1025 with R4 tires not bad in the snow

RalphVa · Feb 15, 2014

We got about 14" here and then another 4". The 1025 with R4 tires is essentially the same in the snow as the 4010 with turf tires. Think the R4s in front are tougher than the turfs were. Had one of the turfs come off its rim during one of our 2009/2010 snowmageddon drops.

I didn't miss the separate brakes. I was afraid that the 1025 might skid a bit sideways the one point on our driveway with the dropoff to the down side. It didn't skate like it has on muddy ground.

You do have to watch and not lift the snow too high in the 1025 FEL. It'll easily dump snow back onto the hood, as it lifts higher and with the bucket back too far at that point.

Ralph

mfreund · Feb 15, 2014

In my experience, it is the ice under the snow that causes the R-4 to do poorly in the snow. The rubber compounds that are used in the R-4 are for construction sites and are relatively hard. When it is cold they are even harder. I have seen a few posts on siping the tires for more traction. I may try that for next year. Congratulations on the new tractor!! I hope we have turned the corner on winter this year.

haveissues · Feb 15, 2014

My kubota did fine until this last storm on r4 tires. Round 2 of this storm dropped another 14" of wet stuff on top of a bit of sleet. I push downhill but couldn't keep the tractor tracking straight. Not a big deal-just grabbed the snowblower to move the bulk of it. I am probably going to get a set of chains for next year for those times that it gets really bad. Hopefully the end is almost near this year.

LeviH · Mar 2, 2014

This is the first year I had to move snow. Guess "had to" is a mite strong. Wanted to is more like it as I was home at the time, my day off. My 1026 has R-4's on it and as I live in hilly country I have hills. I was using the FEL to do this snow removal. I didn't like the R-4's at all. I now can't wait for them to wear out so I can buy bar tires. I always have my tires filled for extra weight. Most all my mowing is done in 4 wheel drive so I need all the traction I can get. My drive is gravel and I wanted to find out just how good R-4's were going to be. I did a lot of spinning and sliding. So it's bar tires for me.

Looking4new · Mar 3, 2014

My loaded R-4's are pretty good in snow, but then again I am on flat ground most of the time.

RalphVa · Mar 3, 2014

We've a bad snow storm falling right now. It's falling on top of rain, then freezing, sleet and now snow. I put down some milorganite yesterday, but the rain likely just washed it away. May have to have a bucket of sand (salted salt) on the tractor to apply to the tires when I finally get out there.

Don't like these R4s compared to the turfs I had on the 4010. They were great but didn't fair too well with the FEL weight, etc.

Ralph

94BULLITT · Mar 4, 2014

I think R4's perform pretty good in the snow.

k0ua · Mar 4, 2014

Here is the Sipeing R4 thread

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

oldballs · Mar 4, 2014

I'd say that the best way to go ( with R4) is with chains to cover all the possible situations. In fact, there were times this past year that having the front chained would have helped too. But chaining the front is something I'll probably do without. Maybe kOua could tell us which side works best with just one chain. Boy, he is frugal.