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Correct Rim Options for 15.5 Tires?


Farmall Doctor

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Hello, is there a tire guy in the house? I have a lovely old set of 15.5x38 rears that I was going to put on the Super MTA, but it says right on the tire "on 14" rim". 14" rims are available new, but at an awful price. I have lots of 11" rims... Someone said they will work on narrow rims, but that would be A LOT of work just to see if they would fit, and if they even looked right. I have reservations about trying to mount a nice old set of tires on the wrong rim and then putting it to work. Those old tires might not enjoy being flexed improperly. 

    .... If we could mount modern "double bevel" rims on the old M style rear hub, that would solve a lot of problems! On some 560/660 Western tractors they used a wedge style clamp to use the modern rim on the old hub. I wonder if a set of those would allow this to be done on an M style hub. Any ideas? If I had a set of those I would try it. Here is a link to what I am talking about:

https://www.fastline.com/wheels-rims/part-detail/used-adjustable-rim-clamp-international-660-560-367970r1/b6a243ba-2164-4b19-9f44-48aad55c40fc

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11" rims are just right for 12.4 tires.  The 15.5 tires will be way wider at the tread than at the bead.  Will look wedge shaped from behind the wheel.  I have 15.5 on 12" rims on a Super M. They work but are a little narrow at the bead.

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My SMD came to me with 15.5's mounted on the stock wheels.  The tread sits rounded up high in the middle and has worn off funny from road wear across the center 4" of tread.  My Grandpa's SMD has 15.5's mounted on 14" rims and it looks really tough.  I wouldn't put 15.5s on stock rims if I need rubber in the future.

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I had 15.5s on my previous M. I saw 15.5s on other tractors narrow wheels and they all looked like me in a small pair of pants...ballooned out. If they were working tractors,  the centers got weird wear patterns as well.  I saved up, and bought 14 inch drop center rims to fit the 15.5s correctly. I have to get new rubber for my M next year and I will be saving for 14 inch rims again, to run 14.9s on.

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I was wrestling with that same exact question, spend the crazy high money for brand new DW14-38 rims, or find a good welding shop to splice 2-3 inches Into my 11 or 12 inch rims so I could mount 15.5's, or pay the crazy high price for 13.6's, was quoted about $100-$150 more for 13.6's than the 15.5's.  I actually had a counter person at a very VERY large ag, truck, construction equip tire shop, part of a 50 store midwestern chain actually get loud and antagonistic about Me thinking I would have Them mount tires on rims that have been welded on.  Yep, if he had half a brain he would have kept his mouth shut, but now I really don't care if he starves to death.

I'm going to put 13.6's on my M now.  No welded rims, I really hate to spend the money on rims and tires to run 15.5's no more that the tractor gets used.  It probably won't plow or pick corn ever again.

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On 9/11/2020 at 12:39 PM, Farmall Doctor said:

Hello, is there a tire guy in the house? I have a lovely old set of 15.5x38 rears that I was going to put on the Super MTA, but it says right on the tire "on 14" rim". 14" rims are available new, but at an awful price. I have lots of 11" rims... Someone said they will work on narrow rims, but that would be A LOT of work just to see if they would fit, and if they even looked right. I have reservations about trying to mount a nice old set of tires on the wrong rim and then putting it to work. Those old tires might not enjoy being flexed improperly. 

    .... If we could mount modern "double bevel" rims on the old M style rear hub, that would solve a lot of problems! On some 560/660 Western tractors they used a wedge style clamp to use the modern rim on the old hub. I wonder if a set of those would allow this to be done on an M style hub. Any ideas? If I had a set of those I would try it. Here is a link to what I am talking about:

https://www.fastline.com/wheels-rims/part-detail/used-adjustable-rim-clamp-international-660-560-367970r1/b6a243ba-2164-4b19-9f44-48aad55c40fc

Steve has wrecked some Farmall 400s that use the hubs you need for double bevel rims

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We had 15.5s on the SMsince the 70s now the second set of tires  and it had the 234 picker many  years . The time my dad had the rims split we plowed with the SM  the 15.5s  were not as high as 14.9s  for slower speed.    My SMTA  I put 560 castings but the rims are old duel rims that are narrower and the tire is round on the top . At the time  I got the castings  rims and tires for $300 from a puller 560 Also made that I could in 30 in rows 

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What do 14” rims cost for an IH? I needed one for a ford 5000 a few years ago (15.5 38’s) and the Only price I could find on a new one......was $1200.  Yes. For one. 8 loop. I bought a pair of centers and rims, and converted it to 18.4-30s instead, as we have another ford with those, so now they match.  I called every yard I could think of and couldn’t find a used one. A few places suggested I convert it to run rims off an M, but I new those were narrow. I’m thinking they must have had a lot of 11-12” IH wheels in stock. 

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12 hours ago, stronger800 said:

What do 14” rims cost for an IH?

Steiner lists them for $374.00 USD which works out to $492.00 CAD!

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On 9/14/2020 at 10:03 AM, Farmall Doctor said:

Steiner lists them for $374.00 USD which works out to $492.00 CAD!

I have a pr of 12 inch t rail duals rims if you want to cut the rails off  but still on the narrow side- $100 each

often duals sell at local auctions cheap esp that size but it would be a lot of time and grinding

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