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

[rScotty]

I've had tractors with all 4 types of tread.
For our deep dry snow the industrial R4 tread is far and away the best for traction on any of our tractors. It has the right combination of flotation and traction to keep on working while it compacts the snow beneath it. This is the tire commercial machines use & there's good reasons for that. Great combo tire.

For use in snow the worst is of course the turf tires, the R3. They need chains for light snow or even dry dirt. I like the tire for the way it lowers and widens a tractor's stance. But it isn't much of a tire for traction. It wasn't intended to be.

The R1 traditional Ag tires seem like they would have more traction and they do. The problem is that they aren't wide enough to have enough flotation to match up with their aggressive Ag tread in our snow. With a thin body and those big lugs the tire ends digging down and getting stuck in their own rut. Same for the R2 paddle lug tires. But you don't see those R2s much anymore.
rScotty

 

[LouNY]

Snow in addition to being a 4 letter word which shouldn't be used is different in every area.
Many of the western and mountain snows are dry and powdery, many of the storms here in the northeast are heavy wet snows.
From what I have seen and observed the drier snows are more tolerant of tire design, the wet heavy snows that are so common in some areas are a real pain,
as soon as a tire runs over it, it packs and if you slip or spin a tire turf, R1 or R4 it doesn't matter you have made ice, when that happens chains are the only answer,
if you are on a slope or trying to climb a hill in wet snow I haven't found a tire that works.
I have not had any experience with the smaller tractors (under 40 hp) and snow but I know that when I get 10-20000 pounds on snow if it's not flat which doesn't happen here I want chains.

 

[airbiscuit]

I think R-4s are a good all around tire, except for wet greasy show. I had a tractor with R-4s and they would load up with wet snow and turn into racing slicks and lose a lot of their traction. I now have a tractor with R-1s and there is a world of difference (better).

 

[radios1]

Snow in addition to being a 4 letter word which shouldn't be used is different in every area.
Many of the western and mountain snows are dry and powdery, many of the storms here in the northeast are heavy wet snows.
From what I have seen and observed the drier snows are more tolerant of tire design, the wet heavy snows that are so common in some areas are a real pain,
as soon as a tire runs over it, it packs and if you slip or spin a tire turf, R1 or R4 it doesn't matter you have made ice, when that happens chains are the only answer,
if you are on a slope or trying to climb a hill in wet snow I haven't found a tire that works.
I have not had any experience with the smaller tractors (under 40 hp) and snow but I know that when I get 10-20000 pounds on snow if it's not flat which doesn't happen here I want chains.

just think of why a snowmobile does so well in snow, even going up a hill..

 

[LouNY]

just think of why a snowmobile does so well in snow, even going up a hill..

I'm not sure where you are coming from with this;
snowmobile long wide track, low pressure contact to stay on top of the snow,
wet heavy snow they go good,
light fluffy snow not so good,
that's why so much money gets spent on groomers for trails.
Gets them a nice packed smooth surface to play on.
Deep powder going uphill, they don't do real well.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Deep powder going uphill, they don't do real well.

120 horsepower and two inch paddles changes that picture considerably.

 

[KenBike]

I had R4's on my old Kubota that at the time was the largest grand L can't recall the model but it was a 50 hp. When plowing snow in ohio it struggled to keep traction. Note my farm has slopes and going up was tough with out chains.
Traded for a M7049 with R1's, it was a beast! Could drive in 20" of snow up hill, plow, drag trees in the woods. Tractor weighed and additional 2000 pounds which helped for sure.
Currently looking at a B2650 to use at our cabin near Traverse City MI which is in the heavy snow belt.
Normally 150" per year. Everyone swears R4's are the best for snow for sure. Note the local Kubota dealer sold 35 B2650's and all but two had R4's.
So going R4 with front chains and see how they work. Note it also will be used to mow the 4 acre pasture in the summer so they would be best tire for the mowing season.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I had R4's on my old L4630 and chained the rears in winter which worked fine for the most part although I do agree that the flat lugs do pack in certain snow conditions and steering is compromised.
The M6040 came with R1's that are much taller and somewhat narrower than the R4's but they do not pack up with snow and seem less susceptible to steering loss, although when pushing an 8 foot blade's worth of heavy wet snow they will lose control sometime.
Rear chains are a must for snow work in my estimation.

 

[rScotty]

R1 or R4 depends a lot on what kind of snow you have. Wet & clingy vs dry and powdery. Given enough snow, both need chains. Part of why R4s are popular is because they can use auto/truck type chains that are easy to find and easy to mount. R1s need heavier chains with carefully spaced cross links that don't fall between the lugs. And they need to be made a heavier to take that load.
rScotty

 

[pmsmechanic]

Rear chains are a must for snow work in my estimation.

This comment reminds me that I need to make a video at some point to dispel myths regarding snow removal. I can push enough snow with my tractor that it's flowing over the loader. I can stall the engine pushing snow if I get aggressive. All without weights or chains, "only" turf tires.