Tires Snow handling: Turf Tires (R3) vs. Ag Tires (R1/R4)

[BX2230nut]

I am gearing up for winter, and would like to use my BX2230 for snow handling (FM snow blower.) Does anyone have a recommendation on tires?

I currently have turf tires (R3) installed - but I notice alot of people posting videos of FM snow blower have flat-tread R4 tires.

Does anyone have experience with Re turf tires in the snow?

 

[oosik]

I've always had R1's on my tractors and my only experience with turf tires is on my riding lawn mower. They are not worth a plug nickel in snow. Mower is too light - tires are too wide. Perhaps an easy solution would be chains.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Turf tires are made for turf, not snow. Switching to R1 or R4 tires won't buy you that much more traction in snow and would be far more expensive than chains. Get a good set of cleated chains and you'll be good to go. Be aware that the chains can be rough on the driveway surface if it's paved.

 

[BX2230nut]

Turf tires are made for turf, not snow. Switching to R1 or R4 tires won't buy you that much more traction in snow and would be far more expensive than chains. Get a good set of cleated chains and you'll be good to go. Be aware that the chains can be rough on the driveway surface if it's paved.

bdhsfz6 - thanks for the tip. I was trying to avoid chains since my driveway was recently paved.

 

[Mendonsy]

Turf tire are worthless in snow or ice. If your BX has turf tires then you are probably also using it to mow lawn?? If that is the case then you don't want R1's or R4's for summer use because they will tear up your lawn. You either need to have two complete sets of tires (very expensive option) or use chains in the winter.

 

[fatboycowen]

Get some rubber chains. They are made from tire carcases. I use them on my small garden tractor, and they work awesome, and hold up extremely well. I'm sure they are not as good as real chains, but a great compromise. No driveway damage.

 

[BX2230nut]

Turf tire are worthless in snow or ice. If your BX has turf tires then you are probably also using it to mow lawn?? If that is the case then you don't want R1's or R4's for summer use because they will tear up your lawn. You either need to have two complete sets of tires (very expensive option) or use chains in the winter.

Thanks.. Yes my BX2230 is used for lawn work (grass mowing / leaf clean up.) so the turf tires will be my primary tire for the bulk of the year.

 

[BX2230nut]

Get some rubber chains. They are made from tire carcases. I use them on my small garden tractor, and they work awesome, and hold up extremely well. I'm sure they are not as good as real chains, but a great compromise. No driveway damage.

Great suggestion - I haven't seen these, but I think rubber chains may be the best option for what I plan on doing.

I found a website that makes them in the USA - Rubber Tire (Snow) Chains - Traction without damage.

 

[Fallon]

I keep hearing R1 turf + chains beats R4 or R1 with chains. Lots of little nubbs to get a bite on the snow for traction.

My R4s have been ok, but I had front chains for my L3200 & needed them to steer while plowing. Picked up front chains for the L4060 as a precaution even though I never got a chance to plow with it last winter.

 

[airbiscuit]

I have had R-1s and R-4s. In wet snow, the R-4s were worthless - filled up with snow and spun like a top. The rubber "chains" sounds like a good alternative for your turf tires.

 

[wrooster]

I have had NO problems in snow with the turf tires on my BX.
No chains; in 4wd and with rear ballast the tractor performs as you would expect it should.

wrooster

 

[BX2230nut]

I have had NO problems in snow with the turf tires on my BX.
No chains; in 4wd and with rear ballast the tractor performs as you would expect it should.

wrooster

Thanks - did you have a front-mount snow blower?

 

[mile9c1]

Not a Kubota but I plow my driveway with 2wd and good turf tires (no chains). By "good" I mean the tires aren't worn.

 

[Zick]

I've been using my BX2350 for the past 10yrs to plow snow w/ turf tires and never have an issue unless the snow is really deep (10+ inches) and wet and then sometimes I just can't get enough traction (tractor too light). But it's never stopped me, it just takes a few running starts to get it going again.
I've also used a rear snowblower for the past couple yrs and just got a front snowblower last yr but didn't get to use it yet.

I would say since you already have them is to give the turf a chance and see how you like it. If you don't think they do well for you, can look at changing them but I think you'll be surprised on how well they do.

 

[super55]

There is probably a 95% chance you will be fine with just turf tires. I have used all 3 types on various tractors and this is my overall conclusion. Turfs- best of the 3 on hard packed snow. R1 ags work great on deep snow or breaking new paths but tend to slide easily on hard pack. R4 industrial- I liked these the least. Not enough traction in deep snow and still slide on hard pack. R4 was the only tire that I needed the assistance of having chains.

Unless you are working on very steep slope you should be ok without chains as long as you have 4wd. Plow trucks rarely if ever have chains.

 

[corl]

Have plowed snow with my F2100 Kubota for the last 27 years (2400 hours on it) with turf tires and chains ( second set of tires and 2nd set of chains) It does a great job and the driveway has a 20% grade. I only can plow down hill and about 6 inches of snow at a time. Have to plow with the storm or use the MX5100 bucket loader to open things up. Chains on just the front big wheels. With chains it makes it a real beast and goes where you point it.

 

[Will_C]

Plowed a lot of snow with a BX2200 and turfs with the FEL. Put chains on after a couple of years and it was beast. I now plow with a B2620 using the FEL and a back blade-still have turfs only, no problems.
Will

 

[dodge man]

I Agee turfs work great in snow especially if your driveway is paved. In really deep snow in the grass not so good.

 

[bdhsfz6]

bdhsfz6 - thanks for the tip. I was trying to avoid chains since my driveway was recently paved.

Rubber chains are an option but don't last long and in my experience, don't work that well. I use twisted link chains which are easier on pavement than cleated or V bar types.

Tire Chains-snow chains-garden-lawn-TireChain.com

In your case, I'd go with the 2 link medium set.

The skid shoes and cutting edge on your snowblower can also mark up pavement. There are rubber attachments available to help with that. I've found that raising the blower off the ground slightly with the 3pt is the best approach. It adds more weight to the tractor and improves traction. Leaving a little snow behind also minimizes surface damage from the chains.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I have a flat driveway so no slopes to worry about. I have no problems going anywhere with my front mount snowblower. I do not use any ballast or chains as I don't need them. The only time traction is an issue is when temperatures are around 0C/32F and you are working in wet snow. Chains aren't worth the hassle for the few times we have those conditions.

Every once in a while I still push snow with the front end loader. (Just so I don't forget how time consuming that is.) With no ballast or chains I can push snow hard enough to stall the engine.

When people in these forums say that you need ballast and chains to work in snow it makes me wonder what kind of conditions they have to warrant making those statements. I had chains for my 955. I never used them.

Edited to add that both the 955 and the 4410 are on turf tires. Both tractors also had wider front tires. Instead of 27x8.5x15 I installed a set of 26x12x12. Maybe the extra 7" of tire gives me a lot of extra traction. I don't know because I've never tried the 8.5's. If I feel ambitious maybe I'll try swapping them back on sometime.