Anybody like their R4 tires in snow

[Don87]

Good eyes!!!

Jeez!! I don't think I'd want to plow down that slope!

I looked at the pic several times, I missed the sign also.

That hill wouldn't bother me at all, my driveway is basically the same(just a little shorter), and dead ends into the heavily traveled main road. I'm using turfs with ladder chains on 2 link spacing:thumbsup:

 

[Chuck on lake]

Originally Posted by AKfish
Chuck on lake - does that STOP sign at the bottom of the hill - really mean stop... or can you just kinda glide thru it?

AKfish

Most just glide through it! The private road joins a rural county road at the stop sign and mail boxes in the picture. Although winter traffic volume is diminished you still have to be on the watch for cars or snowmobiles since the county road has a curve in it just before the intersection. Makes things interesting at times. When the new tractor arrives I will post again and give you my impressions of R1 vs R4. Right now it is cold enough so traction on the hill if fair but if it warms up a little the hill will compact harder and become much more slippery so comparisons might not be very accurate.

Chuck on lake (Lake Vermilion near Cook, MN)

 

[SPYDERLK]

Originally Posted by AKfish
Chuck on lake - does that STOP sign at the bottom of the hill - really mean stop... or can you just kinda glide thru it?

AKfish

Most just glide through it! The private road joins a rural county road at the stop sign and mail boxes in the picture. Although winter traffic volume is diminished you still have to be on the watch for cars or snowmobiles since the county road has a curve in it just before the intersection. Makes things interesting at times. When the new tractor arrives I will post again and give you my impressions of R1 vs R4. Right now it is cold enough so traction on the hill if fair but if it warms up a little the hill will compact harder and become much more slippery so comparisons might not be very accurate.

Chuck on lake (Lake Vermilion near Cook, MN)

Is your plow behind or in front. Is the road gravel or paved? A paved Rd & front plow will both favor R4. If only front plow probably even money. Rear plow on gravel R1s. Paved for R1s it will depend how well the snow links to the surface.
larry

 

[Chuck on lake]

Is your plow behind or in front. Is the road gravel or paved? A paved Rd & front plow will both favor R4. If only front plow probably even money. Rear plow on gravel R1s. Paved for R1s it will depend how well the snow links to the surface.
larry

The road is gravel. I have both front and rear blade. Primary blade for snow is the front FEL mounted blade. I set the shoes so it plows a little high at the beginning of winter to allow a compacted cover to form on the gravel thus protecting it from getting plowed off the road and also helps establish easier pushing for the plow but obviously doesn't help traction! By this time of year the frost has gone down at least 18 inches so things are pretty solid but no gravel is visible due to the above. County plows their road like the above also since it is gravel.

 

[SPYDERLK]

The road is gravel. I have both front and rear blade. Primary blade for snow is the front FEL mounted blade. I set the shoes so it plows a little high at the beginning of winter to allow a compacted cover to form on the gravel thus protecting it from getting plowed off the road and also helps establish easier pushing for the plow but obviously doesn't help traction! By this time of year the frost has gone down at least 18 inches so things are pretty solid but no gravel is visible due to the above. County plows their road like the above also since it is gravel.

You need chains for the R4s and loading for the R1s. Sharp tread edges on new tires helps on hardpac.
larry

 

[mfreund]

This is a discussion with no end.

I feel the r-4's on my 4310 do good in snow. They do poorly on ice. I feel it is because of the hard rubber compound the R-4 INDUSTRIAL tires are made from. This pattern was originally on skid steer loaders and wore well because of the hard compound. I do love the R-4's on the lawn while mowing and that is 95% of my tractor hours.

In the end, it will depend on you situation and how much time you have or is acceptable to move snow.

 

[Dargo]

As I mentioned earlier, I have 2 complete sets of tires for my JD 5525; loaded R1 tires and unloaded R4 tires. We only have a few inches of snow, but just as I recall when we had heavy snows, even with a layer of ice under the snow, I have no issues with my R4's and switching to R1's and going back out to the exact same places just don't improve my performance any.

 

[ovrszd]

I run chains on my rear 26x12x12 R4s on the JD2210. I've actually not tried pushing without chains. My only complaint is the chains are extremely hard on my new shop floor.

I don't have chains for my Kubota but I only use it to pile higher.

I wouldn't even consider going out in the John Deere grader without chains.

I don't like to be stuck. I don't like to slide out of control. I don't like to take an hour to do a fifteen minute job. With all that said, chains are cheap.

 

[Deadman]

As I mentioned earlier, I have 2 complete sets of tires for my JD 5525; loaded R1 tires and unloaded R4 tires. We only have a few inches of snow, but just as I recall when we had heavy snows, even with a layer of ice under the snow, I have no issues with my R4's and switching to R1's and going back out to the exact same places just don't improve my performance any.

Thats not snow country tho. :confused2: Get up north where the snow from December stays until April, and it takes a different tire.

 

[47chevy]

Hate the R4's in snow over 4-5". Almost quicker to use a shovel. Slides everywhere and have to use the loader because it is very easy to get stuck. Only using the loader to remove the snow. Might help if I add some weight to the tractor.