Tires

My 1066 was delivered to me new in 1975 with 20.8x38 Goodyear tires loaded to the limit with calcium chloride. Turning in the field under heavy load in would roll those tires to point rims almost touched the ground. Pulling a 25' cultivator the tractor left wheel tracks that didn't cover up. A real mess to plant behind. I dualed the tractor after that first set of tires, never put the chloride back. In the field the tractor would pull more load with less weight, and pulling more load with less weight means less soil compaction. May I also point out that on a hard roadway the single wheels with chloride will definately outpull the duals. If your into tractor pulling that's just fine.

The next problem I encountered after installing the duals, was they beat the crap out of the front end. Duals like to go straight ahead. I would never buy another tractor over 100hp without front wheel drive, it makes them turn easily under load.

Having said all of this, I dare say you and Magnum are right about the Firestone radials, probably the very best farm tire money can buy. I read discussions here everyday and you never hear anything but good about those tires. I have no idea how they are priced today in comparison to bias ply tires. My only point here was pointing out to you the importance of putting enough rubber on the ground to harness that horse power, with the least amount of soil compaction.

The soil was quite unique, and care had to be used not to make wheel tracks or create compaction.

Some of the new tires out today, particularly radials may do better as single. I somehow doubt the ratio will change though.

I do remember the tires were Goodyear as their representative came to see me about the problem I had with the tires. In fact they replaced those tires free of charge, and I bought the dual set.

I was not trying to suggest any one tire over another. I have never used radials. I had neighbors that did and from what they told me, I couldn't see using them from an economic point of view. Over the years I had several different brands of bias ply tires on 18 different tractors, and could never see that any one single tire stood out from the crowd. I had an excellent tire dealer very close by, who handled about 5 different brands including Firestones and Goodyears and he was always able to offer me the best deal and best warrenty on Goodyears. Since making money farming was more important to me than winning the local tractor pull, I stuck with the tire that gave the best service. We all know the best service came from the dealer right in your home town.