How to measure tire width

[f350ctd]

Here's the situation. One of my tractors has 13.6-28 on it that are cracked pretty bad in spots. I ordered new Alliance Farm Pro 324 in 14.9-28. After I got home with them (I didn't have them mounted) I noticed they didn't look any wider than the 13.6s so I measured them from bar to bar and came up with 12.5 inches. I measured the 13.6s on all 3 tractors sitting here. Bar to bar they all measured around 12.5 as well. I realize that mounting them will make some difference in bar to bar width but something doesn't seem right here. Am I expecting too much to have the new tires I just bought be somewhere close to the 14.9 as designated? I went to the expense of buying new 13-28 rims as well. What good is it to buy 14.9 tires when they are the same as the 13.6, just a couple inches taller? I'm thinking I got screwed. What do you all think? After talking to the tire dealer I can already tell I'm gonna have a fight on my hands to return them.

Danny

 

[Dieseltech]

Put them on and stop worrying about it. Tire width is more
side wall related than tread width is. The 14.9 X 28 tires are
taller also.

 

[ptfarmer]

You have to take what the tire measurements that are on the tire with a grain of salt. You can take 2 different makes of tires that are supposed to be the "exact same size", put them side by side, and visibly see a difference in size.

 

[lstra]

I have noticed on Alliance tires, they don't have the sidewall width as other brands of tires. I bought a used tractor that had Alliance tires, just didn't look right to me. bought another brand name tire,
looked better to me.

 

[f350ctd]

Thanks for the input. Nobody around here stocks a variety of tires to look at before you order/buy. I think these Alliance tires look alright it's just that I was looking for some extra bar width. Judging by this I should have ordered 16.9s. I don't relish the thought of getting into a p1$$ing match with the tire dealer I'll probably just make do with what I got, but I won't like it.
Danny