Valve stems on tractor tires

[Hossfly]

Why do they make different size holes? Just busted my second one this week. First was a tube type in a lawn trailer, ran flat with a load not knowing it was low and pulled the stem right off the inner tube, ok new tube, not from TSC.

2nd was tractor front tire went flat while bushoging 300 yd range. Stem gone, made it to shop and pulled tire. Have new tire in shop. Tried to install new stem, loose, measured size of hole just maybe .020” bigger. What advantage would this be? Going to replace with metal type stem, if I can find one at NAPA.

What’s y’all’s opinion of different size holes and purpose.

[tja6435]

I think the bigger holes are for valve stems that you can load liquid into the tire through. On mine, they have a lock nut that goes on the outside of the wheel and that covers any gap around the stem

[metricmonkeywrench]

The older "big stem hole" rims i believe were designed for tubed tires and the tube stem was generally held in place with a nut.

I kinda like tubes in yard equipment it lets me run my dry rotted and cracked tires til they completely fail and blow apart. As much as they charge for those little rascals these days I want to get evey second of use out of them.

[Winger Ed.]

Some tires are made to be filled with water for added weight.
They have to have a bigger valve.

Depending on the rim size, they may be available with or with the different size valve for adding water.

[TD1886]

Wasn't it water and calcium ?

[farmerjim]

Wasn't it water and calcium ?

Calcium chloride.

It keeps the water from freezing in the winter.

[tja6435]

Calcium chloride.

It keeps the water from freezing in the winter.

The new stuff is beet juice, doesn’t freeze and doesn’t rot the wheels out if it leaks out of the tubes

[farmerjim]

The new stuff is beet juice, doesn’t freeze and doesn’t rot the wheels out if it leaks out of the tubes

It must be the sugar in the beet juce.

My tractors are so old that they do have calcium chloride in them.

Most people down here just put plain water in their tires and just don't use the tractor on the rare days that it gets cold enough to freeze the water in the tires.

[panhed65]

Just bought a new tractor about 1 1/2 years ago, tires are filled with windshield washer fluid. the weight does make a difference.
Barry

[Hannibal]

Fellas, the above responses all apply to rear tractor tires and yes, they are constructed differently.

I believe that the OP is referring to front tractor and trailer tires that are typically of a rim diameter of 16" or less.

Yes, there are 2 different valve stem diameters for such rims. Why engineers decided that was necessary I have no idea nor did I ever hear an explanation even though I worked in tire shops for roughly a decade as a young man. My stepfather owned one.

To the OP, all I can tell you is that now that you are aware that there are 2 different sizes out there at least you know what to look for.

[Hossfly]

Tire is changed with new metal valve stem. Set of 2 for $7 covered both sizes hole mine was larger one.
Reinstalled on tractor now can continue to clean up shooting range. The rear tires are filled with water to the 80% line. With 11# pressure.

[William Yanda]

"Yes, there are 2 different valve stem diameters for such rims. Why engineers decided that was necessary I have no idea nor did I ever hear an explanation even though I worked in tire shops for roughly a decade as a young man. " Hannibal

My Dad operated a Service Station from 1954 'til he retired. In my experience, until tubeless tires were introduced, the larger holes for valve stems were universal. With the advent of tubeless, the smaller holes were introduced, then tubes with smaller diameter valve stems were introduced to fit wheels designed for tubeless tires. There are threaded metal valve stems with rubber washers designed for tubeless tires requiring higher pressure, above 80 psi as I recall. These would also be desirable in conditions where the valve stem might be scrubbed from the wheel.

[farmbif]

if the rim or tire is salvageable I no longer mess with them myself. I swore off trying to change tractor tires myself after taking old rusted tractor wheel to local farmers coop I brought with me a new rim and tube because it was an odd ball not easy to find yanmar size. previously I tried breaking the tire off the rusted rim for hours of hot sweaty back breaking work. it would not budge. folks at coop have the right tools and know what they are doing plus they charged me all of $4.50 for the work. so now I just bring them the whole wheel and let them do it.
they know all about how to deal with different valve stem holes and what will fit what and prices are usually very good unless I want to drive 4 hours to Nashville to pick up the cheapest tractor tires ive been able to find, for the large ones anyway like 36" and bigger rim sizes.

[farmerjim]

My coop charged me $150 to put the tire on the rear of my ford 5000. The tire was $800. I get 6% back as a coop member.

[Hannibal]

"Yes, there are 2 different valve stem diameters for such rims. Why engineers decided that was necessary I have no idea nor did I ever hear an explanation even though I worked in tire shops for roughly a decade as a young man. " Hannibal

My Dad operated a Service Station from 1954 'til he retired. In my experience, until tubeless tires were introduced, the larger holes for valve stems were universal. With the advent of tubeless, the smaller holes were introduced, then tubes with smaller diameter valve stems were introduced to fit wheels designed for tubeless tires. There are threaded metal valve stems with rubber washers designed for tubeless tires requiring higher pressure, above 80 psi as I recall. These would also be desirable in conditions where the valve stem might be scrubbed from the wheel.

That seems plausible and fits with what I remember encountering. First reasonable explanation I've ever heard. Thanks for your reply as I think you are absolutely correct.