Tire Sizing & Fitment
23×8.50-12 Tires: Size, Rim Width, Ply and What They Fit
23x8.50-12 tires are small bias tires for garden tractors, riding mowers and compact loaders. The code means about 23 in (584 mm) tall, 8.5 in (216 mm) wide and a 12 in (305 mm) rim, usually 7 in (178 mm) wide. Ply rating, tread and maximum pressure vary by tire, so read your sidewall.
23×8.50-12 tires look like a locker combination. They are not. They are three numbers, and one of them has a decimal point just to keep us humble.
Here is the direct answer. A 23×8.50-12 tire stands about 23 in (584 mm) tall, runs about 8.5 in (216 mm) wide and fits a 12 in (305 mm) rim. It is a small bias tire for garden tractors, riding mowers and compact loaders. We read Carlstar and NTS Tire Supply data pages and a TractorByNet thread to check every number below.
What does 23×8.50-12 mean on a tire?
TractorByNet readers put it simply: the first number is the tire diameter, the second is the width and the last is the rim diameter. All three are in inches. So 23 is the overall height, 8.50 is the section width and 12 is the rim. Let’s get to the bottom of this, or at least to the rim.
You will see the same size written as 23×8.5-12, 23×8.50×12 and 23 x 8.50 x 12. Same tire. The dash usually means bias construction. Many listings add NHS, short for Not for Highway Service. The US Tire Manufacturers Association says NHS tires are made for off-highway work such as farm, lawn and garden use, and that road use can lead to tire failure. Our tractor tire size guide decodes the bigger sidewall codes.
Which machines use 23×8.50-12 tires?
Mostly small ones. Carlstar calls its Turf Saver in this size a tire for residential riding lawn mowers. NTS Tire Supply lists an R-4 version for skid steers, backhoes, aerial work platforms and compact utility tractors. A poster on a TractorByNet thread lists 23×8.5-12 as the front tire on a compact tractor.
So it can be a front or a rear tire, depending on the machine. Read the size off the tire you have now. Our garden tractor tires guide and lawn tractor tires guide cover the wider size families.
How big is a 23×8.50-12 tire in inches and millimeters?
The table converts the code. Circumference is height times pi, so it is arithmetic, not a measurement.
| Measure | Inches | Millimeters |
|---|---|---|
| Overall height (diameter) | 23 | 584 |
| Section width | 8.50 | 216 |
| Rim diameter | 12 | 305 |
| Rim width on the data pages | 7 | 178 |
| Circumference (23 x 3.1416) | about 72 | about 1,835 |
Treat 23 as a nominal number. The data pages list mounted diameters from 22.5 in (572 mm) to 23 in (584 mm) and mounted widths from 8.3 in (211 mm) to 8.6 in (218 mm). A tire half an inch short is not defective. It is just honest. Our guide to measuring tractor tire size shows how to check yours with a tape. The 23×8.50-12 size page shows the models we list.
Which 23×8.50-12 tread and ply rating do you need?
The size is the same. The tire is not. Ply rating, tread and pressure change from model to model, as these maker and dealer data pages show.
| Tire | Tread and use | Ply | Max pressure | Max load |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlstar Turf Saver | Chevron turf tread, residential riding mowers | 2 | 10 psi (0.7 bar) | Not listed |
| Carlstar Turf Master | Lawn and garden | 4 | 22 psi (1.5 bar) | 1,100 lb (499 kg) |
| Carlstar Multi Trac C/S | Lawn and garden | 6 | 34 psi (2.3 bar) | 1,430 lb (649 kg) |
| Titan Farm Trac Loader SS | R-4 industrial | 6 (C) | 50 psi (3.4 bar) | Not listed |
| Goodyear Farm R14T | R-14 hybrid | Load index 78 | 22 psi (1.5 bar) | 935 lb (424 kg) single |
Rule of thumb: turf tread for grass, R-4 for mixed work and loaders, R-14 when you want a blend of R-1 and R-4 grip. Our guides to R3 turf tires, R4 tractor tires and R14 tractor tires explain each tread.
Our opinion: the sidewall beats the forum. Across the five rows above, maximum pressure runs from 10 psi to 50 psi, a 40 psi gap on the same size. Borrow a neighbor’s number and you may be a long way off. Read the one molded into your own tire.
We list one model in this size, the Carlisle Turf Saver, a 2 ply NHS bias tire. See its listing or browse all our tractor tires.
What rim width and pressure does a 23×8.50-12 tire need?
Rim width first. The Carlstar and NTS pages list a 7 in (178 mm) rim for this size. A Wheel Horse forum thread says the 8.50 fits a 7 in rim well, and adds that some early garden tractors came with 5 in (127 mm) rims. Measure before you buy. A tire on the wrong rim is like a bad blind date: awkward for everyone, and nobody sits straight.
Then pressure. The maximum is molded on the sidewall and shown on the data page. It is a ceiling, not a target. Start from your machine manual, use a gauge and stay under the maximum. One forum owner reports that 2-ply tires sag in the middle when run with little air. We need to have a pressurized conversation about that gauge. Our tractor tire pressure guide explains how to set pressure for the load.
23×8.50-12 vs 23×10.50-12: which one fits your tractor?
Same height, same rim diameter, different width. The 10.50 is 2 in (51 mm) wider, and the table shows what else changes.
| Measure | 23×8.50-12 | 23×10.50-12 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall height | 23 in (584 mm) | 23 in (584 mm) |
| Section width | 8.50 in (216 mm) | 10.50 in (267 mm) |
| Rim diameter | 12 in (305 mm) | 12 in (305 mm) |
| Rim width, per Wheel Horse forum owners | 7 in (178 mm) fits well | Fits a 7 in rim but looks bulgy; 7.5 in (191 mm) suits turf |
| Role, per the same owners | Ag cleat tires, front or rear | A common rear size on garden tractors |
| Do we list it? | Yes, one model | Not online. Ask us |
A wider tire can also rub the inner fender on some machines, so check clearance first. If you want an even wider rear, look at 26×12.00-12. Whatever you pick, replace both tires on an axle together so the machine sits level. Browse our full tractor tire sizes list if your sidewall says something else.
When don’t you need new 23×8.50-12 tires?
More often than you would think. We would rather say so now than after the quote.
- The tread still has depth and wears evenly. Keep running it.
- The tire keeps going soft. A slow leak is often the bead or a corroded rim, not the tire.
- The tire looks flat in the middle. Check pressure with a gauge before you check the shop.
- The ride is rough. A forum owner notes that multi-ply tires can ride hard on a machine with no suspension. A lower ply rating may be the fix.
- The size is right and the tire is fine. Keep it. Tread carefully around impulse buys.
If the tires are worn out or the size is wrong, start a quote with the sidewall size, your machine and what you mow or haul. We will tell you if it is not worth buying, even if it costs us the sale.
More tractor tire guides from us:
- DOT Tractor Tires: How to Read the Date Code and Tire Age
- Snow Tires for Tractors: Do You Need Them or Chains?
- Firestone Tractor Tires: Who Makes Them and Which Line Fits
- R2 Tractor Tires: What R-2 Rice and Cane Tread Is For
- R3 Tires: What They Are, Where They Work and When They Don’t
- Trelleborg Tires: Who Owns Them, What They Make and Sizes We List
- 10-16.5 Tractor Tire: Size, Ply Ratings and What It Fits
- Tires for Compact Tractors: R1, R3 or R4 Tread?
- How to Measure Tractor Tire Size: Width, Diameter and Circumference
- R14 Tractor Tires: Hybrid Tread, Sizes and R4 vs R14
- R1 Tractor Tires: What They Are and Where They Work
- Garden Tractor Tires: Sizes, Tread and How to Choose
- Lawn Tractor Tires: Sizes, Tread and How to Choose
- R4 Tractor Tires: What They Are and When to Use Them
- Firestone Tractor Tire Size Chart: Every Size by Model
- Farm Equipment Tires: Which Type Fits Which Machine
- Rear Tractor Tires: Sizes, Tread and How to Pick a Pair
- Goodyear Tractor Tires: Who Makes Them and What Changed
- Titan Tires: Who Owns Titan, Where It Makes Them and Are They Good
- Front Tractor Tires: Which Tread, Size and Pair to Buy
- Who Makes BKT Tires? Owner, Factories and Where They’re Made
- Big Tractor Tires: How Big They Get, What They Fit and Cost
- How Much Does a Tractor Tire Cost? Real Prices by Size
- IF vs VF Tires: What They Mean and When to Choose Them
- Tractor Tire Pressure: How to Set It for Load and Speed
- How to Inspect Used Tractor Tires Before You Buy
- R1 vs R1W Tractor Tires: What Is the Difference?
- Radial vs. Bias-Ply Tractor Tires: Which Should You Choose?
- Tractor Tire Size Guide: How to Read Every Number on the Sidewall
- Tractor Tire Types Explained: R1 vs R2 vs R3 vs R4
Send us your sidewall size and your machine on WhatsApp. We’ll find the tire. We’ll probably make a tread joke as well. The joke is free. The tire, sadly, is not.
Questions
What size is a 23x8.50-12 tire?
A 23x8.50-12 tire is about 23 in (584 mm) tall and 8.5 in (216 mm) wide, and it fits a 12 in (305 mm) rim. Mounted data pages list heights from 22.5 in to 23 in and widths from 8.3 in to 8.6 in.
What does NHS mean on a 23x8.50-12 tire?
NHS means Not for Highway Service. The US Tire Manufacturers Association says these tires are made for off-highway use such as farm, lawn and garden work, and road use can lead to tire failure.
What rim width does a 23x8.50-12 tire need?
The Carlstar and NTS Tire Supply data pages list a 7 in (178 mm) rim. Some early garden tractors used 5 in (127 mm) rims, so measure your rim before you order.
What is the maximum pressure for a 23x8.50-12 tire?
It depends on the tire. The data pages we read list 10 psi (0.7 bar), 22 psi (1.5 bar), 34 psi (2.3 bar) and 50 psi (3.4 bar) for different models. Read the maximum molded into your own sidewall.
How much weight can a 23x8.50-12 tire carry?
Carlstar lists 1,100 lb (499 kg) for its 4 ply Turf Master and 1,430 lb (649 kg) for its 6 ply Multi Trac C/S. A Goodyear R14T listing shows 935 lb (424 kg) on a single tire. Check the rating on your own tire.
Can I put 23x10.50-12 tires on a 23x8.50-12 rim?
Wheel Horse forum owners say a 10.50 will fit a 7 in rim but looks bulgy, and that a 7.5 in rim suits 10.50 turf tires. Check rim width and fender clearance, and replace both tires on an axle together.
Can you drive 23x8.50-12 NHS tires on the road?
No. NHS means Not for Highway Service. These tires are not built for highway speeds, heat and stress, and the US Tire Manufacturers Association warns that road use can cause tire failure.
Do you list 23x8.50-12 tires?
We list one model in this size, the Carlisle Turf Saver, a 2 ply NHS bias tire. We do not list 23x10.50-12 online. Send us your sidewall size and we will tell you what we can source.