The 1,100hp Big Bud 16V-747 has just been fitted with eight new rims and tyres. The spectacular event took place at the Heartland Museum in Clarion in Iowa, where the tractor has been housed for several years.
Witnessed by locals and press, this is the first time the tyres have been changed since the tractor was built over 40 years ago in 1977. The original eight Canadian-made tyres, were beyond repair.
The new Titan Goodyear LSW 1400/30R46s and rims, which are rumoured to have cost US$80,000-US$100,000, have increased the ballasted weight of Big Bud 747 to around 50.0t, and the width to over 9.0m.
The burning question concerns the future of the world’s largest tractor. Owned by Randy and Robert Williams, the two brothers had planned to truck the tractor to the Farm Progress Show at Boone in Iowa, in September. Sadly, it will not be there to stun visitors because the show was recently cancelled due to the Coronavirus.
There is nothing official, but we confidently expect the world’s largest tractor to leave Iowa before the end of this year for the trip north to the Williams family farm at Big Sandy, in Montana. We will not be surprised to see the brothers put the new tyres to the test in the field next spring.
We are grateful to Andrew Motley, who lives near Clarion, for the pictures.
