Buying Advice R-4 Tires or Ag Tires on Kubota L-3800HST

[coldfingers]

If you have ags and want to put on R-4's, are they pretty expensive? I looked at a tractor that has ags and so I was wondering? Thanks.

 

[k0ua]

If you have ags and want to put on R-4's, are they pretty expensive? I looked at a tractor that has ags and so I was wondering? Thanks.

Yes, you need new wheels too, not just tires.. That is why it is so important to make the right choice for you.. What ever that choice is the first time.

James K0UA

 

[coldfingers]

Thanks James, good to know. I think I want R-4's but I had found a kubota L 3400 with ag tires and thought it was a good deal for the money so I thought I would find out if it was a big expense switching, guess it is.

 

[Chilly807]

Check with a dealer or tractor scrapyard for the price on rims, they'll be one piece rims usually for R4's.

A tire dealer will be your best bet for the tires themselves, dealer is usually more expensive unless they happen to have an exchange set left from a previous sale they want to get rid of.

In my case, I went with the R1's from the start, they were the same price as an option when buying new. I don't have any regrets on my choice of tires, they get the job done. I just have to be careful around soft lawns and keep max pressure in the fronts all the time. I did end up replacing my original front tires (Carlisle) because of sidewall damage. Probably caused by not enough pressure when using the loader, but it might have been a defect too.

If you want to run tire chains on an L3800/L3400 with R4's, you'll more than likely need wheel spacers, you won't with R1's.

What year is the L3400 you're looking at? They're good tractors, and we may finally have found a cure for the rough 3 point hitch although the jury's still out on that one for a few weeks. The L3800 has the same hitch problem, though it's often less than the older L3400.

Sean

 

[coldfingers]

thanks, I found a 2010 L3400 with ag tires and a quick detach bucket with 11 hrs. on it. This is through an outfit that buys then sells low hour tractors. In the pictures it looks like new. They are asking 14,900 for the tractor. I am waiting to see what it will cost to ship it to me.

 

[IndyIan]

Thanks James, good to know. I think I want R-4's but I had found a kubota L 3400 with ag tires and thought it was a good deal for the money so I thought I would find out if it was a big expense switching, guess it is.

I would try the Ag's first if you get a used tractor with them. Also the Ag rims and wheel allow you to adjust the rear track out wider than the non-adjustable R4 wheels.
I have my tractor set up with the maximum rear track on my loaded R1's as I have a hilly 100, and I wouldn't want R4's. I have clay soil as well so it greases up pretty good when wet, and even with R1's the odd time I'm doing a slowmotion 4 wheel drift across a muddy sidehill, or need to lock the rear diff to go up into my sloped barnyard.
No real thorns in my area and I don't mind the softer front sidewalls for loader work, as it provides some suspension to allow a bit more speed without hammering the tractor on rough ground.

 

[Bluegill2]

thanks, I found a 2010 L3400 with ag tires and a quick detach bucket with 11 hrs. on it. This is through an outfit that buys then sells low hour tractors. In the pictures it looks like new. They are asking 14,900 for the tractor. I am waiting to see what it will cost to ship it to me.

That's a pretty good deal. I looked at a L3400 at the JD dealer, had 300 hrs and were asking $15500. I ended up buying a L3800, 4wd, fel, 5' land pride mower with 14 hrs for 16k, from the Kubota dealer. So far I love it! :thumbsup:

 

[k0ua]

thanks, I found a 2010 L3400 with ag tires and a quick detach bucket with 11 hrs. on it. This is through an outfit that buys then sells low hour tractors. In the pictures it looks like new. They are asking 14,900 for the tractor. I am waiting to see what it will cost to ship it to me.

Thats not a bad deal with the SSQA ( I paid $1000 to retrofit mine counting adapter and bucket. I now have a spare bucket) especially if it is a hydro. and not too bad even if it is not.. Make sure the loader is a Kubota LA463 though, I have seen some deals with off brand loaders. I say go for it even if you wanted R4. you can get along fine with R1, just gotta be more careful on the lawn. and you will have better performance in the mud. All tires are a trade off. some do better at one thing than the other. There is no "best" tire.

James K0UA

 

[LD1]

Yep, excellent deal. That package would probabally cost ~$18k at the dealer. So 3k less for 11 hr machine....I could live with that:thumbsup:

 

[crazyal]

I would be a little worried about the Ag tires if you the brush hogging you'll be doing is going to be things like saplings. If it's more of grass and weeds then I don't think you'll have much to worry about but it's the hard stubble that could cause you issues.

For me the choice was easy. R4 just don't cut it in my hilly woods. Being rocky slime with plenty of roots traction is key. The tall wider spaced lugs get in between things to give the extra traction. Of course the Ag tires are taller so your tractor is going to be a little less stable.