23.5-25 Loader Tyres: A Practical Buying Guide

What the size means

A mounted 23.5-25 is around 1,600 mm in diameter, depending on tread depth. The radial version is written 23.5R25 and fits the same rims.

Machines that run 23.5-25

• Medium wheel loaders used for loading trucks, stockpiling and quarry work.
• Articulated dump trucks (ADTs) in the mid-size range.
• Some large telehandlers, port machines and heavy graders.

If you are not sure, read the sidewall of the current tyres or the machine's operator manual. Smaller loaders often run 17.5-25 or 20.5-25, and larger ones 26.5-25 or 29.5-25.

L-3 or L-5 tread?

There is also L-5S, an extra-deep smooth tread for the most severe rock and underground work, and E-3 treads for ADTs and dump trucks on haul roads. Our guide to choosing mining OTR tyres explains every code.

Ply rating: 16, 20 or 24?

23.5-25 bias tyres are usually made in 16PR, 20PR and 24PR. The higher the ply rating, the more load the tyre can carry at a higher pressure. A loader's front tyres carry most of the weight when the bucket is full, so size the rating for the loaded front axle, not the machine's empty weight. If in doubt, match the rating on the tyres the machine came with.

Bias 23.5-25 or radial 23.5R25?

• Bias 23.5-25 has stiff sidewalls that resist cuts and costs less up front. It is the usual choice for loaders on short loading cycles at rough sites.
• Radial 23.5R25 runs cooler, grips better and rides more smoothly. It suits machines that travel further, such as load-and-carry work and ADTs.

Fit the same construction on all four wheels. Mixing bias and radial on one machine affects handling and drivetrain loads.

Rims, tubes and fitting

23.5-25 tyres fit 25-inch multi-piece OTR rims. Tubeless tyres need a sound rim with a good O-ring. Tube-type tyres need the correct tube and flap. Before fitting:

1. Inspect rim components for cracks, rust and bent flanges. Replace damaged parts.
2. Use a new O-ring on tubeless assemblies.
3. Inflate inside a safety cage, using a clip-on chuck and remote gauge, standing to the side of the tread.
4. Set the pressure from the tyre maker's load and inflation table.

Multi-piece OTR wheels store a lot of energy when inflated. Fitting should always be done by trained people with the right equipment.

Making 23.5-25 tyres last

• Keep the loading area clear of spilled rock.
• Avoid wheel spin when digging into the pile.
• Check pressures every shift, cold.
• Look for cuts, embedded stones and sidewall damage daily, and repair small cuts early.
• Keep load-and-carry distances short with deep L-5 treads.

23.5-25 tyres from Proclassic

We supply 23.5-25 and 23.5R25 loader tyres in L-3 and L-5 treads from the Primex and Galaxy ranges, along with the other OTR sizes on our mining tyres page. Tell us the machine, the tread you need, the ply rating and where the site is, and we will confirm stock and price on WhatsApp and arrange delivery.