R1 vs. R4 - looking for advice

[Bigpuddie]

Gee, by reading your other post, it seemed to me you would rather have the R1 tires......not now?

I fixed that. I read that all wrong. Thanks for checking me up.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have a general understanding of the pros and cons of different tires from reading other threads. I'm looking for a second tractor for some mountain land (20 plus acres) in Oklahoma that I have. Nothing super steep, but definitely has slopes in most areas. It is quite rocky as well. I'll be doing a little bit of brush hogging - 4 to 5 acres. I want a larger tractor because I've got some box blade work and generally will be moving some heavy timber around. I think (tell me if I'm wrong) a longer wheelbase will give me better balance going up and down slopes. The main question I have is whether I should go with R1 or R4 tires. My sense is that the R4 tires give me a little better balance, but the R1 tires will do a little better in mud and that might be worth the trade off. I know R1s increase the height but is it enough to make the balance significantly different? The area gets 50 plus inches of rain a year so I expect the ground to be wet. Anyone have any suggestions or, better yet, experience?

I see you want a larger tractor and cite some heavy timber work. That seems a good choice. Longer wheelbase will be better for hills as you suspect. R1s do add an inch or so of height and give a longer softer footprint and more traction in almost all soil conditions. If you are doing woods work where you have to, or it would be nice to, roll over small logs, the bigger, softer R1, and the additional ground clearance offer advantages from every characteristic. They ride up easier from the increased radius, and "engulf" the obstacle to greater extent than does the more abrupt short wide/harder footprint of an R4. Firestone makes an 8 ply R1 - - the SAT II. We use this filled, on a Kubot L3450. Even with this fairly light tractor we havnt seen any disadvantage from the slightly stiffer carcass. As tractor weight increases any such effects will fall into the noise. I look forward to putting these on my 7520.

 

[Oldoak]

Then throw in R1 radial tires into the mix which have even more traction than bias ply R1s. However, I don't think you will like the price.

 

[searcyfarms]

Then throw in R1 radial tires into the mix which have even more traction than bias ply R1s. However, I don't think you will like the price.

I would second that, and for what you are going to be doing, id recommend the R1, wet at times/hills/loose footing, if I wasnt mowing my yard with my Deere i would have R1 on it vs R4, and there is a vast difference in R4 in tread pattern, depth, sidewall, ply, hardness, my last R4 on my 2210 went everywhere my 2038R with R4 stinks and is near as helpless as my skidsteer. Im VERY disappointed in the R4s on my new deere vs my 12 y/o R4 on my 2210.

 

[AndyMA]

I would second that, and for what you are going to be doing, id recommend the R1, wet at times/hills/loose footing, if I wasnt mowing my yard with my Deere i would have R1 on it vs R4, and there is a vast difference in R4 in tread pattern, depth, sidewall, ply, hardness, my last R4 on my 2210 went everywhere my 2038R with R4 stinks and is near as helpless as my skidsteer. Im VERY disappointed in the R4s on my new deere vs my 12 y/o R4 on my 2210.

I've run R1's on all my tractors until my current MX5200, only reason I went to R4's was to protect my lawn. For your application R1 would be my recommendation.

Andy