Putting the R1 vs R4 debate to rest?

[ovrszd]

Dad bought a new Ford 4000 in 1973. It had 23 degree R1s. He never did get to the point of liking them. He preferred the older 45 degree R1s. He used his tractors more for chores than AG work. The 23 degree tires tended to slide sideways on slick hill ground. That really aggravated him.

 

[BrokenTrack]

Dad bought a new Ford 4000 in 1973. It had 23 degree R1s. He never did get to the point of liking them. He preferred the older 45 degree R1s. He used his tractors more for chores than AG work. The 23 degree tires tended to slide sideways on slick hill ground. That really aggravated him.

Hey, thanks for typing that reply.

I was going to order tires for my tractor yesterday and was 20 minutes too late: they had closed.

After reading this, I saw they had both 45 degree and 23 degree, and had they been opened, I would have had the 23 degree'ers on the way. I will order 45 degree'ers on Monday when they are open instead.

Thanks again. I appreciate it.

 

[Streetcar]

I’ve always been fascinated with the European firewood splitters. To be fair with the lower cost of other fuels firewood isn’t worth enough here to build stuff like that. The hill side excavator is really cool too. There’s nothing like that over here. View attachment 651577

The hillside excavator is 2 or 3 times the cost of a regular excavator that size

 

[dnw64]

Back to tires, I still think this new R14 is closer to a modified R4 than the R1. We do get caught up on the main categories, R1, R4, R5, but in reality there are already many variances within each one. Especially R1's. Take a look at Titans or another brand, and browse through the pages of different style R1 lugs.

Well of course. Just look at automotive tires. There are basic classes like Summer, Winter and All-Season, and then a myriad of sub-types. But each manufacturer has come up with their own interpretation of just what an All Terrain or Maximum Performance Summer tire is.

 

[Darryle]

What about R1 radial tires? Better traction, better ride on and off road, wider tire also helping in stability.

About 90% of the tractors sold here, come with R1 Radials. From SCUTs to the big Ag boys.

And just make tractors looking very nice.

View attachment 651477

R1 radials are impressive in the field. Back in the late 80's early 90's when we raised peanuts here in North Texas, I put a set of 18.4 -38 radials on my 4430. We had one field that was pure sand, almost like beach/blow sand and that field went up a hillside, I was the only one that could go both directions pulling a combine. Everyone else had to make round one way trips, downhill. The next year everyone in the family and every tractor we owned had radials. We also noticed cooler temperatures pulling 6 bottom steerable moldboards, heavy offsets and using a 8' scraper. We also noticed lower fuel consumption.

I am trying to purchase the R14s for my CUT, but having trouble finding someone willing to order them, sadly they are not radials.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

A quick 2 cents to this thread. I read this thread when I was trying to decide what to purchase on a new tractor. It was hard for me to really tell from anecdotal comments whether R1's or R4's were more puncture resistant. From a traction standpoint, I would have gone R1's if I could, but I need to cross my lawns enough that I went with R4's to try to spare them. The tractor weight alone is hard on the grass, there's no way it would have survived R1's. The R4's have been manageable, I stick to 2WD and dry days when possible. I do note the lack of traction from time to time, but I figure if it's a real problem I'll add chains.

As for punctures, no problems so far. The tires are loaded, and my fields and forest are loaded with 4 inch sapling wood jabbing away at the tires constantly, whether because I cut it with a chain saw or the rotary cutter. So far the R4's are doing just fine driving over those sapling "stumps" (of tiny diameter, say 1-2 inches).

 

[CobyRupert]

I’ve found, using R1’s, there are times when using 2wd tears grass more than 4wd.
When you’re climbing any type of hill, the torque placed on 2 wheels often tears more than if spread out over 4 wheels.
Also, if any weight in the bucket, the lugs of a lighter rear tire will do more damage than a heavier one with traction.
....but anything other than driving a straight line with 4wd (and R1’s) usually leaves a mark.

 

[joefromga]

I was thinking of getting these but they only ship in three's!

 

[spitter]

Joe by 2 sets and put duals in the rear.:thumbsup::drink:

 

[pmsmechanic]

Joe by 2 sets and put duals in the rear.:thumbsup::drink:

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