R14 Tire Durability

[Apgamer]

I purchased a new 2021 Kioti CK2610 back in April of this year and have been using it on our 6 heavily wooded acres in Maine. It came with the new Goodyear/Titan R14s which I thought were pretty cool. I was excited to have loader capacity, plus traction in the snow, plus limited turf damage.

I have put 60 hours on the tractor so far, primarily clearing brush and moving about 160 yards of fill and topsoil with the loader and boxblade. I have not been easy on the tractor, but I think that I have been working it as a tractor should be worked and haven't beat on it excessively. I am not very pleased with how the R14s are holding up. Tons of slashes, gouges, ripped off lugs and a couple of punctures that I have plugged.

This evening I punched a sizeable gash on both front tires that cannot be plugged. Now, this was due to me running over *the same* rusted off t-post that was only sticking out of the ground 2 inches and no tire would have stood up to it. I was very upset with myself, needless to say. However, I am questioning whether I should pay the $50/piece to get vulcanized patches put on, or just replace with two new Carlisle 27x8.5-R15 skid steer tires for $240 that have 8 plys, bead protectors, thick sidewalls, etc.

Is anyone else displeased with their new R14s for woods duty? I had a set of R1s on my last tractor that I beat on and never had an issue with

 

[fried1765]

I purchased a new 2021 Kioti CK2610 back in April of this year and have been using it on our 6 heavily wooded acres in Maine. It came with the new Goodyear/Titan R14s which I thought were pretty cool. I was excited to have loader capacity, plus traction in the snow, plus limited turf damage.

I have put 60 hours on the tractor so far, primarily clearing brush and moving about 160 yards of fill and topsoil with the loader and boxblade. I have not been easy on the tractor, but I think that I have been working it as a tractor should be worked and haven't beat on it excessively. I am not very pleased with how the R14s are holding up. Tons of slashes, gouges, ripped off lugs and a couple of punctures that I have plugged.

This evening I punched a sizeable gash on both front tires that cannot be plugged. Now, this was due to me running over *the same* rusted off t-post that was only sticking out of the ground 2 inches and no tire would have stood up to it. I was very upset with myself, needless to say. However, I am questioning whether I should pay the $50/piece to get vulcanized patches put on, or just replace with two new Carlisle 27x8.5-R15 skid steer tires for $240 that have 8 plys, bead protectors, thick sidewalls, etc.

Is anyone else displeased with their new R14s for woods duty? I had a set of R1s on my last tractor that I beat on and never had an issue with

Your TBN profile shows that you only have a 1980's Ford...... nothing about a 2021 Kioti.

 

[Apgamer]

Your TBN profile shows that you only have a 1980's Ford...... nothing about a 2021 Kioti.

Woops, thank you. Updated. The Ford was what had the R1s on it.

 

[Cat385B]

It sounds like the R4’s would be better suited to your use.

 

[pmsmechanic]

What ply rating are your R-14's? I had lots of trouble with my front tires till the tire shop sold me a set of 6 ply rating tires. Lots of cut's and scrapes but no flats. The tires are 26x12x12 turf on the front of my 4410 with fel. That's not a factory tire size. I made my own rims because I wanted wider tires for the front of my tractor. These tires have lasted as long as three sets of 2 ply rated tires. It looks like they will wear out before I need to replace them.

 

[mudking]

...replace with two new Carlisle 27x8.5-R15 skid steer tires for $240 that have 8 plys, bead protectors, thick sidewalls, etc...

Two? You'd have to make sure they would be compatible to mix (diameter-wise) with the two that would remain so you don't risk MFD troubles I think.

 

[Apgamer]

I would only replace the two front tires with R4s, leaving the rear R14s in place. If I replace the fronts with the same size, 27x8.5 R15, do you foresee an issue?

 

[npalen]

I would only replace the two front tires with R4s, leaving the rear R14s in place. If I replace the fronts with the same size, 27x8.5 R15, do you foresee an issue?

Yes, as mudking alludes, better check the rolling radius of the old and the new fronts.

Edit: The stiff skid steer tires might make your tractor front end bounce like a lumber wagon?

Edit II: Might stay with R14's and not drive over fence post stubs. Sorry

 

[IndyJay]

I purchased a new 2021 Kioti CK2610 back in April of this year and have been using it on our 6 heavily wooded acres in Maine. It came with the new Goodyear/Titan R14s which I thought were pretty cool. I was excited to have loader capacity, plus traction in the snow, plus limited turf damage.

I have put 60 hours on the tractor so far, primarily clearing brush and moving about 160 yards of fill and topsoil with the loader and boxblade. I have not been easy on the tractor, but I think that I have been working it as a tractor should be worked and haven't beat on it excessively. I am not very pleased with how the R14s are holding up. Tons of slashes, gouges, ripped off lugs and a couple of punctures that I have plugged.

This evening I punched a sizeable gash on both front tires that cannot be plugged. Now, this was due to me running over *the same* rusted off t-post that was only sticking out of the ground 2 inches and no tire would have stood up to it. I was very upset with myself, needless to say. However, I am questioning whether I should pay the $50/piece to get vulcanized patches put on, or just replace with two new Carlisle 27x8.5-R15 skid steer tires for $240 that have 8 plys, bead protectors, thick sidewalls, etc.

Is anyone else displeased with their new R14s for woods duty? I had a set of R1s on my last tractor that I beat on and never had an issue with

Coming up on 50 hours on the same tires,Titan R14s, no problems.

 

[MHarryE]

I have a relative who borrowed my L5740 a few times for brush hogging shooting lanes. Twice he had flats - not punctures but kind of careless knocking bead loose. His dad paid for repairs but I ended up finding 10 ply R4s for the front, I believe they are 10 x 16. No more problems. When I traded for a L6060, I had the tires swapped. I’m now thinking of replacing them due to tread wear but they’ve been fantastic even putting up with relative’s abusive use. The also have something about high strength sidewall construction.

 

[jeff9366]

What ply rating are your R-14's?
I had lots of trouble with my front tires till the tire shop sold me a set of 6 ply rating tires. Lots of cut's and scrapes but no flats.

R14 tires are a variation on turf tires, therefore four ply, unless things have changed. You should be able to confirm derivation by comparing R14 sizes to turf tires sizes for your tractor.

R4/industrial tires are at least six ply. My Kubota Grand L came with ten ply R4 front tires as factory equipment.

Former high credibility poster FARMWITHJUNK, who operated a commercial highway right-of-way mowing business, outfitted his tractors with R4/industrial tires.

I am a retired marketing guy. In marketing you want every product to be either NEW AND IMPROVED or 25 CENTS OFF.

I purchased a new 2021 Kioti CK2610 in April of this year. I have been using it on our 6 heavily wooded acres in Maine. It came with new Goodyear/Titan R14s which I thought were pretty cool. I am not very pleased with how the R14s are holding up.

I am all for innovation but in the first one to four years a product is out, the consumer is a beta tester.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I wonder if any tire should be expected to stand up to sheared-off T-posts.

I recall a neighbor who used a dozer to clear out a fence row and brush. He sheared off a lot of T-posts. Then he came in with a backhoe and I think he had 3 flats in the first couple days due to stabbing his tires with jagged T-posts.

I agree that heavier / more-plys are better. But I wouldn't buy new tires and then expect them to survive sheared T-posts or whatever you're doing to "rip off lugs".

 

[ripHST]

R14 tires are a variation on turf tires, therefore four ply, unless things have changed. You should be able to confirm derivation by comparing R14 sizes to turf tires sizes for your tractor.

R4/industrial tires are at least six ply. My Kubota Grand L came with ten ply R4 front tires as factory equipment.

Former high credibility poster FARMWITHJUNK, who operated a commercial highway right-of-way mowing business, outfitted his tractors with R4/industrial tires.

I am a retired marketing guy. In marketing you want every product to be either NEW AND IMPROVED or 25 CENTS OFF.

I purchased a new 2021 Kioti CK2610 in April of this year. I have been using it on our 6 heavily wooded acres in Maine. It came with new Goodyear/Titan R14s which I thought were pretty cool. I am not very pleased with how the R14s are holding up.

I am all for innovation but in the first one to four years a product is out, the consumer is a beta tester.

Mine are 6-ply.....but they seem to come anywhere from 4-12ply. According to Goodyear/Titan, they're a cross between an R1 and R4....although I do see they're touting the turf capabilities now too (those marketing guys )

My tractor is in the woods 95% of the time doing mostly brush and log work.....running over long dead trees and branches. I'm only at 31 hours, but not a mark so far. For my property, I worried the R4s wouldn't have enough traction, but worried about the R1s doing a lot of grapple and loader work in the woods. Hence the R14s. so far so good.

 

[RickB]

Tire durability is directly related to the carcass construction and ply count, not tread style.

 

[Ian618]

I run my CK2610 with R14 (100 hrs) on 90 acres mostly wood property no problem at all, plus, they are great when snow blowing in winter

 

[Rebeldad1]

from all the damage to your tires in such a short time... have you thought of getting something with steel tracks? maybe a track loader?

 

[Midniteoyl]

Ya, ripping lugs off is a sure sign that you might, just might, be abusing the tires.