Shop for Construction, JCB & Skidsteer Tyres

To search for your tyre you need to know the tyre size you need. Tyre sizes can be written in many differing formats, so our Tyre Size Guide is a helpful read to understand them. The size is almost always written on the tyres sidewall and for construction tyres would look something like '16.9-28' or '420/85R28'. The first type (16.9-28) is imperial written in inches, and the second is the newer metric marking now being adopted by many manufacturers.

With both sizes the last number is the RIM (the diameter of the hole in the middle of the tyre) in inches (28 inches in our example). The first number is the tyre WIDTH (know as Section Width), and in our example it would be 16.9 inches or 420mm. The 'R' if presents means you have a tyre of RADIAL construction, and the '-' if present means the tyre is of CROSSPLY construction.

The metric sizes (420/85R28) tell you the PROFILE percentage after the width, here it is 85% profile (this means the side walls on the tyre are 85% as tall as the width of the tyre). This profile can be ignored if your tyre size if written in imperial as it is not given.

Plugging these numbers into the tyre finder above will help you to narrow down your tyre search!

Radial tyres were invented in 1946 and allow the sidewall of the tyre and the tyre tread to work as two independent features. The flexibility of a radial tyre, together with its strength, are two combined factors which mean a radial construction tyre absorbs impact shock and bumps more effectively than a crossply tyre.

This gives you and your machine a more comfortable ride and allows the driver to work longer. The flexibility of the sidewall enhances vehicle stability and provides maximum contact of the tyre with the road surface. This improved contact with the ground reduces the wear on the tyre tread meaning radial tyres last longer than crossply tyres. It also helps spread the weight over the ground reducing soil compaction. Radial tyres tend to have higher speed ratings so for some faster road going machines Radial tyres are the only usable option.

Radial tyres do however tend to be more expensive than crossply alternatives, so could be viewed as an investment that will pay off in the long run.

Crossply tyres have been around a lot longer and whilst don't offer the advantaged of Radial tyres, they are cheaper, and in some applications are the preferred choice. Crossply tyres have stiffer tyre sidewalls than radial tyres, and so tend to be better at avoiding sidewall punctures, something that is advantages in forestry use for example. They also give less suspension than Radial tyres which can be an advantage on forklift trucks and scissor lifts for example that require a firm ride. Find out more about Radial vs Crossply by reading this article.

A Ply Rating is similar to a tyre Load Index and is an indication/measure of a tyre's strength, telling you the maximum weight that the construction tyre can safely carry. Tyres with a higher ply rating carry more weight but cost more due to their superior construction and the extra materials used. Ply Rating's are usually only given on tyres of Crossply construction, the newer Radial tyres should have a load index number given instead. In general, you shouldn't switch to a lower ply rating than you currently have. You can normally increase the ply rating of the tyre used, but bear in mind the higher a tyres ply rating the stiffer a tyres sidewall usually becomes. This can be advantageous in helping to avoid punctures in the tyre sidewall, but may reduce the suspension/cushioning you experience riding your machine.

The exact carrying capacity of construction & industrial tyres can vary by axle, speed, pattern, pressure and manufacturer. Tyre manufacturers often provide detailed information on how much weight a tyre can carry in their technical tyre books: please check the Technical Link of a product or Contact Us if you need help.

Most modern construction tyres have a speed and load index, sometimes known as a service index, stamped on the sidewall. A tyre's Speed Index is the maximum safe speed that the tyre can be run at; this is represented with a letter from the very slow (A1) to the very fast (Y and beyond).

The Load Index is the maximum weight that construction tyres can safely support. This is represented by a number: the higher this number is the more weight the tyre can carry. It is imperative for the safety of the vehicle and its occupants that tyres with high enough Speed and Load Indexes are chosen. To find out more about Speed and Load Indexes and all other tyre markings, have a look at our Tyre Size Guide.

Tubed type (TT) construction tyres have a separate tube fitted inside the tyre which is often purchased separately to the tyre. Tubeless tyres (TL) have their own inner liner which prevents leaks from the rim and minimises the damage done by punctures. They therefore do not require a separate tube to be purchased (if you rims are in good condition). Tubeless construction tyres are more resistant to overheating, but air leakage can occur if the tyre has not been fitted properly or if the rims are old or damaged. Find out more by reading this article on Tube-Type and Tubeless Tyres.

Buying JCB tyres and other construction tyres online might be new to some people, but it makes a lot of sense. Traditionally tyres are bought from your local tyre supplier in your area, which means you are relying on their stock, pricing, expertise and customer service. By using Big Tyres you are using a national tyre supplier (based in Nottingham), whose only business is in supplying tyres, tubes, wheels and fitting UK wide. We have key accounts with main manufacturers to offer you the best prices, carry millions of pounds worth of stock, can access any construction tyre not in stock by going direct to access manufacturer's free stock, are up to date with all the new tyre news regarding brands, patterns and offers in the market place, and have a dedicated team of customer service staff. We often provide free shipping and next day delivery and are open to talk with you by phone, email, live chat or at one of the many shows we exhibit at.

At Big Tyres we want to take all the hassle out of buying and fitting tyres. We offer a UK WIDE mobile fitting service where professional fitters will come to your doorstep and fit your construction tyres for you. No matter the size or application we can have your new tyres up and running fast. When ordering mention you require fitting with your tyres, and we will add the cost to your order and take payment.

Normally our tyres will arrive with you the next working day by courier delivery, and once you have received them, call us up and we will ask the fitter to come to you to fit them. The fitters can normally respond within 4 hours, so they could be with you the same day as your tyres arrive if you call before 3pm, else they would arrive the next day or on a day of your choosing. We have fitter across the country and we even cover all of the Scottish Highland. For more information read our Construction Tyre Fitting information page.

There is a wide selection of construction and industrial tyre manufacturers based in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and elsewhere. There are long standing brands like Michelin, Trelleborg, Goodyear, Firestone & Mitas who are well established in the market place and offer premium and mid range construction tyres. There are a large number of budget and mid-range brands too, like BKT, Alliance and Camso Solideal who have been manufacturing for a few decades and are now accepted brands in the industry.

The budget or economy construction tyre sector has lesser known brands trying to forge a following, with brands like Infinity, Ozka and Tianli. The main established brands also offer 'B' brands to the market place, that often use the same technology and materials but are offered at a lower price point to the consumer. Michelin offers alternate brands under the Kleber and Taurus names, and Mitas offers its Cultor brand.

Each manufacturer produces its own range of unique tyre patterns or moulds, but most of these fall into broad categories based on the tyres application. Here is a summary of common pattern types for construction tyres.

Rear / Drive

R1 & R1W Agricultural & Construction Tyres

Also known as "Tractive", "Tractor Pattern" and "Open Centre". These tyres are found on farm and construction machinery including tractors, backhoe loaders and telehandlers. R1W tyres (also called R1+) have a slightly deeper tread and a wider contact area, offering better performance on the road and in wet conditions.

R2 Agricultural (Deep Tread) Tractor Tyres

Also known as "Rice & Cane", "Paddle" or "Spade" tyres, the R2 pattern has a very deep tread and is designed for extremely wet or sticky soil.

R3 Industrial (Flotation) Tractor Tyres

Also known as "Diamond", "Grassland" or "Turf". These tyres are used to minimise ground disturbance on soft surfaces such as grass and sand. Because there is very little traction, these tyres are also comfortable and long-lasting when used on the road.

R4 Industrial (Wide Lug) Tractor Tyres

Also known as "Industrial" or "ATU" (All Traction Utility), these tyres have the tractive lugs of an R1 tyre but with an area of overlap in the centre. These tyres are designed to balance traction with road and hard-surface performance.

Site Trailer & Industrial Implement

I-1 Implement

Also known as "Multi-Rib" tyres, these are found on a huge range of farm implements and trailers. They are designed to be good all-round tyres which offer high flotation and load capacity at lower pressures.

Traction Implement

These tyres are similar to R1 or R4 tractor tyres, but are designed for use on the drive wheels of agricultural and construction implements.

Flotation Implement

These tyres are typically built to minimise soil disturbance and to carry high loads at low pressures. They are found on a range of farm trailers and implements.

Flotation Transport

These tyres are designed for stability and road performance without sacrificing flotation and grip in the field. They are often suitable for higher speeds than other farm trailer tyres.

Storing your tyres correctly when on the machine or stacked as spares is important in extending their life time and ensuring they remain safe and continue to function as they should. General advice is to keep your construction tyres out of heat and direct sunlight, as it can dry out the rubber and cause cracking. When leaving a machine unused for a long period try to jack the machine up to take some weight off the tyres to avoid misshaping them. Other advice to follow is to keep them away from liquids like petrol, oil and grease so not to deteriorate the rubber compounds. Read more about Storing your Construction Tyres.

We often get asked about fitting inner tubes in construction tyres designed to function without an inner tube, often due to the tubeless tyre having a puncture. Whilst an inner tube will hold air and keep your tyre inflated it is not recommended for a couple of reasons. The main reason is for safety, as a tubeless tyre is designed to deflate slowly when punctured so is safer. A tube in a tubeless tyre once punctured can lose air rapidly and if the tyre casing isn't holding air successfully the tyre could deflate very quickly causing a safety hazard. Also, tubeless tyres have a rougher inner surface and this can rip the tube, or cause friction & heat which can burst the tube. Read more about Fitting Tubes in Tubeless Construction Tyres.

For the latest construction tyre news, advancements and also a little fun, visit our Twitter Page and follow @bigtyres_co_uk or visit and like our Facebook Page. Why not also check our the Big Tyres Blog for educational articles and the latest industry information. We also send out a monthly Big Tyres Newsletter that often has discount codes and news of our latest sales and offers to save you money on your construction tyres.