Ag or Industrial Tires

[N80]

......hmmmmm, I wouldn't think a 6-4" guy would be into a little 105 pounder

Takes all kinds, I suppose.

Okay, so maybe its more like 115. But, if you could see my 'partners' figure, you'd understand.

And like I said before, down here, the only marriages that take place are between a man and a woman. And seeing as how there must be some confusion about this concept where you come from....when I say partner....I mean wife.

FWJ, there are also quite a few variations in R1 tread design. Some with full bars, some with alternating half and full bars, some with overlapping bars. And yet, they are all still designated R1. I'd love to know the relative merits of each of the varieties of R1s.

 

[N80]

Here are some tread variations in R1s:

 

[Farmwithjunk]

FWJ, there are also quite a few variations in R1 tread design. Some with full bars, some with alternating half and full bars, some with overlapping bars. And yet, they are all still designated R1. I'd love to know the relative merits of each of the varieties of R1s.

The "alternating half and full bars" are know as "LONG BAR/SHORT BAR" tread. I very much prefer them myself. HOWEVER. I have a set of GoodYear DynaTorque II's that are LB/SB and they're the most pathetic excuse for an overpriced tire I've ever ran across. The puncture easier than any tires I've ever owned, provide less than adaquate traction, and are very unstable under a load at anything less than pressures as much as 50% higher than I normally run in my tractor tires.

You'll find R-1's in 45 degree tread, 23 degree, long bar/short bar, deep cleat (NOT to be confused with cane and rice (R-2's???)) After experimenting with various types of tread and a wide assortment of brands, I'm more inclined to believe the difference in traction in greater from BRAND TO BRAND than from TREAD TYPE TO TREAD TYPE as far as the assortment of R-1's available.

 

[RobJ]

Personally I'm an Ag R-1 man. I think there are also more wheel width combos with the ags if you need that flexibility.


Uhh, Builder, how about letting go of the grudge and removing N80's tongue-n-cheek comment from your sig huh? It ain't that funny anymore. And defending yourself from being gay one might think you are homophobic. Let it go man....it's over, end it.

BTW my life partner is 5'-3 3/4", about 120, size 4. That's what I'm talking about!

 

[N80]

I have a set of GoodYear DynaTorque II's that are LB/SB and they're the most pathetic excuse for an overpriced tire I've ever ran across.

I can't remember what's on my tractor but the brand on the front is different rom the brand on the rears. The rears are a typical 23 degree, overlapping bar....I think they may be Firestones. They seem to pull extremely well, have never punctured but there are some tears and a few small chunks missing here and there from the bars. They are only 4 ply. I think the fronts are Goodyear Dura-somethings. Even at full psi they do seem to squat a little under a full loader, but never a problem. I'm assuming these tires will last for many years but I'll probably put 6 ply R1s on in the future.

I've also noticed that my rears are very rounded in profile, almost ballon-like, whereas other R1s I've seen are more square 'shouldered' (like an R4). I would think a more squared off profile would be better if you had to do much pavement driving. Mine seem to do quite well in deep mud. Not so great in pure sand (dig too much).

 

[N80]

Uhh, Builder, how about letting go of the grudge and removing N80's tongue-n-cheek comment from your sig huh?

Don't worry about it Rob. I've been yacking on this website for long enough that most people who know me will get a little chuckle out of me describing myself as a liberal, possibly AC/DC, kook fringe nutjob.... of course, there's nothing wrong with that.... I'm just saying...

 

[john_bud]

Then how the heck did I plow a 31" snowstorm in 1997 for 4 consecutive days with a Ford backhoe with R-4's?

How do all the other guys I plowed with for years manage to get by on those "compromise" R-4's through all those snowstorms?

Almost no one in commercial plowing uses anything but R-4's on tractors for plowing.
How do they manage to make a profit if all they do is "load up with snow"?

Builder,

If you think about it for awhile you will see that full sized construction tractors like yours weigh far north of 10,000#. Putting a front blade on a Case 580 means there is, what 16,000# of machine plowing? That's 4000# per tire, right? The tires on a 2500-3500# machine are not much smaller in size, but the tractive force is 1/4 or less. If I were to load up my tractor to 12,000#, it would probably have much better traction. Like 2.5x better. And plowing is different that traveling thru snow. While plowing, your tractor is 90% of the time on plowed ground. That's a whole different deal that driving the tractor 2 miles across fields, creeks and thru woods to get somewhere when there is 2-3' of snow down in many layers.

I have R4's and they absolutely stink traveling in snow. Had to put chains on to keep from sliding sideways on slight side hills. Had to use the FEL to push the tractor up a "hill" so small you wouldn't even notice it was there. And mud! Good grief, they load up so fast you can get stuck in the mud even before you get in the mud! (now that's fast!)

My opinion, is that R4's are a good choice for dry hard ground, high loads, road work and harsh environments where there are cut sticks and rocks that may cause flats. They sort of work for mowing lawn, but not really. They sort of work ok for farm applications, but not in soft soils. Still, for most of us, R4's seem to have the best advantages and also look good making us imagine we are on a cool Case 580 like Builder.

Were I to do it again, I would NOT get R4's but would get R1's. BUT, not from the dealer. The 4 ply jokes they sell are, well a joke. Higher ply rated R1's would be the choice for my uses. But, I need a tough tire with aggressive mud traction and I don't care if it chews the ground up as long as it keeps moving.


jb

 

[RobJ]

Not so great in pure sand (dig too much).

Probably not a good all around tractor tire for sand, maybe a turf type. On trucks a sand or desert tire has a "closed tread" to trap, not dig. The popular BFG All Terrain KO is more of a closed tread. The other side BFG Mud terrrain. That one is all about digging.

 

[N80]

I discovered that when I moved to the Florida panhandle in the early 90's. The mud tires on my truck were not good in that fine, deep, white sand. Basic all terrains with lower air pressure worked much better.

I have a creek bottom on my place with course sand in the creek bed when it is dry. I get sand out of it to patch rough spots on my dirt roads. But these R1s just dig straight down when the tractor is under any load at all. I've never been stuck in this tractor but have come closest in the this sandy creek bed. I suspect big wide turfs would work better in sand than anything else and R4s would probably work better than R1s.

 

[3RRL]

George,
Just do the same thing and air them way down like you did on your truck. It makes the same kind of difference.