Kubota Tractor Tyres — BX, B, L, MX & M Series
If you've ever gone looking for tyres for a Kubota BX or B series and ended up on the phone to three different suppliers, none of whom could tell you whether 18x8.50-10 and 18x8.5-10 are actually the same thing — you already know why this page exists. Compact tractor tyres aren't a generic tyre-shop item. They're a fitment problem first, and a tyre second.
ForknTire supplies and fits tyres for Kubota's full compact range — BX sub-compacts, B and L series utility tractors, through to MX and M series machines running bigger ag or turf tyres. We work out of Pinetown, and we've spent close to two decades sourcing tyres for equipment that mainstream tyre shops tend to treat as an afterthought.
Based at 6 Schenk Rd, Pinetown. Phone 031 702 6335. Open during normal business hours, with mobile fitting available across the greater Durban region.
Getting the Size Right Matters More Than It Looks
Kubota compact tractors run smaller, more specific tyre sizes than standard agricultural machinery, and the front-to-rear ratio isn’t just cosmetic. On a 4WD compact tractor, mismatched rolling circumference between front and rear tyres puts strain on the front differential and drivetrain over time — something a lot of owners only discover after a costly repair. Get the size wrong on a BX and you’ll either bind the front axle or wear through a set of tyres in half the time you should.
That’s really what this page is about: helping you land on the correct tyre for your specific Kubota model, not just “something that fits.”
BX Series (Sub-Compact)
The BX range — BX1800, BX2200, BX22, BX23, BX24, BX25 and the later BX23S, BX24D, BX25D models — typically runs an 18x8.50-10 front tyre (some earlier 8-inch-wheel variants use 18x8.50-8) paired with a 26x12.00-12 rear. Older models with 8-inch rear wheels sometimes ran 24x12-12. Both R4 industrial lug and turf-pattern tyres are common on these machines, depending on whether the tractor's used for mowing or loader work.
B Series (Compact Utility)
Older B series models like the B7100 and B7001 typically ran a 6-12 front with an 8-16 rear in agricultural tread, or 20.5x8.00-10 front with 29x12.00-15 rear on turf-equipped units. Later B series machines (B2601, B2650 and similar) generally step up to sizes closer to the smaller L series — worth confirming against your data plate, since Kubota revised wheel and tyre specs more than once across this range.
L Series (Utility Compact)
L series tractors (L3000, L3010, L3200, L3301 and similar) commonly run a 7-16 front with an 11.2-24 rear on agricultural lug tyres. Where these tractors have been fitted with row-crop or turf tyres over the years, you'll sometimes see 10-16.5 fronts paired with 420/70-24 rears instead — not the factory spec, but common enough in the field that it's worth mentioning if you're trying to match an existing set.
MX and M Series (Larger Compact/Utility)
Stepping up to MX5200-class machines and the M series, rear tyres move into the 12.4-24 to 14.9-28 range depending on model and application, with fronts sized to suit. These tractors see more genuine field work — ploughing, baling, loader work under load — so tyre choice tends to matter even more here, particularly around R1 versus R4 tread selection. If your model isn't listed above, or you're not sure which series you're dealing with, phone through your model number and we'll work it out from there.
Tractor Tyre Types We Supply for Kubota Equipment
Agricultural (R1) Tyres
Deep, aggressive lug pattern built for traction in soft or muddy ground. If your Kubota spends its life on cultivated land, orchard rows, or anywhere wet underfoot, R1 is generally the right call. The tradeoff is a rougher ride on hard surfaces and faster wear if the tractor's mostly used on gravel or concrete.
Industrial (R4) Tyres
Shorter, wider lugs than R1, with a stiffer sidewall. This is the standard fitment on a lot of BX and B series machines doing loader work, yard maintenance, or general property tasks rather than field cultivation. R4 handles hard, rocky, or mixed surfaces better than a deep ag lug, at some cost to traction in soft mud.
Turf Tyres
Wide, low-lug tyres designed to spread weight and minimise lawn or turf damage. Common on BX and smaller B series tractors used primarily for mowing, golf course maintenance, or landscaped properties where an R1 or R4 pattern would tear up the ground.
Implement and Backup Tyres
Beyond the tractor itself, we stock tyres for the trailers, toppers, and implements that typically run alongside a Kubota compact — flotation and rib patterns included, sized to match whatever you're towing.
Why South African Kubota Owners Use ForknTire
We stock for the equipment other suppliers skip.
General tyre retailers carry a handful of common car and light truck sizes and treat compact tractor tyres as a special order with a long lead time. Compact tractor tyres are a core part of what we do, not a sideline.
We know the difference between similar-looking sizes
An 18×8.50-8 and an 18×8.50-10 look nearly identical on paper but won’t interchange — the wheel diameter is different. Get that wrong and you’ve bought a tyre that physically won’t mount. Our team checks model and wheel spec before quoting, not after you’ve paid.
We're based in KwaZulu-Natal and understand local ground conditions.
Coastal sugar cane country, inland grain farms, and small-holding properties around Pietermaritzburg all put different demands on a compact tractor’s tyres. What works on the Highveld doesn’t always suit KZN’s wetter coastal soils.
Mobile fitting is available where it makes sense.
For farm and smallholding customers, transporting a tractor to a workshop just to change tyres often isn’t practical. We can arrange on-site fitting for many jobs rather than insisting the equipment comes to us.
No pressure to buy more than you need.
If a repair will get another season out of your existing tyres, we’ll say so. Replacement recommendations are based on tread depth, sidewall condition, and how the tractor’s actually used — not a sales target.
Customer Success Stories
How It Works
Most jobs follow the same straightforward path. No drama, no surprise charges.
Tell Us Your Model
Give us the model number stamped on your Kubota (usually on a plate near the operator seat or on the bonnet), or read us the size markings straight off your current tyres. Either works — the model number is more reliable since tyres get swapped over the years.
We Confirm the Correct Size
We cross-check the model against known factory fitments and your intended use — field work, mowing, yard duty — to recommend R1, R4, or turf pattern as appropriate. This takes a few minutes on the phone in most cases.
Quotation
You'll get pricing covering the tyre, fitting if required, and any callout charge for on-site work. Most quotes are turned around the same day.
Fitting
Workshop fitting at our Pinetown premises, or mobile fitting arranged for your property depending on location and job size. Straightforward single-tyre jobs are often same-day; full sets may need a short lead time depending on stock.
You're Back to Work
We check torque and, for pneumatic tyres, correct inflation pressure before you leave or before our technician packs up on-site.
Areas We Cover Around Durban and KZN
ForknTire is based at 6 Schenk Rd, Pinetown, and our core coverage is KwaZulu-Natal — Durban, Pinetown, Pietermaritzburg, and the surrounding farming districts. For smallholdings and farms further out, mobile fitting can usually be arranged; travel charges depend on distance, so ask when you enquire. Customers outside KZN are welcome to order tyres for collection or courier delivery — phone or email to check feasibility for your area.
What Kubota Tyres Cost
Pricing depends heavily on which model you’re running and whether you need agricultural, industrial, or turf pattern tyres. As a general guide, a single BX-series tyre sits at the lower end of the range, while larger L or M series ag tyres cost considerably more given their size and load rating.
Rather than list figures that won’t apply to your specific tractor, we quote based on your model and requirements — most quotes are ready the same day you call. Fitting costs are separate from tyre cost and vary depending on whether it’s workshop or mobile work. We accept the standard payment methods used across our other tyre categories; ask our team for current options when you enquire.
Frequently Asked Questions for Kubota Compact Tractor Tyres
Yes. A lot of the compact tractors still working South African farms and smallholdings are ten, twenty, even thirty years old. We regularly source tyres for older B7100, B7001, and early L-series models where the original size is no longer common but still available.
It comes down to what the tractor mostly does. Field cultivation in soft ground favours R1. Loader work, yard tasks, and mixed surfaces suit R4 better. If you're mowing lawn or working on maintained turf, go turf pattern — an aggressive lug will tear the ground up. Tell us how the tractor's used and we'll steer you toward the right option.
For many jobs, yes. Mobile fitting is available across our KZN service area, which is particularly useful for farm customers where trailering a tractor into town isn't practical. Availability and cost depend on your location and the job itself.
Read us the sizes off the sidewalls of your current tyres, or send a photo of the tractor and the tyres. Between that and a few questions about front loader fitment and wheel spacing, we can usually narrow it down.
New tyres carry the standard manufacturer warranty for the brand supplied. Fitting work is covered under our own workmanship guarantee — if something's wrong with the fit, we'll put it right.
Brand isn't usually the issue — rolling circumference is. Mixing R1 and R4 patterns front-to-rear, or using a tyre with a different overall diameter than factory spec, throws off the front-to-rear speed ratio on 4WD models and can strain the front differential. We check this before recommending anything.
A single-tyre or pair replacement at our Pinetown premises is usually a same-day job once the correct tyre is in stock. Full four-tyre jobs, or sizes we need to source, may take a few days — we'll give you a realistic timeline when you enquire.
Volume of experience with unusual sizes. A general tyre retailer might see one compact tractor tyre enquiry a month; we deal with them regularly enough to know the common fitment traps — wheel diameter mismatches, R1 versus R4 confusion, front-rear ratio issues — before they become an expensive mistake.
Ready to Sort Out Your Kubota's Tyres?
Whether you’re replacing a single worn front tyre on a BX or fitting out a full set on an L series doing real field work, getting the size and tread pattern right the first time saves you money and downtime later.
- 082 468 5308
- Monday - Thursday :7:30 am–4:30 pm, Friday :7:30 am–4:30 pm
- 6 Schenk Rd, Pinetown, 3610