16.9-30 Tractor Tires

Buying 16.9-30 tractor tires

16.9-30 is a rear size for heavy utility and front-wheel-assist tractors. It is about 16.9 inches (429 mm) wide on a 30-inch wheel. It sits between the smaller 16.9-28 and the taller 16.9-34 and 16.9-38, and it is common on mid-size tractors that mow, bale, run a loader and do light tillage.

The radial equivalents are 16.9R30 and 420/85R30. On a front-wheel-assist tractor, the rears and fronts are matched for rolling circumference, so check the ratio before switching construction or brand.

Easy to confuse

• 16.9-28 vs 16.9-30: same width, different rim. The 30-inch tire is taller and will not fit a 28-inch wheel.
• 16.9-30 vs 18.4-30: same rim; the 18.4 is wider and taller and needs a wider rim and more fender room.

What to check

• Tread: R-1 for field work; ask about R-1W if you work wet ground.
• Ply rating: 6-ply and 8-ply are common. Match your current tires, and go higher for loader work.
• Used tires: ask for the tread remaining, the date code and photos showing any cracks between the lugs.
• Pairs: replace both rears together.

Send the quantity, new or used, and where to ship for prices.

What else is 16.9-30 called?

The same tire is written 16.9-30, 16.9×30, 16.9/30 or 16.9 30: a bias-ply tire 16.9 in (429 mm) wide for a 30 in (762 mm) rim. The radial version is 16.9R30, and retail listings show it in R-1 farm tread as well as R-3 turf and R-4 industrial patterns, so confirm the tread when you order.

How does 16.9-30 compare with the other 30 in rim sizes?

On a 30 in rim, width sets the height. Nominal figures use the standard size formula, with an 85% aspect ratio for old inch sizes, so real tires vary by make.

A 16.9-30 is a medium-to-large tractor size, used on 2WD and 4WD row-crop and utility machines. Going up to 18.4-30 adds about 2.6 in (66 mm) of height, which changes ground speed and front-to-rear ratio on a front-wheel-assist tractor. Check it in the lead-lag calculator first.

Is 16.9-30 worth buying as a radial?

For long field days, a radial costs more but gives a longer footprint. For lighter hours, bias 16.9-30 is the cheaper, tougher choice. The radial vs bias guide shows the break-even. Do not trust generic size pages for load or pressure: they rarely give a load index. Use the maker’s table for your exact tire.

What do 16.9-30 tires cost on our site?

We list 9 models in 16.9-30. 9 have a listed price, from $496 (Petlas TA60) to $1,215 (BKT TR 135) per tire, with a median of $890. Prices are per tire in US dollars and change with stock and season.

How tall is the 16.9-30 tire?

The nominal overall diameter is about 58.7 in (1,492 mm), which gives a rolling circumference near 185 in (4,686 mm). That figure is an estimate that assumes an 85% aspect ratio, the usual rule for old inch sizes. Real tires vary by make and load, so treat it as a guide and use the tire diameter calculator or the lead-lag calculator before you change size on a front-wheel-assist tractor.

Is 16.9-30 a radial or a bias tire?

It is a bias-ply size. The dash in the size marks bias construction, which costs less and has stiffer sidewalls. See the radial vs bias guide.