Tire and rim options for a Cub 123

[27kingbee]

I have a Cub 123 and I'm wondering what the biggest rear tire and the smallest front tire I can put on without having to modify anything? Thanks for any responces!

[Cub Cadet 123]

27kingbee....nice to have you in he forum!!

On the back of my 123 I have 23x10.5x12 TRU POWER bar tires. I think that they look great and have about 1/2" clearance left to the fenders. The front end has tri-ribs on it. It makes it look more like a tractor. The rear gets great traction and the front is easier to steer. I have less than $300 in all of my new tires and rims. Hope that this helps you out a little bit!!!

Cub Cadet 123

[JayBrd]

10.5's would look cool.. One of the guys I mess with has a 123 he restored, his is on 8.5 tru power carlisles and and works excellent with a dirt plow on. No added wheel weights and traction to spare for sure. 4.00x8 tri-ribs on the front look sweet also..

[27kingbee]

I have 23x8.50x12 on the rear now, can I use the same rim if I go with the
23x10.50x12 ? I have 16x6.50x8 on the fronts now, I suppose I need to go with smaller rims to go with the three rib style ?

[eastonct124]

A 7" wide rim takes a 10.5" wide tire, a 12" wide tire needs a 8.5" rim according to Carlisle.
I have 23x10.5-12 trupowers on 7" rims....fit perfect. While mounting, which was simple, I thought even a 6" rim should work.
And it depends on the tire. Deestones are thinner than Carlisles of the same size, so a 10.5 deestone will fit a 6" rim perfect. The only pain was the tubes....not alot of room to work with for stuffing them in.
On the front, I have 4.8-4.00x 8 mounted on rims off my old simplicity broadmoor (4" wide rim) they look cool because they're so thin, but in soft ground they don't turn well, they just push. And in muddy situations...they're useless.....they cut in like a knife edge. So, I'm getting new 16-6.5 x8 sawtooths from carlisle.

[Matt G.]

eastonct124-

Carlisle may say that, but every Cub Cadet I've seen (as well as a lot of other brands) use a 5" rim for a 6-12 tire, a 7" rim for an 8.50" tire, and an 8.5" rim for a 10.5" and 12" tire. If you use too narrow of a rim, the tire bulges out and will have significantly less traction than if it was on the correct rim. The tread profile should essentially be flat for best traction, not bulged in the center.

27kingbee-

Possibly, but I'd look for a set of 8.5" rims. 7" rims (what you currently have) will make the center of the tire bulge out, which will reduce the amount of traction you have compared to having the same tire on an 8.5" rim. You'll also want to get narrower front wheels for the 480/400-8 tri-ribs.

[27kingbee]

Will I have any problems fitting any of the larger sized tires on the back with touching the fenders?

[27kingbee]

Originally Posted by Cub Cadet 123

27kingbee....nice to have you in he forum!!

On the back of my 123 I have 23x10.5x12 TRU POWER bar tires. I think that they look great and have about 1/2" clearance left to the fenders. The front end has tri-ribs on it. It makes it look more like a tractor. The rear gets great traction and the front is easier to steer. I have less than $300 in all of my new tires and rims. Hope that this helps you out a little bit!!!

Cub Cadet 123

How wide are your rims in the back?

[Matt G.]

Originally Posted by 27kingbee

Will I have any problems fitting any of the larger sized tires on the back with touching the fenders?

23-10.5-12 will fit. 26-12-12 will probably not clear the fenders.

[Cub Cadet 123]

I have 8.5" rims on back.