Rear tires

prl said:

Rear tires on x370 brochure look so small compared to older JD tractor's. Is this a problem when using only for snow blowing ? Are larger tires an option ?

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No. The 20x10x8 tires are well matched for a K57 or K46 transmission. Chains and two 42lb suitcase weights on the back and you’re good to go.

You occasionally see box store JD’s with the larger 23x8.5x12 tires on the rear. It’s nothing more than a marketing gimmick to make the consumer think it’s a bigger tractor. The larger rear tires offer a slightly smoother ride and a bit more top speed but at the expense of torque and transmission longevity.

The tires used are the correct size for the transmission, as said above. Using larger tires puts a heavier load on the transmission, and it will void your warranty if you still have one. The tire type and weight will be the determining factors. If you can find HDAPs then they would be my first option.

I don't know if this is correct or not but I consider it a Garden Tractor if it has bolt on rims, is this a correct assumption?

I actually look for that first when looking at GT's.

I consider anything not bolted on as a Lawn Tractor.

CCMoe

That’s a reasonable assumption.

FYY, here’s Tuff Torq’s lineup of lawn and garden tractor transaxles. If you go back into integrated tranaxles, you’ll see the larger ones designed for GT’s.

https://www.tufftorq.com/product/k46/

https://www.tufftorq.com/products/lawn-garden/iht/

CCMoe said:

I don't know if this is correct or not but I consider it a Garden Tractor if it has bolt on rims, is this a correct assumption?

I actually look for that first when looking at GT's.

I consider anything not bolted on as a Lawn Tractor.

CCMoe

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JDs 394 has bolt on wheels and a K58 hydro. I don't consider it a GT although its priced like one.

My old wheelhorse 266H had a K61 and bolt on wheels as well and was classified as an LT

Steve Urquell said:

JDs 394 has bolt on wheels and a K58 hydro. I don't consider it a GT although its priced like one.

My old wheelhorse 266H had a K61 and bolt on wheels as well and was classified as an LT

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Yes, there are exceptions which made me use the term “reasonable assumption”.

Interesting on the X394 having bolt on rims. The high quality LX lawn tractors which were made up to 2005 had the K62 transaxle which was a better quality transaxle than the K58, and had the rear wheels held on by large clip rings.

Again, it gives the machine the appearance of being heavier duty, although it has an LT transaxle. Eye candy for the consumer. Average consumers see the big tires and are sold, having no idea the transaxle is the most critical part of the equation.

Steve Urquell said:

JDs 394 has bolt on wheels and a K58 hydro. I don't consider it a GT although its priced like one.

My old wheelhorse 266H had a K61 and bolt on wheels as well and was classified as an LT

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I stand corrected, Steve, your killing me!

CCMoe

CCMoe said:

Steve Urquell said:

JDs 394 has bolt on wheels and a K58 hydro. I don't consider it a GT although its priced like one.

My old wheelhorse 266H had a K61 and bolt on wheels as well and was classified as an LT

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I stand corrected, Steve, your killing me!

CCMoe

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Heck, I didn't mean it like that. I thought my 266H was a GT until I started hunting parts for it.

prl said:

Rear tires on x370 brochure look so small compared to older JD tractor's. Is this a problem when using only for snow blowing ? Are larger tires an option ?

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Not really. The problem is the light weight of the tractor in the first place. The tires can be loaded, 2-link chains installed, and wheel weights applied to improve the lack of weight.

The tires will carry 6 gallons of Rim Guard (64 lb) each, chains weigh about 8 lb each, and wheel weights can weigh as much as 34 lb each for a total of over 200 lb of ballast. In addition, another 150 lb or so can be installed on the rear of the tractor's frame to counter the weight of the snow thrower in transport position. The latter may take enough weight off of the front tires to adversely affect steering when the thrower is on the ground.

Note that the weight of liquid ballast in the 20x10-8 tires is almost as much as for GTs wearing 23x10.50-12 tires (72 lb each).

The old MF7 and MF8 LTs also had bolt on 8" rims. I believe that the Allis Chalmers LTs of the same vintage had the same. Among the more modern tractors, as noted, bolt on rims for LTs are rare.