Ag R1 tires or R4

[kfriis]

Hi -

Let's assume you are in the market for a new 45-55 HP tractor with FEL. It will work about 30 acres tillable land and 50 acres of woods. Land is almost completely flat.

These days, it seems R4 tires are more or less standard on compact trators. What's wrong with good old-fashioned Ag R1 tires? What would be the downside? Where do the R4 tires outperform R1 tires? The tractor will not be used to mow a lawn - that's what a lawn mower is for.

Thanks!

 

[jwstewar]

Loader work is where R4s outperform R1. They are typically a 6 ply vs. a 4 ply tire. I just bought a L3301, I went with R14s.

 

[RalphVa]

Have had R4s on the last two tractors, total of around 7 years. Absolutely no problems, with FEL use and all.

Main problem with R4s is not much side grip. The R3s I had on the 4010 had better side grip.

R1s would probably have slightly better side grip and probably more comfortable ride.

To me, the absolute lack of any problems is a big user point.

Ralph

 

[rademamj1]

I would not want R1 tires tearing up my property. Every rut collects water and requires additional work to remove that rut. If your 100% agriculture only, then R1 makes sense. If you got any loader work, then R4 makes alot more sense.

However, after 3 years of tractor ownership, i sometimes regret even my R4 tires and wish I had chosen R3 turf tires at the beginning. When my R4 tires need eventual replacement, I will most likely replace with turf R3. I have also looked at cross over tires called R14, a tire with benefits of both R1 and R4, thus the name R14.

 

[Richard]

I have R4's on my industrial backhoe. R1's on my International 1066. rademamj1 makes a good point above.... my (something like) 16,000 pound backhoe with R4's doesn't come anywhere near tearing things up like my much lighter (but still very large) tractor with R1's will.

 

[Diggin It]

Hi -

Let's assume you are in the market for a new 45-55 HP tractor with FEL. It will work about 30 acres tillable land and 50 acres of woods. Land is almost completely flat.

What's wrong with good old-fashioned Ag R1 tires? !

For your purpose ... nothing. You should get those since R4s probably won't add much for your range of tasks.

 

[4570Man]

R4 tires scar the ground a lot less, are more puncture resistant, wear longer on asphalt, have a lot better load capacity on the front tires. R1 tires have better traction but most compact tractors aren’t doing work where it matters that much.

 

[chim]

Have a Ford 1210 since around 1991 that's always had R!'s. Just replaced them again this year. The Kubota L4240 has R4's that I grooved for snow. The little Ford marks things up more than the bigger Kubota.

 

[Bearsixty7]

I grew up on a farm with Ag tractors decades ago. I rented a TLB years ago with R4's, couldn't even get around in a wet yard without 4wd! I knew then if ever bought a tractor it would not have R4 tires.

My MT240 came with only 7-14 R1 front tires but they are 6 ply and rated for 990 lbs each, seems a little under capacity for a tractor with 2200lbs loader capacity to me but no issues with weight so far, just sticks when brush hogging.

If you are going to use ground engaging implements, plow, disk, harrow, you want R1 for the traction. If you will be using it in snow, you want R1 tires.

 

[chim]

I grew up on a farm with Ag tractors decades ago. I rented a TLB years ago with R4's, couldn't even get around in a wet yard without 4wd! I knew then if ever bought a tractor it would not have R4 tires...........................................................If you are going to use ground engaging implements, plow, disk, harrow, you want R1 for the traction. If you will be using it in snow, you want R1 tires.

R1's do work well in mud. I don't have mud. I do have grass (wet and dry) and snow to deal with. There were a few places backing up a hill that required either 4WD or raising the RFM to add weight to the rear tires - especially when there was dew on the grass - with the smaller tractors. The L4240 goes fine in 2WD.

For snow, the R4's work great. Disclaimer: they are grooved. Scroll down to post #652 on this old thread:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/193438-cutting-groving-siping-r-4-a-66.html