Buying Your Lawn Mower The Right Tires
Lawn mowers are a pretty basic piece of your lawn care routine, but did you know that the tires it came with might not be quite right for your needs? With a surprising variety of options on the market, it can be hard to find the perfect tires, so we here at Burrows Tractor have put together a brief guide to finding just that. To learn more, or to see the lawn mowers and mower tires we have for sale, contact our stores in Oregon and Washington, today!
The Right Size
Different makes, models, and types of lawn mowers will require different sizes of tire. Your best step to determining what size yours needs is figuring out the size of the tires it already has. The size is measured in one of two ways.
The two number sizing system shows two numbers. The first is the tire’s width in inches. The second is the rim’s diameter in inches.
The three number sizing system is slightly different. The first number is the tire’s diameter in inches at full inflation. The second, middle number is the tire’s width in inches. The third is the rim’s width in inches.
The Right Ply-Rating
Another important factor is the ply-rating. Mower tires can have one of two ratings. The standard option is A/2-ply and works on smooth, level surfaces. The other is B/4-play, which is better for terrain with obstacles or for handling non-mowing projects.
The Right Tread
Finally, there are four main tread types in mower tires. The turf tread is the standard option and yours likely has these installed. They provide solid traction on slick grass without digging up the terrain and are great for residential and commercial lawns.
The all-terrain option has broader grooves and larger tread blocks. They’re great at gripping unstable terrain like dirt, mud, and sand, but can damage more delicate surfaces. They’re also good for mowers that are used to tow a trailer.
The straight-ribbed option is the gentlest tire for turf, but it sacrifices some of the traction in order to leave behind minimal damage. They’re solid for recently-watered or rained-on lawns, however.
Finally, the smooth option has no grooves at all and is often used for zero-turn mowers. These tires help make tight turns efficiently, but they suffer from low traction. They’re most often used for golf and ground maintenance mowers.
We hope this guide helps you find the perfect tires for your lawn mower and property! If you have any questions, or if you’d like to see the lawn mowers and lawn mower tires we have available, contact us at Burrows Tractor. We proudly serve the people of Oregon and Washington—let us serve you today!