January 6, 2025 Understanding how to read tire sizes for earthmoving machinery, like loaders and dumpers, can be a bit daunting. This guide will simplify the process, highlighting what key elements to look for and the best way to interpret them. Tires designed for heavy-duty earthmoving equipment are referred to as OTR (Off-The-Road) tires, and their sizes can appear in either inches or millimeters. Keep in mind that for every tire size listed in inches, there is a corresponding size available in millimeters, and the reverse holds true as well. Let’s break down these formats to make tire selection straightforward.
Tire Size for Earthmoving Machines in Inches
Tire sizes for earthmoving equipment can also be displayed in inches. For instance, a 14.00R25 tire has a width of 14 inches, indicated by the first number. The “R” signifies that the tire has Radial construction, while the final number, 25, shows that the rim diameter is 25 inches. Tires measured in inches often have equivalent sizes in millimeters; for example, a 14.00R25 is the same as a 385/95R25 in metric sizing.
Tire Size for Earthmoving Machines in Millimeters
A large earthmoving tire’s size designation might look like this: 750/65R25. The first three numbers, 750, represent the tire’s width in millimeters. The following number, 65, indicates the tire’s sidewall height as a percentage of its width. The “R” stands for Radial construction, and the final number, 25, is the rim diameter in inches. Understanding these figures can make tire selection much easier when choosing the right fit for your machine.
The Tread Pattern of OTR Tires
Large earthmoving machines frequently operate in muddy conditions, so strong traction is essential for their tires. These tires are specifically built to handle off-road environments. Different tread patterns are available to suit various types of earthmoving equipment, each with its own unique code, which we’ll explain in the following sections.
Tread Pattern of Earthmoving Machines
E stands for Earthmoving. This refers to machines such as articulated dump trucks. They are often shown with special codes as following
E2:Traction
E3:Rock, normal profile
E4:Rock, deep profile
E7:Flotation
Tread Pattern of Grader
G stands for Grader. The codes are listed below:
G2:Traction
G3:Rock, normal profile
G4:Rock, deep profile
G5:Rock, extra deep profile
Tread Pattern of Loaders
The letter L stands for loader.
L2:Traction
L3:Rock, normal profile
L4:Rock, deep profile
L5: Rock, extra deep profile
L3S: Treadless
L4S: Treadless, thick tread
L5S: Treadless, extra thick tread
