels and make your job much harder.
So, keep those factors in mind when buying used tires.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many reasons why tractor tires cost a lot. But the simplest explanation is that they’re quite large and require a lot of material to be produced, which increases their cost.
So, since tractor tries are so expensive, changing them can cost you a lot of money. Because of that, it’s important to take care of them and make sure that you’re not damaging them.
Sources: Research Gate, MDPI, SAGE Journals, and Taylor & Francis Online
Jack is the owner, chief editor, and senior writer of this website.
Machinery, engines, and farming have always been a passion of his since he was a young boy. Growing up on a small farm in rural America, he learned the value of hard work and dedication from an early age.
After completing his degree in Engineering, he decided to follow his dream and became a farmer in 2009.
Since then, he has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. He has grown a variety of crops, tended to farm animals, and worked with all sorts of farming machinery. Continue reading…
