Tires for JD B

[krank]

I have a 1952 B that belonged to my Dad. The rear tires have split apart.
They are 12.4 X 38.
Looking for tires I see they are high priced. Also saw that 11.8 x 38 are more reasonably priced.
If I go with the 11.8 then they are $150 cheaper.
Wondering if anybody has any thoughts on that.
The B stays in the barn and only gets occasional use like hayrides and parades.

 

[Mike M]

I was never one to spend money on tires. I'd go with the cheapest I could find. Used ones may be hard to find now too ? I was pretty lucky in the past being able to come up with matching used tires in my tractor dealings.
If your anywhere near Ohio I had seen an ad on craigslist in the past someone had a bunch of new ones for a good price. I think they were out of Marengo Ohio.

 

[krank]

Thanks.I have seen used tires for sale but they are about like mine the day before they split apart. I had to buy a whole tractor (basket case) to get a tire for my H international.

 

[rrlund]

11.2 38s weren't they? That's the same as the old 10 38s. That was pretty much standard for Bs, Oliver 66s and similar sized tractors in this part of the country. If they're new,the tread will make them stand right up pretty good and tall anyway.

 

[buickanddeere]

The widest 38" rims on a B were 11". Modern Tires would be 12.4 or 13.6 depending on who you ask.
11.2X38 are only 57" tall. 12.4X38 are 59.0" tall . 13.6X38 are 61.5" tall.
A B in particular with 16" front rims. They look rather short on the backside with 11.2" or 12.4" tires.

 

[Dan in Ohio]

krank,

Here is my B with 11.2 x 38 Firestone Field and Road tires. Second pic is of my B and A, the A has 13.6 x 38 same brand.

 

[krank]

Studying up...The 11.8 is a ten inch and the 12.4 is an eleven inch. Back in 1952 did they use the 12.4 designation??? If not then those tires are not original as they say "12.4 x 38" We bought the tractor in 1974.
I took a couple of framing squares and the 12.4's measure a little over a foot wide. The rims are ten inches outside to outside.
I have a roll-omatic front end so the tractor always seemed high in the front.
I am thinking of getting the 11.8 x 38 for $315 as opposed to the 12.4's for $475.
If this was my everyday tractor I would have a different attitude.

 

[krank]

Has anyone ever tried an "irrigation tire"????? They look just like a tractor tire except the lug angle is slightly different. I can get a 6 ply 38 x 11.8 for $250 delivered.

 

[rrlund]

They didn't use the 12.4 size in 52 no. I have a barn find 1954 Oliver 66 that has the original rear tires and they're 10-38. It was the early 60s before they changed the numbers. Dad had an Oliver 66 with 10s on it. I remember going to Grand Rapids with him to get a new pair of 11.2s for it in about 1964 or so. That was the first time I remember seeing the new numbers, although my uncle bought a new 4010 in 61 and I believe that had 18.4 34s.

 

[NoDakInMN]

When your tractor was in field use, tire size was picked by the farmer based on traction, compaction and other practical considerations. Now, your needs are something that isn't all cracked up and holds air. As far as looks go, opinions vary. Some guys think bigger is better, no matter what. Personally, I prefer something that looks proprtional to the size of the tractor. The B, being more diminutive than the G or the A, doesn't need as big a rear tire. In fact, a smaller tire with its smaller circumference, would give a slower road speed than a larger one, which might be beneficial for parading. My 2 cents.

 

[Leroy]

11.2 not 11.8 and that was orignal from factory size. It has had a replacement set of one size over put on. If you need speed for that use then get the 12.4 as it will travel slightly faster with them and it is slow to start with in high gear.

 

[buickanddeere]

We have a couple of 50's. One has a set of 11.2 "round" Goodyear Tires. The other 50 havs 12.4 Firestone Field and Roads. The tractors are 1/2 an hour away but iirc . The 12.4 model 50 is 3" or so taller at the drawbar.

 

[Brendon-KS]

I used to have a 1950 B with 11.2-38 tires. I'm definitely not in the "biggest tire that can be mounted" camp but to me this tractor would have looked better with the slightly larger
12.4's. It was a single front wheel model (9.00-10 tire) and with the 11.2's it was just a bit high in the nose. Although 11.2's would be the original size to me a late styled B would
look just about right with 12.4's. There's less than 5% difference in rolling circumference between these two tire sizes so there isn't much practical change in travel speed, less than .5
mph wide open in high gear.

 

[Leroy]

A field and road Firestone has less height than a Goodyear of same size. The 12.4 Field and road was same height as the orignal Firestone 10" that later would have been 11.2. Had the orignal Firestone 10 on a 46 B, the 12.4 Field and road on 49 B and Goodyear on a Farmall H all at same time.