Backhoe Loader (JCB) and Construction Machine Tyre Price in India

A backhoe loader tyre price in India depends on the size, the ply rating, the tread pattern and how the tyre is built, and nearly every backhoe loader runs the same rear tyre: 16.9-28, 12 ply. The front is a narrow 9.00-16 on a two-wheel-drive machine and a wider 12.5/80-18 on a four-wheel-drive machine. So the drive decides which set you buy.

Most people in India call a backhoe loader a JCB, whichever company built it, and the tyre size is the same across nearly every make. Of the 51 backhoe loader models we track from JCB, CASE, Mahindra, Tata Hitachi, ACE, Bull, Escorts Kubota, Manitou, Caterpillar, BEML and Bobcat, 49 list 16.9-28 as the standard rear tyre. This page gives the front and rear size for each make, the sizes for hydra cranes, wheel loaders, motor graders, telehandlers, skid steers, soil compactors and self-loading mixers, what moves the price of a tyre and how to get a dealer quote.

Which tyres are sold for construction machines in India?

The table lists the size each type of machine commonly runs and the tyre companies whose new-tyre listings carry that size. Retreaded tyres were left out, because they are a different product.

Many listings do not say whether GST, the tube and the flap are included, so always ask before you compare two quotes. A listed price is where a conversation with a seller starts, not what you will finally pay.

This is a general guide based on machine size class. Always confirm the fit with your machine’s operator manual or the manufacturer before buying or fitting.

Which tyre size does each backhoe loader make use?

The sizes below are the ones each maker publishes in the specifications of its current models. The rear size barely changes from make to make. The front size depends on the drive: two-wheel-drive machines run a narrow 9.00-16 front, and four-wheel-drive machines run a wider 12.5/80-18.

So a rear tyre bought for one make will fit most others, as long as the rim size and ply match. Which rim each of those sizes calls for, and how to read the code stamped on it, is covered in the wheel rim and wheel nut guide. The two that differ are the JCB 2DX, a smaller machine on 12-24 rears, and the BEML BL9H 4×4 on 14.0-25. Bull also offers 14-25, 20 ply rears as a heavy-duty option. A 14-25 rear costs more than a 16.9-28, so check which one your machine has before you ask for a quote.

This is a general guide based on machine size class. Always confirm the fit with your machine’s operator manual or the manufacturer before buying or fitting.

What goes into a full set of backhoe loader tyres?

A backhoe loader runs two large rear tyres and two smaller front tyres, so the set depends on whether it is a two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive machine:

• Four-wheel drive: two 16.9-28 rears and two 12.5/80-18 fronts. The wider front costs more than a 9.00-16, so a four-wheel-drive set costs more.
• Two-wheel drive: two 16.9-28 rears and two 9.00-16 fronts.

Most owners do not change all four together. The rear tyres carry the weight of the backhoe arm and do most of the pushing, so they usually wear first. What matters is that the two tyres on one axle are the same size, ply and tread, so change them as a pair.

To get a price, give the dealer the size, ply rating and tread pattern printed on the sidewall of the tyre on your machine. Ask whether GST, the tube and the flap are included, and whether the quote is per tyre or per pair.

If you are not sure which front tyre your machine has, the backhoe loader tyre size guide lists the front and rear size for each model sold in India.

Which tyre sizes do hydras, loaders, graders, telehandlers and skid steers use?

Outside backhoe loaders the size moves with the size of the machine, so the table groups each type by class and names the makes that publish each size.

Larger mining loaders run radial tyres that are sold mostly through fleet contracts rather than open listings.

This is a general guide based on machine size class. Always confirm the fit with your machine’s operator manual or the manufacturer before buying or fitting.

Why does the same tyre size have such different prices?

The size on the sidewall tells you the tyre fits. It does not tell you how the tyre is built, and that is where the price gap comes from.

• Ply rating. A 14.00-24 tyre at 12 ply and the same size at 16 ply are built for different loads. The higher ply rating carries more weight and costs more. This is most of the reason one size can be listed at very different prices.
• Tread pattern. Construction tyres come with patterns made for the job: R4 industrial tread for backhoe loaders, L3 to L5 for loaders (L5 is the deep, cut-resistant tread used in quarries), G patterns for graders. A deeper or tougher tread costs more and lasts longer on rock.
• Bias or radial. Most tyres on Indian backhoes, hydras and graders are bias (cross-ply). Radial tyres run cooler and wear more slowly on long travel but cost more. On larger wheel loaders, radial is common.
• Tube-type or tubeless. A tube-type tyre needs a tube and a flap. Some listings include them and some do not, so two quotes for the same size may not cover the same things.
• Farm pattern versus industrial pattern. A 16.9-28 is also a common tractor rear size. A farm tyre in that size is cheaper, but its tread and casing are made for fields, not for the side loads and sharp stones a backhoe sees. Check that the listing says backhoe, loader or industrial.
• Freight and location. A large loader tyre weighs well over 100 kg. Delivery to a remote site is part of the cost, and prices differ between cities.

Which tyre size does my machine take?

Start with what is written on the sidewall of the tyre already on the machine, then check it against the manual. Change the size only if the manufacturer allows it, because a different size changes speed, ground clearance and how the machine carries its load.

These guides list the fitted size for every model we cover:

• Backhoe loader tyre sizes by model
• Hydra crane tyre sizes by tonnage
• Wheel loader tyre sizes and tread types
• Motor grader tyre sizes and ply rating
• Road roller and soil compactor tyre sizes
• Self-loading concrete mixer tyre sizes

This is a general guide based on machine size class. Always confirm the fit with your machine’s operator manual or the manufacturer before buying or fitting.

Which companies make construction machine tyres in India?

The same names come up across the listings. MRF, Apollo Tyres, JK Tyre, BKT (Balkrishna Industries) and CEAT all make tyres for backhoe loaders, loaders, graders and cranes, and Camso (now part of Michelin) sells backhoe and skid steer tyres here. Some machine makers name the tyre company in their own specifications too: JCB lists BKT or CEAT on its 433, 440 and 455 wheel loaders, and Volvo names Goodyear on the L350H. Each tyre company sells several tread patterns in the same size, so compare the pattern and ply rating, not just the name.

When should you replace a construction machine tyre?

Replace a tyre when it can no longer carry the machine safely, not only when the tread is gone. Look for these signs:

• Tread worn close to the base of the lugs, so the machine slips on loose ground or climbs poorly.
• Cuts that reach the cords. If you can see fabric or steel in a cut, the casing is damaged.
• Bulges or bubbles on the sidewall. This means the inner layers have separated, and the tyre can burst under load.
• Cracks from age and sun, common on machines that stand for months on open sites.
• Uneven wear, such as one side worn more than the other. Fix the cause (pressure, alignment or a bent rim) before fitting new tyres, or the new pair will wear the same way.

How do you make machine tyres last longer?

• Keep the pressure right. Check it cold, before work, against the figure in the manual. Low pressure flexes the sidewall and heats the tyre; high pressure cuts grip and makes stones more likely to puncture the tread.
• Do not spin the wheels. Wheel spin on a loader or backhoe tears the lugs off faster than any amount of normal work.
• Keep the site clean where you can. Rebar ends, broken concrete and sharp stone in the travel path cause most cuts.
• Do not overload. Carrying more than the rated load in the bucket or on the hook is the fastest way to crack a casing.
• Change tyres in pairs on the same axle, with the same size, ply and pattern.

Tyres are one line in the running cost of a machine along with filters, oil and the battery. The service schedule guide shows what to check at each service, and the battery price guide and the engine oil price guide cover the other items owners buy most often. For the machines themselves, browse backhoe loaders and the parts and running costs guides.

To read the size code, ply rating and tread code on the sidewall before you compare prices, see how to read an OTR tyre.

Tyre sizes are as published by each machine maker and can change between variants. Prices, specifications and features are indicative, vary by variant, location and date, and should always be confirmed with the official OEM or authorised dealer before any purchase decision. Confirm whether GST, tube and flap are included. DesiMachines is not liable for decisions taken on the basis of information that may have changed after publication.