Need to learn turf tire stuff please. Very basic

[Tallbald]

I don't remember ever posting here in the tire section, so a bit about me. I have one tractor. It means a great deal to me sentimentally too. It's a 1980 Kubota L185, two wheel drive, equipped at the factory with the turf tire setup. Although I've owned my tractor about 10 years (third owner), it's been on loan to my father-in-law for the last eight. It's at his little tract next county over, and I only see it infrequently. They visit here more than we do there, because they shop in our larger town. I sold my own little farm eight years ago and moved to town for health reasons.
Father in law claims he's selling out come spring 2016, and I told my wife that in any event (he's changed his mind about selling out several years in a row, and will still have his own Cub Lowboy for finish mowing) I'm bringing my tractor home to restore while my health still permits. In March of 2016 I will retrieve it and begin refurbing. I'm very excited, but for now, can only make my plans and gather parts, part numbers and prices.
My little Orange Crush has its original tires. I haven't been able to closely examine the tires for a number of years, but it's been kept under cover and used for just mowing and light bush hogging the last eight years.
All four tires hold air well unless I've not been told something. They are not liquid filled. The rims have light flakes of rust in some areas but no metal rust-through I have seen.
*How should I decide if I must have new tires all the way around?
*I don't know the tire technical details like size and wear rating. Roughly how expensive are replacement turf tires front and back for my L185?
* Are used tires usually an option and what would I look for in used ones please?
* When looking for dry rot on tractor tires, is there a rule of thumb I could go by in making decisions about replacement?
*SO many off-road tires nowadays seem to come from China. Is there a tire brand most favor for smaller tractors like mine? Is a tire dealer the best choice or a farm store like Tractor Supply Company here in the Southern USA? I don't think Walmart is an option.
Below are some photos I posted when I was allowed to join here, and they may help folks answer some of my questions.
This isn't much information to offer here, but its all I have right now. As always, I really appreciate the help folks here can offer. I hope one day to be able to offer help instead of only asking for help. Don

 

[Diydave]

Tires look good, from your pix. I'd just check them for dry rot cracking, rust around the rim holes, and plugs sticking out of sidewalls. If none of the aboves is found, I'd lever B. How many hours does it have?

 

[Tallbald]

Diydave thanks. She has less than 1300 hours on her in her 35 years. Wealthy doctors owned her the first 25 and had the dealership service her, regularly, I hope/think. Mowing is about all she's ever done except for a grader blade I bought and used to trim my gravel drive for a couple years. So is there a depth of dry rot cracking that's "too much" or is it a by guess and by golly judgement? And how expensive are the tires you reckon? Thousands for a set of four or hundreds? I just have no frame of reference to go by.... Don

 

[85Hokie]

Diydave thanks. She has less than 1300 hours on her in her 35 years. Wealthy doctors owned her the first 25 and had the dealership service her, regularly, I hope/think. Mowing is about all she's ever done except for a grader blade I bought and used to trim my gravel drive for a couple years. So is there a depth of dry rot cracking that's "too much" or is it a by guess and by golly judgement? And how expensive are the tires you reckon? Thousands for a set of four or hundreds? I just have no frame of reference to go by.... Don

T/B,

I am with Dave - let those tires serve you some more time! Even if weather cracked - if you must - place a tube in each of them, but I would not replace them just to do so! That ol' girl needs some tlc in other areas beside the tires. Glad to hear it is coming home too!

 

[Tallbald]

85 Hokie I feel sort of stupid now. I grew up with tubed and tubeless tires both. For whatever reason (aging and seasonal stress? LOL) tubing them hadn't occurred to me. I suppose I'd have gotten around to thinking about it....at least I'll console myself thinking that. Tubes in tires the size of the rears on my tractor? I didn't know they came that large. Thank you. Tubes and a quart of Armor All sure are more affordable than new rubber.
Yes my little tractor is in bad need of TLC. I bring her home in March when the ground dries up and a good friend can come with his cattle trailer and HD pickup and we will drive over to retrieve her. First off will be a long needed cleaning and pressure wash to see what's what. Really looking forward to refurbing her. Don.

 

[Diydave]

I wouldn't even tube them, unless there is severe cracking in the sidewalls, or a slow leak you cannot find. Hint, windshield washing fluid sprayed on with a hand sprayer will find leaks, they just foam right up.

 

[ShaunBlake]

And I'd avoid pressure washing her, 'specially as clean as she looks in your pics. A soft car-wash brush and detergent will get her (mostly) clean, and if there are places with caked gunk, you can deal with them as appropriate.

 

[Tallbald]

I appreciate the suggestions. About the pressure wash thing. Is it to avoid driving water into unwanted places? I always have avoided fittings, vent holes, filters and the like. But several years of caked on crud has worked its way into where a brush has trouble reaching. Don

 

[ShaunBlake]

"Exactly", as my Auburn grad is wont to say. And my experience is that my confidence in my ability to a) avoid blasting delicate parts; and b) shielding critical electrical, fuel, and filtering parts was... well, I must confess that it was unwarranted. <blush>

My suggestion was meant to convey a primary task of thorough cleaning with the expectation of having to do a subsequent cleaning of the grime you mention -- which might be safely done with a pressure washer. OTOH, the areas that a brush doesn't adequately clean may (hopefully will) be so few that they can be dispatched pretty quickly.

 

[Tallbald]

OK I see what you're meaning. I try to clean well everywhere gently, but there are all sorts of sharp pokey things deep in those crevices that hurt! Don.

 

[tiredguy]

Tallbald,
avoid pressure washing the tires it's very easy to damage one and NEVER
use Armor All on any tire EVER it actually causes them to crack more over
time.

Can't guess the price without knowing the sizes but if it's been kept out of the sun and the cracks appear to be minor I wouldn't be in a hurry to replace them. Actually tubes are more common the larger that tires become and I
wouldn't tube them unless there's some minor problem best determined by
an experienced tire dealer. As suggested windshield fluid or a mixture of
diluted dish soap and water in a spray bottle will show you where the leaks are if they're losing any air. Extremely deep cracks showing cord do need to be replaced as they can be dangerous if they blow out when someone is near, quickly escaping air causes dirt and objects around it to hurl through the air possibly hitting someone maybe losing an eye.

Wear safety glasses and use an air pistol to break loose dirt in places the brush won't reach and it works well around grease zerks too getting the dried grease and gunk off before using the pressure washer it will speed up the job using less water which you don't want to get inside anything. A large flat bladed screwdriver in hand to poke and prod helps too while blowing off the caked on dirt.
Good luck and have fun bringing it back to a shining star.
Al

 

[Tallbald]

Thank you. I didn't know that about ArmorAll. it there a good choice or is it just best to keep them clean? Don

 

[Joninct]

I plan on using copious amounts of Simple Green and a power washer on mine come spring. I think if you're smart about it and don't put the jet where ya shouldn't you will be fine.