6 Ply rear Tractor tires vs 8 ply

[dm2237]

Hello,
I'm looking to change out the tires on my Farmall 666 from 15.5x38 to 16.9x38 for added ground clearance for bailing hay. Our problem now is that the jack on the baler doesn't go low enough to hook up to the tractor. But would 6 ply tires be enough. The only thing this tractor does in hay work. Square baling, some tedding and raking. I do some light disking in the spring for the pumpkins that I grow, but only about 1/2 an acre. So, do I need the 8 ply tires?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Janicholson]

Probably just fine to go with the 6 ply. Load rating is more meaningful than "ply" rating. when Plys were all made from the same string/fiber, the rating made sense. I have had 12 ply radial Michelin tires that were 3 ply steel. Jim

 

[rustred]

your good, those 6 ply will last forever if kept out of the sun. also firestone or titan will far out last chinese tires.

 

[dm2237]

I was looking at a set of Titan tires anyway. Thanks for the replies.

 

[farmersamm]

When I run into a mis-match between a jack, and a hitch.................I modify the jack height to accommodate the hitch. In your case, it's probably possible to raise the jack mount, thereby allowing for more jack travel. Be a lot cheaper than buying new tires.

Standard pipe mount trailer jacks are very useful for this application. Simply add a plate to the tongue that's higher than the tongue, and weld your pipe mount to it. Add a gusset if you feel it's necessary.

 

[Bruce from Can.]

I always like to place a piece of 2”x8” about 2’ long under the jacks of implements anyway, because if you unhook on dirt, the jack will sink into the ground if you don’t. How many inches difference are you thinking? So use two pieces of board or a 6x6. 6 ply tires particularly if not loaded will be fine on your tractor for making hay.

 

[Bob Bancroft]

Hello,
I'm looking to change out the tires on my Farmall 666 from 15.5x38 to 16.9x38 for added ground clearance for bailing hay. Our problem now is that the jack on the baler doesn't go low enough to hook up to the tractor. But would 6 ply tires be enough. The only thing this tractor does in hay work. Square baling, some tedding and raking. I do some light disking in the spring for the pumpkins that I grow, but only about 1/2 an acre. So, do I need the 8 ply tires?

Thanks,
Dan

Bias or radial? For what you're doing I would go bias. When I was looking for 16.9x38 Firestone radial they were factory pre-paid order, as no one stocked them.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Probably just fine to go with the 6 ply. Load rating is more meaningful than "ply" rating. when Plys were all made from the same string/fiber, the rating made sense. I have had 12 ply radial Michelin tires that were 3 ply steel. Jim

Ply rating is commensurate with load rating. In other words, a tire with a higher ply rating will also have a higher load rating. You won't find a 6 ply rated tire with a higher load rating than an 8 ply tire.

It's funny how they still push the ply rating, but then again, I have no idea what the load rating numbers mean. The ply ratings mean more to me, in the sense that more plies means a stronger tire.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Hello,
I'm looking to change out the tires on my Farmall 666 from 15.5x38 to 16.9x38 for added ground clearance for bailing hay. Our problem now is that the jack on the baler doesn't go low enough to hook up to the tractor. But would 6 ply tires be enough. The only thing this tractor does in hay work. Square baling, some tedding and raking. I do some light disking in the spring for the pumpkins that I grow, but only about 1/2 an acre. So, do I need the 8 ply tires?

Thanks,
Dan

Here's a question for you: What is the ply rating on your current tires? If they are 6 ply now and doing the job, then 6 ply new tires will be just fine.

 

[Texasmark]

For what tires cost, especially your size, no way would sacrifice a pair of good (assumed) tires for an alteration of the baler tongue jack.....and the baler doesn't care if, in use, the baler doesn't sit parallel to the ground. The main part is over the axle and the pickup is the only thing to change and there is a crank that sets the pickup fingers height so I don't see a problem.

 

[redtom]

Um, isn't he saying that the jack height a side issue? I read that he originally says he needs height on tractor for baling. I wouldn't be afraid of 6 ply for your use.

 

[bradley martin]

I would be surprised if the ply rating of a tire makes a significant difference in its circumference ( height). Tires from different manufacturers might differ considerable.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

I assume the hitch doesn’t flip or not enough?

 

[buickanddeere]

sometimes more plies have better puncture resistance

 

[Texasmark]

I would be surprised if the ply rating of a tire makes a significant difference in its circumference ( height). Tires from different manufacturers might differ considerable.

I have 7 tractors and 4 are running 13.6 x some dia. There is no set circumference norm. for these tires. None of them are the same since they are all from different mfgrs. and this causes problems when you replace just one tire.....gotta do both simultaneously.

 

[ASE guy]

Ply rating is commensurate with load rating. In other words, a tire with a higher ply rating will also have a higher load rating. You won't find a 6 ply rated tire with a higher load rating than an 8 ply tire.

It's funny how they still push the ply rating, but then again, I have no idea what the load rating numbers mean. The ply ratings mean more to me, in the sense that more plies means a stronger tire.

The load rating, or load index starts at 75 and means that tire's payload is 853 lbs. On the other end of the scale is 115 with a corresponding payload of 2,679 lbs. per tire.

 

[farmersamm]

I'm still lobbying for changing the baler tongue/jack, instead of buying taller tires

Some time back I raised the jack mount because it sat too low. I replaced it with another jack I had laying around. Makes it simple to hook up if you drop it on uneven ground..............plenty of clearance underneath the jack now. The added receiver tube holds the jack.........when not in use, it resides on the bed of the trailer.

The tongue, and coupler height, was also modified at the same time. This is an old shorty trailer I use for my diesel transfer tank. The hitch on the 1 ton is considerably higher than the trailer tongue as it came from the factory.

Get out your welder and make some sparks!!

 

[Texasmark]

I had a tongue jack go out on my trailer that goes to town to get my diesel fuel......no biggie, just allocated one of mh 6 floor jacks to the task...problem solved.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I'm still lobbying for changing the baler tongue/jack, instead of buying taller tires



Some time back I raised the jack mount because it sat too low. I replaced it with another jack I had laying around. Makes it simple to hook up if you drop it on uneven ground..............plenty of clearance underneath the jack now. The added receiver tube holds the jack.........when not in use, it resides on the bed of the trailer.

The tongue, and coupler height, was also modified at the same time. This is an old shorty trailer I use for my diesel transfer tank. The hitch on the 1 ton is considerably higher than the trailer tongue as it came from the factory.

Get out your welder and make some sparks!!

You may not have to get that medieval with it.

The hitches on many/most balers are adjustable for this very reason. It is usually a matter of two bolts, and then moving/reconfiguring the clevis.

The below shows the tongue of an IH baler. Parts 1 and 2 can be mounted on top of the tube as shown, inside the tube top or bottom, and below the tube. Additionally they can be flipped over for four more height options, for a total of eight different drawbar heights spanning several inches. In fact I think you can also get spacers for even more height options.

This is a New Holland baler hitch. Adjusting height is less "complicated." Simply remove the two bolts and move the clevis up and down to the desired height.

But, if the guy wants to buy new tires, let the guy buy new tires. He did not mention the condition of the old tires. They may be shot. If they're not shot, "good used" tires are easy to sell, and you can name your price.

 

[farmersamm]

You may not have to get that medieval with it.

The hitches on many/most balers are adjustable for this very reason. It is usually a matter of two bolts, and then moving/reconfiguring the clevis.

The below shows the tongue of an IH baler. Parts 1 and 2 can be mounted on top of the tube as shown, inside the tube top or bottom, and below the tube. Additionally they can be flipped over for four more height options, for a total of eight different drawbar heights spanning several inches. In fact I think you can also get spacers for even more height options.
View attachment 93840
This is a New Holland baler hitch. Adjusting height is less "complicated." Simply remove the two bolts and move the clevis up and down to the desired height.
View attachment 93841

But, if the guy wants to buy new tires, let the guy buy new tires. He did not mention the condition of the old tires. They may be shot. If they're not shot, "good used" tires are easy to sell, and you can name your price.

I didn't get THAT medieval...................I just got creative