[foolioGrimz]

Hi, I'm looking for tires to put on my craftsman riding mower and before I just go out and buy something I thought I'd ask for opinions. I live out on a small ranch with a bit over 5 acres and I'm fighting to reclaim my land from the dense South Texas vegetation. It's full of cactus and a large variety of thorn bushes/trees and sharp tree stumps. I'm not worried about tearing up turf and need something that can really dig in and get great traction without going flat every time I mow. I was looking at the carlisle super lugs but they only come in a 2 ply for my tire size. The tires that came on the mower from the factory are 18x9.5-8 and 15x6-6 in the front. Any recommendations?

 

[Tom-machinery-idiot]

Don't know if you'll find a really tough mower tire these days. The ones I've seen don't seem to be too rugged. I was thinking about running a sealer inside. I've had good luck keeping otherwise leaky tires inflated with Slime. I buy the large jug of the stuff and pump a dozen strokes into each tire and they stay up. Use it on all my mowers.

 

[MrGiggles]

Have a set of ATV tires foam filled and run those.

 

[Tractor-Holic]

You can get tires for small aircraft that have a 1500+lb rating and so many plies they dont even need air,sometimes an small airport will have some hanging around in their scrap pile...they weigh more than regular tires too,and you can load them with fluid..

The only 2 bummers, is trying to mount them,they are usually used on rims that unbolt in two halves and use thick inner tubes..
I've mounted some on regular drop center rims and it was a bear of a job,the rim bead started to bend before the tire bead stretched over it and went on..also they are usually only ribbed tread and nearly bald,so you'll need chains for good traction..but they'll be hard to puncture..

 

[victor3ranger]

Have a set of ATV tires foam filled and run those.

This right here. Go to the link up above at Miller Tire. Best place to get good lug style 6ply ATV tires. Then fill those babies and never worry about flats again.:fing32:

 

[Tom-machinery-idiot]

You can get tires for small aircraft that have a 1500+lb rating and so many plies they dont even need air,sometimes an small airport will have some hanging around in their scrap pile...they weigh more than regular tires too,and you can load them with fluid..

The only 2 bummers, is trying to mount them,they are usually used on rims that unbolt in two halves and use thick inner tubes..
I've mounted some on regular drop center rims and it was a bear of a job,the rim bead started to bend before the tire bead stretched over it and went on..also they are usually only ribbed tread and nearly bald,so you'll need chains for good traction..but they'll be hard to puncture..

I had a friend who used 737 tires on his Bobcat. He told me that he got them from Southwest Airlines for next to nothing, but like you say they are bald when they finally get rid of them.

 

[MrGiggles]

You can get tires for small aircraft that have a 1500+lb rating and so many plies they dont even need air,sometimes an small airport will have some hanging around in their scrap pile...they weigh more than regular tires too,and you can load them with fluid..

The only 2 bummers, is trying to mount them,they are usually used on rims that unbolt in two halves and use thick inner tubes..
I've mounted some on regular drop center rims and it was a bear of a job,the rim bead started to bend before the tire bead stretched over it and went on..also they are usually only ribbed tread and nearly bald,so you'll need chains for good traction..but they'll be hard to puncture..

You can have the beads cut on them for almost nothing, and mount them on regular wheels.

They are nearly a 30 ply tire, extremely heavy. We have huge Locust thorns here, very very seldom do they puncture. When we get flats on them it's from the tube getting pinched or valve stem failure.

They're really only good on the front of a tractor. Every one that I've seen is ribbed for a steer axle, no tread.

 

[foolioGrimz]

ATV tires sound good as long as I can find one that fits. This lawn mower has weak rear end and with all the armadillo holes I have I'm stuck jumping up and down on the dang thing trying to get that one wheel that's spinning to stick.

 

[Boyd]

15x6.5-6 tires were once made in a ag/lug pattern 20-25 years ago so they would be extremely hard to find. Look for an ATV or snowblower tire in that size if you need good steering traction. More tires are available to replace your 18" turf tires.