Used airplane tires on Wheelhorse?

[FLtractor 202]

Afternoon,

Currently front tires good condition,

rears filled with calcium chloride and are orignally 1966 according previous owner. Will need replace both of  those. What’s is thoughts on ordering Un airworthy airplane tires on the 856 in: 5.50x8.00 Front

                              23x8.50x12 rear 

compared to buying Turf tractor tires.. how do airplane tires compare? MUCH more durable last LOT longer and worth the price? Cost difference between new tractor and used airplane tires these days? 

[ri702bill 12,852]

Flying Horses??? 

[953 nut 68,610]

        Where do you come up with all these off-the-wall thoughts?

 

Stick with turf tires on the rear, the airplane tires are ribbed and offer very little traction.

[FLtractor 202]

37 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

        Where do you come up with all these off-the-wall thoughts?

 

Stick with turf tires on the rear, the airplane tires are ribbed and offer very little traction.

Saw someone post about it on social media. Apparently good for wet grass and good for golf courses 

[ebinmaine 80,400]

1 hour ago, FLtractor said:

rears filled with calcium chloride and are orignally 1966 according previous owner. Will need replace both of  those

 

Why?

Are they currently leaking? 

Badly cracked?

 

Unless AND until they really are trash I'd be prone to leave them right alone and running.  

 

39 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Stick with turf tires on the rear, the airplane tires are ribbed and offer very little traction.

 

Agreed. And I'd even add to that. 

ANY moisture  (morning dew) is going to be a near zero traction situation.  

 

3 minutes ago, FLtractor said:

Saw someone post about it on social media. Apparently good for wet grass and good for golf courses 

 

If they're the straight rib airplane tires...

I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE.  

 

 

 

 

As far as pricing goes...

IF you need wheels, that's where the $$$$ will be. 

Shipping wheels isn't cheap. BUT if you look in the right place you can find inexpensive trailer (camper or utility) wheels on a few websites.  

 

Or...

 

CALL Lincoln at A to Z Tractor in PA and order a good used set of narrow wheels with the correct Wheelhorse backspacing.  That's important.  

 

 

 

[kpinnc 18,915]

5 hours ago, FLtractor said:

5.50x8.00 Front

 

Front tires might be ok if they are ribbed. You'd probably be able to run them very low on air pressure if you want. No other real benefit. 

[Retired Wrencher 6,927]

FL: Go to the big show next year and find what you really want. That is my two cents.

[Achto 32,385]

11 hours ago, 953 nut said:

the airplane tires are ribbed and offer very little traction.

 

Probabley would not be much different than these.

https://www.millertire.com/16x6-50-8-rubber-master-rib-4-ply-tire/

[ebinmaine 80,400]

5 minutes ago, Achto said:

 

Probabley would not be much different than these.

https://www.millertire.com/16x6-50-8-rubber-master-rib-4-ply-tire/

 

 

For the front steering they'd be fine.  

 

My cautionary statement above is referring to the rears.  

 

I would NOT use a straight ribbed tire for drive traction.  

 

 

[Achto 32,385]

14 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I would NOT use a straight ribbed tire for drive traction. 

 

Agree with you there

 

[Pullstart 71,135]

Not sure where in Florida you reside, but around us we have the Lake Michigan sand dunes, especially Silver Lake.  I’ve seen quite a few aired down ribbed tires on rear wheel drive vehicles scoot across the sand and quite a clip.  Any other surface and I bet there is no benefit… but sand?  

 

 

[FLtractor 202]

On 9/8/2026 at 7:54 PM, ebinmaine said:

 

Why?

Are they currently leaking? 

Badly cracked?

 

Unless AND until they really are trash I'd be prone to leave them right alone and running.  

 

 

Agreed. And I'd even add to that. 

ANY moisture  (morning dew) is going to be a near zero traction situation.  

 

 

If they're the straight rib airplane tires...

I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE.  

 

 

 

 

As far as pricing goes...

IF you need wheels, that's where the $$$$ will be. 

Shipping wheels isn't cheap. BUT if you look in the right place you can find inexpensive trailer (camper or utility) wheels on a few websites.  

 

Or...

 

CALL Lincoln at A to Z Tractor in PA and order a good used set of narrow wheels with the correct Wheelhorse backspacing.  That's important.  

Cracked.. leaking fluid .. can tell because of how rusted wheels and hubcaps are oxidizing.. don’t want to kill off grass with the leaking chloride nor have dog step in it- if it’s bad for him which I imagine not good. Not leaking air but fluid and lots of cracking from decades old. 
I have some 5 lug wheels I bought a while back in garage, they should work.

 

 

 

 

[FLtractor 202]

23 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

Front tires might be ok if they are ribbed. You'd probably be able to run them very low on air pressure if you want. No other real benefit. 

Thank you for the info 

[FLtractor 202]

16 hours ago, Retired Wrencher said:

FL: Go to the big show next year and find what you really want. That is my two cents.

Would really like to.. just about a 2000 miles drive if roundtrip in case i bought something needed to drive it home in truck. Wheels tractor ect

[FLtractor 202]

16 hours ago, Achto said:

 

Probabley would not be much different than these.

https://www.millertire.com/16x6-50-8-rubber-master-rib-4-ply-tire/

Thank you for the link and info 

[FLtractor 202]

15 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

For the front steering they'd be fine.  

 

My cautionary statement above is referring to the rears.  

 

I would NOT use a straight ribbed tire for drive traction.  

 

 

I’ll keep that in mind for rear drive tractor. Thank you 

[hotajax 284]

Good recommendation.  Better to keep the cash in your pocket.  Besides, aircraft tires are high quality rubber.  Probably much better than the rubber in the tractor tire industry.