Excavator, Loader & Grader Tires

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Title Tag	Excavator, Loader & Grader Tires for Sale Online | Tires4That
Meta Description	Shop tires for excavators, wheel loaders & motor graders. L-2, L-3, L-4 & L-5 construction tires in stock. Top OTR brands. Free shipping on most orders at Tires4That.

Wheel loaders, motor graders, and wheeled excavators demand tires that can handle brutal cut-and-thrust conditions like rock, concrete, sharp aggregate, and heavy lateral scrubbing loads that destroy ordinary tires in short order. Tires4That carries OTR (off-the-road) construction tires for these applications in L-2, L-3, L-4, and L-5 tread depths, from brands engineered specifically for heavy earthmoving equipment.

What To Look For In An Excavator, Loader or Grader Tire

OTR tires for loaders and graders use an L-rating system that indicates tread depth and durability. 

• L-2 (traction) tires have deep, widely spaced lugs for soft ground traction. 
• L-3 (rock) tires are the standard for most rock and gravel job sites, with a heavy-duty rib tread. 
• L-4 (rock deep tread) tires offer more rubber over the L-3 for extreme abrasion resistance. 
• L-5 (rock extra deep tread) tires are used in the most severe rock quarry and mining conditions. 

For most construction contractors, L-3 is the go-to for wheel loaders on mixed rock/dirt sites. Motor graders commonly use an L-3 or L-3S (smooth) pattern on rear drive tires. Tire size is critical; always verify by the size stamped on your current tire's sidewall, as machines can be re-tired with non-standard sizes over their working life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What do the L-ratings on loader tires mean?

A: L-ratings indicate tread depth and application severity for OTR (off-the-road) tires. L-2 is a traction tire for soft ground; L-3 is a rock tire for standard construction sites; L-4 is a deep rock tire for high-abrasion conditions; L-5 is an extra-deep rock tire for the most severe quarry and mining environments. Higher L-ratings carry more rubber above the carcass, providing longer wear life at the cost of a higher price.

Q: How do I read an OTR loader tire size?

A: Large OTR tires use formats like 23.5-25 (bias) or 20.5R25 (radial). In the bias format, the first number is the tire's nominal section width in inches, and the second is the rim diameter in inches. In the radial format, the numbers follow the same convention, but 'R' indicates radial construction. Always match both the size and the L-rating when replacing OTR tires.

Q: How long do wheel loader tires last?

A: On a typical construction site, wheel loader tires in L-3 compound commonly last 4,000–6,000 hours, though this varies dramatically with surface conditions. Rocky, jagged ground, and excessive wheel spin are the primary causes of premature failure. Ensuring proper tire pressure and avoiding unnecessary spinning on hard surfaces are the best ways to extend tire life.

Q: Are radial or bias-ply tires better for wheel loaders?

A: Radial OTR tires run cooler, have a larger footprint (better load distribution), and typically provide longer tread life than bias-ply in most loader applications. Bias-ply tires have thicker sidewalls that resist cut damage better in rocky environments. Many contractors use radials for regular site work and bias-ply in high-cut-risk quarry applications.

Q: Can I use skid steer tires on a wheel loader?

A: No, skid steer tires and large OTR wheel loader tires are completely different products, sized for different machines. Skid steer tires (typically 10-16.5 or 12-16.5) are for compact machines. Wheel loaders use much larger OTR tires (commonly 17.5-25 through 26.5-25 and larger). They are not interchangeable.