Anybody like their R4 tires in snow

[USNative]

I do get a kick out of everyone who thinks there tires are the best! Without ever getting on a tractor simply looking at them and using a little logic will tell you which will have more tractive force in different conditions. Doesn't mean the other ones won't work, just that they may not work as well but it may not make a difference if it gets the job done for you.

Also you don't know how much better you could do unless you experience more traction with a different tire, chains, loaded etc. R4's are a good all purpose tire, no doubt. More plies than R1's ie tougher and stiffer sidewalls. Harder compound = longer wear=less traction than a softer compound. Ever see a farmer out in loose material (dirt, mud, snow) with anything but R1's? There's a reason for that. Deep mud? Use rice tires. I would also tend to disagree with the post that said R1's have no traction in reverse. They DO have less than going forward, but I can still get out of some pretty good muck while in reverse.

Totally agree gerard, it all comes down to trial and error. The way I see it is that everyone here that has givin their input as to what works for them has different conditions they are working in therefore different needs. Also experience is a big help when it comes to operating the equipment in these conditions. A person with 10+ years of experience will be able to clear snow a lot easier than a person with say 2 weeks experience because they have learned the tricks to doing it properly and safely.

I live in Montana and we get alot of snow where I am and alot of winds which blows the snow to drifts but the snow is dryer then other places. My R4's have worked very well in my conditions but in other conditions may be a nightmare. I really would like a bigger tractor in my conditions as well but I simply cannot afford bigger equipment at the moment . I can say this for sure,after ten plus years of hand shoveling snow drifts having a tractor is a blessing for me. So far my little tractor has met my expectations far beyond what I had dreamed and I can't be any happier with it for what it is. All I want for Christmas is a nice warm cab !!! :licking:

As long as it works for me I could care less if it has R1's, R4's or turf and mine works just fine the way it is for my particular needs. Now, if I ever get into haying and cultivating i may need a bigger rig with some AG tires on it ! That is , when I can afford one.

 

[123rday]

Like your avatar USNative.

Now to the question, I have no problems clearing snow with my R4's (loaded rears w/ rim guard) as long as it's just snow. But with my 3038e, it doesn't have separate rear brakes, so once things get packed or icy underneath, I chain up all four corners for better steering response since I don't want chains just on the front.

 

[Reg]

I recently got a new JD2520 with R4 tires, and really haven't had a chance to use it with any reasonable amount of snow. From the post I've been reading hear, sounds like I should have ordered the turf tires.

I don't want to chain them unless absolutely necessary, so is there anyone out there using R4's for pushing snow that has anything good to say about them?

I have the JD front hitch and 54" blade, and a ballast box if necessary.

I have loaded R4s that I usually use in winter, unloaded turfs that I switch to in late Spring.
I have left the turfs on some years and they're not THAT much worse than the loaded R4s... until they load up (-:
You can get stuck with R1s, you will just be a bit deeper in and farther from the tow truck's winch when it happens.

I tried some goofy tricks a long time ago, like driving over the snow bank that the town had put in the end of my driveway. Got high on the belly of the tractor for a while, then worked my way down with the bucket.
There's a lot to be said for back scraping with a rear blade, i.e. like a plow truck driving on what you have just scraped clear.
Technique is more important than tire tread pattern; think, practice, learn.

 

[SPYDERLK]

You can get stuck with R1s, you will just be a bit deeper in and farther from the tow truck's winch when it happens.

But suppose you are on the way back when you get stuck ...
larry

 

[CorporateOffRoader]

Here in Eau Claire we set a one day record last weekend of 22" of the white stuff, pushed the driveway (340' of it) with the R4's twice on Saturday and again on Sunday. They seem to work fine for me. I push forward with the FEL and backward with the box blade.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Here in Eau Claire we set a one day record last weekend of 22" of the white stuff, pushed the driveway (340' of it) with the R4's twice on Saturday and again on Sunday. They seem to work fine for me. I push forward with the FEL and backward with the box blade.

We didn't get as much here, more like 14" but it blew and drifted something terrible. My R4's did quite well especially considering I only had my Farmi skidding winch on the rear for ballast.

This past weekend I went to our land near Merrill and bucked the trails open through the woods. There was 12-14" on the ground. I could drive anywhere I wanted in the woods. I used the loader bucket to push the trails which exceed 1/2 mile easily. Occasionally I would have to stop and clear the bucket, but I essentially plowed a 66" wide path with a bucket fill of snow occasionally gouging up leaves and grass here and there.

 

[mars1952]

I have R4's on my JD 4300. In general I don't like them much. But they are not very good in the mud. They are pretty easy on the grass.

I had cleared the neighborhoods driveways when we had a foot of wet snow. The R4's worked well for that even on the steep driveways. If you have much ice you will need chains no matter what type of tire you have.
Mars

 

[YesDeere]

To me the r4's are the swiss army of tires, try to do it all but not very well. Get Chains!!! Tirechains.com. Its cheaper than having different sets of tires.

 

[Kyle241]

I've never used chains on R4's for blowing snow for going on 10yrs. I would have liked to have them on my previous property's driveway as there was a section that was uphill and sometimes I would spin a little but I never got stuck, just slowed down some at that point. If you have hills on your drive, then yes chains will help.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

To me the r4's are the swiss army of tires, try to do it all but not very well. Get Chains!!! Tirechains.com. Its cheaper than having different sets of tires.

I have to agree.

I was just out moving snow again. Last couple times out things went exceptionally well. Today the snow was wet and packy with hard and slick underneath. For this condition I might agree they suck. But turfs would not be any better. The only thing that would do well in this is studs or chains.