Which Tire R1 or R4 your opinion please

[new jersey mike]

Hello, I have finally made the decision to purchase a 2010 New Holland T1530. During my "tractor 101" process. I had made the decision of what ever I purchased would have R1's since the traction is suppose to be better. I don't have to worry about a lawn since this is vacant land. It is hilly and has wet spots. I will be using the the tractor for brush hogging and small loader and box scraping projects. When I went to the dealer I saw the tractor has R4's on it. I mentioned to the dealer that I thought it had 1's and I was concerned. He said if I wanted him to swap them out to R1's he would no charge. He also said he felt the R4's would be better for me since they are wider and a heavier ply. Yes they may mud up easier the 1's but the advantages were with the r4's. I realize the r1's are more expensive so was he more concerned with his cost or my needs?

What is your opinion?

Thank you.

 

[johnrex62]

I guess it depends on what your tasks will be. In plowed fields and muddy ground, the R1s will give better traction, albeit with more torn ground. The R4s will sacrifice some traction in favor of a more durable, and I strongly suspect, longer lived tire.

If you are working around brush or cut saplings you might find the added puncture resistance of the R4 beneficial.

When I bought my tractor the dealers told me that R4s were becoming the choice over R1s for everyone except the professional farmer. For mowing and general utility work, the R4 was a much better choice. My dealer did offer them to me for no additional cost on my deal. Some could argue he was going to make more profit if I chose the R1s, but he was urging me toward the R4s for my needs so I don't think so.

 

[MBDiagMan]

From your description, mainly the "hilly with wet spots" portion, it sounds to me like you need R1's. Unless you have some SERIOUS small stumps, I can't imagine that you will have to worry about punctures with the R1's. I've run them for over 25 years with lots of sapling stumps from inadequate shredding intervals and have never had such a tire issue.

My $0.02,

 

[new jersey mike]

My main project is too brush hog and some fields are very overgrown. I purposely purchased the sql172 due to the heavy growth. I know some trees will require a chainsaw and I do have a lot of small saplings.

I also want to say I do not have a reason not to trust the dealer.

This tractor also has MFWD so I might have the traction issue covered?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Hello, I have finally made the decision to purchase a 2010 New Holland T1530. During my "tractor 101" process. I had made the decision of what ever I purchased would have R1's since the traction is suppose to be better. I don't have to worry about a lawn since this is vacant land. It is hilly and has wet spots. I will be using the the tractor for brush hogging and small loader and box scraping projects. When I went to the dealer I saw the tractor has R4's on it. I mentioned to the dealer that I thought it had 1's and I was concerned. He said if I wanted him to swap them out to R1's he would no charge. He also said he felt the R4's would be better for me since they are wider and a heavier ply. Yes they may mud up easier the 1's but the advantages were with the r4's. I realize the r1's are more expensive so was he more concerned with his cost or my needs?

What is your opinion?
Thank you.

I have heard that it is actually the R1s that are cheaper ... but who cares really. How much is not getting stuck worth? The R1s arent fragile to puncture either and with the fronts at max pressure they even do well in loader work. Tremendous motive force is available for pushing. More forgiveness it traction compromised conditions. It would be nice to be able to morph from one to the other, but for wide range capability its gotta be R1s unless youre working on stob covered ground. Beaver cut stobs will punch either one.
larry

 

[JCB]

No matter which you choose you'll be making a compromise. R4's are durable, R1's have traction.

That said, I do not like R4's in mud and snow. I've seen my R4's fill with mud that I know R1's would have done better in. If you don't think you need R4's, I'd get the R1's.

 

[MikeInEburg]

There is no doubt that R1 has better traction. If mostly dry and non-snow conditions, R4 is fine. If much use is on hard packed or pavement, R4 is better. If lawn use, R4 is less destructive. If use in wet areas, mud, snow, or other areas requiring high-traction, then R1 is better.

Mike

 

[Baby Grand]

There is no doubt that R1 has better traction. If mostly dry and non-snow conditions, R4 is fine. If much use is on hard packed or pavement, R4 is better. If lawn use, R4 is less destructive. If use in wet areas, mud, snow, or other areas requiring high-traction, then R1 is better.

Mike

Mike said it well, and I think Larry has a point - the R4s are usually an exrtra cost option. One thing to consider that I wish I had known when I got my tractor: there are R1s and then there are R1s. See if you can get the heavier ones (more plys) for the same price as R4s. Never hurts to ask.

-Jim

 

[Gary Fowler]

I will just say this, my brother in law has R-4 tires on his NH and he leaves the wet boggy areas for me to mow since I have R-1 tires. I have went thru some scary stuff that I dont think an R-4 would ever have made it. The R-1 tires do tear up the grass a bit if you try to turn sharp and fast otherwise in a straight run pass, you cant tell the difference. In moist and soft soil, the R-4 seem to have better flotation due to the larger size and I am sure that they wear much longer if you plan to hiway your tractor a lot since they have more rubber on the ground. I will probably get R-4 on my new tractor but only since I plan to keep my old one around with the R-1s, just in case I get stuck.

 

[beemerphile]

You mentioned a hilly property. I chose R4's on my last tractor because it gave the tractor a lower center of gravity and a wider track.