[CTPhil]

I was perusing Craigslist this morning, someone selling 11.2x34 tires for $400. My '51 VAC has this unusual size so I had to check it out. It looks like they were mounted on rims some years ago and stuck in the back of a shed, never put on a tractor. One tire has a couple of small cracks, but they seem unused. The rims look like a match to my VAC. Considering the new price I think it was a pretty good deal, at least I hope it was.

 

[Stephenscity]

At today's prices I'd Say!!!!At least around here.

 

[CTPhil]

I'm hoping I didn't let my excitement carry me away. With the sun out I can see more cracks. Maybe some kind of tire paint?

 

[Guest]

I used a set of tires on my 861 for a couple years that had cracks about 3/16" wide in the tread. Filled them with black RTV. Ended up giving them to a friend last year. Still being used.

Great deal. I would have bought them in that condition.

 

[CTPhil]

Thanks, that helps. It also helps that the cheapest I can find on the internet for a new tire that size is $585. Unless you're made of money I guess it's a juggling act anyways. You get what you can afford. If I had to pay for new tires that size the tractor would sit.

Now I've got a new option to think about...if I could rustle up some affordable hubs I could use these on my '49 VAC instead of buying new 28" rears...hmmm... The present 34" rears on my '51 are cracked, but hold air fine.

 

[Guest]

Good luck. Hope you find some hubs.

 

[gordon1121]

I am glad to see you got them. I would love to find a set of 34''s for a 52 vac we are working on but there kind of like hens teeth unless you buy them new and then they are like gold. I think I am telling you right when I say 52 was the only year case put them on the vac and I have been told mainly to help with road speed but didn't change the gearing. They went back to 28'' in 53 but all 52's came with them. Have also been told that some dealers changed some of the late 51's to 34's according to buyers prefence. Either way it dosen't matter you got one heck of a buy on those tires and wheels and don't worry about the cracks those are nylons and will run forever. The only reason I mentioned about the years is if you hear of a 52 being parted it should have the centers you need.

 

[CTPhil]

My '51 has 34's but it could have been a dealer thing as you say. They really do raise the tractor and increase speed, there is a good 10" height difference from the 28's. I also think the 34's have much better traction for some reason.

I think I can find hubs, the guy I recently bought parts from (wide front, fenders, gas tank, side panel) has been advertising the 34 inch tires/rims off a tractor he's parting out, I could probably get the hubs.

 

[DerickS]

Tire prices are so ridiculous you are almost forced into making buys, we hunted down a couple nice 11.2x36's last year and got a great deal at 300 for the pair. Got to beat the bushes for a while sometimes for a good deal

 

[prwttsh]

I think you did real good on those tires. Unless you are doing some really hard pulling, or heavy axle loads, they should last for years.

 

[gordon1121]

Hope you can get them. I think they would look good.

 

[CTPhil]

Hope you can get them. I think they would look good.

When I went to look at the tires yesterday I had them a in mind as spares for my '51, but I'm really warming up to the idea of putting them on the '49. I've never really liked the way the tractor sits with the 28's, they do look too small. Putting on 11.2's to replace 10's would help, but only a little. 34's would also work well in the field, I remember often wishing 3rd. gear was a little faster for raking, 4th. is too fast.

Not to mention adding $400 to the tire budget on the spur of the moment just for spares is a little rough.

 

[1031d]

Actually the only tractors with 28's after 1951 were the VAC-14, VAO-15, and VAS. The VAH had 36" and everything else was 34", part of the new styling. The 34" rims and centers can be a real bugger to find. Before 1951 with the old body style they offered 32" and 28" for the row crop tractors. 32" are another harder to find size. I used to buy a lot of used tires but with prices of everything going through the roof I usually end up buying new. Either way you got a good deal. The tire paint looking stuff is exactly that. Those look like a "concord" brand tire or an older "armstrong" and they used a paint like release compound for the molds. Over time it gives a cracked or peeling look. I have an 11.2-28 on my 1950 single front VAC that has cracks you can slip a quarter in pretty deep, been running those tires on the farm for years that way. I had them on my 1944 chicken roost VAC but finally found a solid set of 32" rims so it got new tires last fall.

 

[CTPhil]

The tires are in fact Armstrong.

I'm rethinking my urge to put the new 34's on my '49. It seems like a good idea, but then I would have 2 tractors with a tire size that is getting increasingly hard to find/afford. I'm looking for a used set of 12.4x28's for the '49 but no luck so far. On the other hand the 34's I just bought aren't getting any younger.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Opinions welcome.

 

[1031d]

The handy thing with 28's is a lot of fords and fergusons run them too. Remember to run 12.4's you will need atleast a 10" wide rim or the tire will not set right.

 

[CTPhil]

The handy thing with 28's is a lot of fords and fergusons run them too. Remember to run 12.4's you will need atleast a 10" wide rim or the tire will not set right.

I'm pretty sure 10 inch is what I've got.