Tires Swapping R4's for Ag wheels and tires

[phffft]

I used to use my Grand L 3010 to mow, and do all the other chores. Because of the mowing I got R4's when i bought the tractor.

Now that I'm not mowing, and I've been stopped by muddy hills / trails from getting to one part of my property I have the urge to take off the R4's and put on a set of Ag tires.

Has anyone else done this? Any issues? Way back when I bought the tractor I saw the same tractor I bought but with Ag's. It sure looked different. Taller. Not sure if that was perception or if it will raise the tractor up a tad. Hoping one of you has done this already and can give me some insight on the matter.

 

[bigbull338]

putting R1 ag tires on the tractor will make it a tad taller.because the luggs are narrow an taller where R4 luggs are shorter an wider.swapping the tires over can be costly.as youll have to buy 4 new tires an rims.

 

[tmajor]

youll have to buy 4 new tires an rims.

Why "new rims"? Plus, ag rear tires, alone, would make a difference.

 

[bigbull338]

the rims fitt R4 tires,thus not made to fitt the R1s.so you have to change front an rear rims.because running miss matched tires will mess the tractor up.

 

[Jbbies]

I run Ags on my B. I think for traction they are hands down the best tire you can put on the tractor. On the flip side they are hard on grassy surfaces... since you are not using the tractor on the lawn anymore I would say you would very much like the ags.

 

[jwp]

Ordered my l3130 with ags for most chores other than mowing purchased mounted set of turfs for the grass cutting season.

 

[new jersey mike]

When I purchased my T1530 last year it came with R4's and I told the dealer I wanted the R1's. He received his shipment in may and swapped them. They are taller, slightly narrower and don't cover my mower so I am hitting more trees with the corners of the brush hog, are tough on the grass but it was all about traction and they do dig in.

 

[creekbend]

When I bought my L4400, it had R4's on it and the dealer swapped them and put AG tires on it. That is what I wanted and there was no problem. I am not 100% sure, but the dealer stated that most Kubota Farm Tractors leave the factory with Industrial tires on them, and if the customer requests the Agriculture tires, the dealer installs the tires that the buyer wants. I was not charged any difference in price.:tractor:

 

[Chilly807]

When I bought my L4400, it had R4's on it and the dealer swapped them and put AG tires on it. That is what I wanted and there was no problem. I am not 100% sure, but the dealer stated that most Kubota Farm Tractors leave the factory with Industrial tires on them, and if the customer requests the Agriculture tires, the dealer installs the tires that the buyer wants. I was not charged any difference in price.:tractor:

Mine was the same situation, although the brochures and website list R1's as being the standard tire. Again, no change in prices.

Sean

 

[phffft]

Thanks all for the replies. Good info.
And yes, I am after traction in muddy situations and know that Ag's are the best tire for the job. I know I'll tear up my yard a bit when I have to travel across it but to be safer on the trails and hills on my property it seems like the right thing to do.

If I remember right when I bought the tractor it came with Ag's and there was a few hundred dollar up charge for switching to R4's. The dealer has no interest in taking my R4's on trade so it appears I'll have an extra set of tires that I'll have to find a place to store.

 

[phffft]

Ordered my l3130 with ags for most chores other than mowing purchased mounted set of turfs for the grass cutting season.

How hard is it to change from Ag's to Turf?
Are your Ag's loaded?

 

[ovrszd]

How hard is it to change from Ag's to Turf?
Are your Ag's loaded?

Did you catch the fact that you gotta buy rims?? So you'll possibly end up at a tire store or your dealership getting them mounted. Then making the swap on the tractor won't be a big deal.

 

[jonyyuma]

My Nickles worth, I have Turf tires and my tractor sits even lower. Measured at the towbar that is stuckout the back. I don't see any other tire that will spread to fit my Titan wheels and tires, other than turf?

 

[IndyIan]

Did you catch the fact that you gotta buy rims?? So you'll possibly end up at a tire store or your dealership getting them mounted. Then making the swap on the tractor won't be a big deal.

So why do you need to swap rims? Are the lips on the rims that different? I see that the rims typically have different offset for each type of tire from the factory but I don't see a problem with that for switch tire types. My R1's seem to have a fairly soft sidewall and I don't see why they couldn't be mounted on a slightly wider rim? I'm sure its not "ideal" but for a vehicle that averages 3 mph its whole life I don't see how it would matter much if you keep the air pressure reasonable.

Also I looked at a few used 4wd tractors that the farmer had put R4's on the front for loader work and they looked like the original rims.

Maybe the OP can up size the R1's a size or two so they fit well on the R4 rims?

 

[blueriver]

I have one tractor with the R4's and one with the R1's and I like the Ag tires the best. I really don't see that much difference in the "tearing up" of the grass ... unless the conditions are wet and then I guess I should not have been there to begin with.

I also wonder why one would have to swap the rims?

 

[ovrszd]

Most times the wheel diameter is different between R1 and R4. The width issue might be able to be overcome, not sure about that. R1 tires for my Kubota L4400 are a LOT narrower than R4s plus being different diameter. A friend has a JD and ran into the same issue when trying to change from R1 to R4, was gonna hafta buy rims.

 

[jonyyuma]

If the OP's tractor is 4x4, the rims need to be in Ratio for the gearing? I had considered the lug tires on front of mine, for better grip on turns?

 

[phffft]

Most times the wheel diameter is different between R1 and R4. The width issue might be able to be overcome, not sure about that. R1 tires for my Kubota L4400 are a LOT narrower than R4s plus being different diameter. A friend has a JD and ran into the same issue when trying to change from R1 to R4, was gonna hafta buy rims.

Yep, I know I need rims and tires. And I will have them changed at the dealers the first time.
I was asking if for some reason I wanted to put the R4's back on how hard of a task that might be. I figured the guy with Ag's and a set of Turf tires would be able to answer that.

If the OP's tractor is 4x4, the rims need to be in Ratio for the gearing? I had considered the lug tires on front of mine, for better grip on turns?

Yes, that ratio is important. I want to go with factory specs so i know I'm not tearing up the tractor.

 

[IndyIan]

Most times the wheel diameter is different between R1 and R4. The width issue might be able to be overcome, not sure about that. R1 tires for my Kubota L4400 are a LOT narrower than R4s plus being different diameter. A friend has a JD and ran into the same issue when trying to change from R1 to R4, was gonna hafta buy rims.

Only the ratio between the front and rear tire diameters(circumference really) has to remain the same, so any two sizes of tires that keep the ratio the same and will not bind in 4wd.
Maybe their aren't practical R1 tire sizes that work for the R4 rim widths? I find it a bit hard to believe that tractor tires for CUTs are all that sensitive to rim widths anyways, going by what people get away with on car tires...


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[MarkV]

If you are going to make the change and traction in mud is the reason you may want to look into a radial tire and compare costs. Radials are reported to provide the best traction in muddy conditions.

MarkV