Turf tires should go, R4's? R1's?

[irwin]

Hey guys :
I have an older JD 770 4WD with dryrotted turf's in rear. I've priced out new, but I really think I need to, take the $ pain and, buy new or used rims w/R4's.

The rears are 13.6-16 with 12" rims.. frts 23x8.50-14 w/ 8" rims.

on titan site found 12.4-16 R4's but needs 11" rims, also found 23x8.50-14 R4's but need 7" rims.

I know this can get EXPENSIVE but my land is brutal , three months ago just walking around the area we had cleared (paid someone, we're putting up a 4 stall hourse barm) I noticed a chunk missing from my $216.00 ecco hicking boot heel. so much for waterproof anymore, anyway this is an old farm land. My house , or whats left of the original house, was built in 1850. Soo lots on old bits of metal etc. buried back there..anyway... don't think I should spend good money and regret it sooner than later...

I won't be mowing with the tractor- the wife has a fairly new craftmans LT2000, and she likes the outdoors as much as me. This tractor and attachments are all I hope to need for my many rock,ground,tree related chores.. I don't think turfs are the best choice..what do ya think guys. or would R1's be better?

tim

 

[tglass]

I ordered r4's on mine and have no regrets. Heard about the tire rutting on lawns, but I've had no trouble with that. I wanted the extra traction with a loader etc.. As far as the sharp objects, well, any tire will have a problem with that.

 

[cp1969]

You've probably already done this, but make sure the diameter ratio between the front and back is maintained.

 

[RoyJackson]

The first question you should ask yourself is what your planned tasks are for your 770. I see by your profile you have a brush cutter and a post hole digger. You also have the loader. You do not have a tiller or any agricultural ground engagement implements.

It you need maximum traction as you would for a small farm, I'd suggest going with the R-1 Ag tires. For most other work with the implements you've listed in your profile, I'd go with the R-4 Industrials. The R-4 rims and tires may be more available used since I think the 770 and 790 used the same rims and tire sizes. I might be wrong on that so do a bit of home work before you order or bid on 790 rims/tires.

 

[jcmseven]

Tim,

If absolute traction is your goal, go R1 tires. The R4 tires are a good alternative, but will not give you the same traction in most conditions, but they do grip OK. The advantages to the R4 tires is that they float better in loose or sandy soil and get better traction there; they generally are lower profile enhancing hill stability without wheel inversion, they hold more fluid on average--probably 5-8 gallons more in your case for ballast; and they do not distort much with a heavy bucket load, etc. The downside is they are poor in mud or anything that can pack them up--which they do easily. They will not get the same traction as R1 tires in most cases. They are generally more expensive, but they do tend to enhance resale a bit as most people want them. If you ever plow snow (you live in CN), they are miserable. My tractor does OK with them, but we have not had much snow in two years here and I have intentionally avoided situations where I knew I would slide off the mountain if I plowed these more tricky areas. Several of our posters have had good luck in winter, but I am convinced their snow is different as is the terrain. Where I live, R4's in snow would be a quick way to a painful death. All in all though, going R4 is a good choice, but the old R1's still cannot be beaten for absolute traction.

John M

 

[jbrumberg]

irwin:

From this post it appears that you will be using your
"770" for ground engaging activities. Based on my own NE experiences- if you will be dealing with mud and ground engaging attachments I would recommend weighted R-1's. I have read a lot of posts here on TBN which leave me with the impression that if the terrain is chewing up your boots/tires then R-4's are the way to go, but R-4's will "load up" with mud and reduce traction . I really can not help you with wheel disk-rim/tire size recommendations as they are different from the NH tractors. What will be your predominant use and will you be plowing/moving snow with a FEL? Jay

 

[irwin]

Hi roy.. not a brush cutter but a 6 1/2 ' backhoe. thanks for reply.. will check into the 770-790 R1/4 compatability good idea. no farming (yet) but never say never...might be a box blade in the near future...thanks again you've helped me before

hi john.. not usually alot of snow here..but sometimes every 5-8 years.. well, still all my road vehicles (cept the camaro) are 4x4 so the wife and i just plow into and up the driveway.. although I'm leaning to a small plow on the craftsman $300.00 or so I'm told at sears. Oh yeah no cliff's here ..ahhh well a couple spots I avoid with the tractor...

hi jay.. I'm a big chicken so too muddy, or too slick etc. and I do something non-tractor riding related

hi tglass.. thanks for your input, I guess I'm hoping the R4's will be less wimpy?? and if I go with bars maybe I'll hit with the bar or it won't reach in between and extra traction sounds good to me .......soo if anybody knows about some rims.. please let me know.. yes on the ratio check cp1969 thanks..

 

[irwin]

I'll be doing zero lawn work with 770, so R3's must go.

I think R4's would be stronger and heavier for what I need.. clearing 1 acre to prep for horse pasture.. lots of trees (=) heat in cold weather (don't think I burned a gallon of oil this winter ) so the tractor will pull a trailer full of logs to log splitter area.. bh attachment will dig out rocks + stumps.. box blade (have buy one of those) to smooth top soil.. I'm extending my crushed stone drive out to the barn, and I'll try not to hire any outside help...

The more I reason this out, the less I like the idea of spending money for new turfs.. I don't like spending money foolishly..the front tires are fairly new and the diameter of the R4's are real close 37.7= R4 vs 38.1 =R3. Is this close enough to leave the frt on and change the rear rims+tires .400 inch difference? 10mm? this must be close enough for 4x4 in the rough..?

 

[irwin]

found a R4 deep traction-large contact surface tire that will fit on my 11" rims. (I don't have 12" rims, musta read it wrong..) with rolling circumference virtually the same as my turfs.. I did have to spend way too much time poring over web site specs while at work, and do my job at same time

 

[radman1]

Irwin
I like the look of those R4s. Moderately aggressive tread should help but not as deep of a lug as an R1. Those type of tires are often used on dedicated trenchers such as the ditch-witch brand or on vibratory plow machines. I thought those would be a great tires for CUTs, utility oriented UTVs and machines like the Toolcat.
IMHO, turf tires and R4s do poorly in mud.