Ag tires vs R4

   / Ag tires vs R4 #21  
Keep in mind that the R4, as used on CUT's, are a "compromise" tire that give up a lot of traction in mud or snow. This causes many folks who use them for ground engaging work and such, considerable disappopintment. They are better on lawns than R1's but still cause significantly more damage than turfs due to the bar tread pattern. If you are limited to one tractor and one set of tires and need to do some lawn work and some ground engaging work, then the R4 is the tire for you. If you are a no-compromise type and can swing an extra tractor or an extra set of tires, then turfs and R1's would be best. I have (2) tractors with turfs for on my lawn and (4) with R1's for off. You would never catch me with R4's unless I got into the construction business. I did a little of that once and R4's were best there for sure and they worked great on my tractor-loader-backhoe.
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #22  
I opted for the R-4's on my B7510. I think the word "compromise" is a great description for these on CUT's. :thumbsup:

I do some field work, garden work, lawn mowing and snow plowing. These tires are loaded and I have genraly had no problems. There was only once I wish I had R-1's, while trying to pull a 5 foot disc through clay. Ended up getting rid of the disc and getting a tiller.

I have considered since last winter- getting a set of "beater" tires- probably turf, and putting screw in studs to use during the winter. Ice is my biggest problem with traction and to have a set I could just throw on when needed- would be handy. certainly not worth the expense of buying new however.:(

Possibly, in the future I may spec out 2 sets of tires when I upgrade...but of course- it will be the third set I would need the most:laughing:
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #23  
You brought up a great point in the tiller being a good way to compensate for the traction limitation of R4's. A tiller requires far less traction than a plow or disc, since most of the work is done thru the PTO. I dont see a tiller being very efficient for much more than a couple acres, but for gardens and small foodplots, they are great. Similarly, a snowblower in the winter, will allow an R4-equiped tractor to move snow much easier than a snowplow.
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #24  
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M5Q4PNmWI0"[/URL]

This is a link to a video of my tractor going through a muddy section of the garden plot. it is a bit long- 1:52 though 2:32 is the specific time frame.

the tiller (forward tine rotation) helped keep the tractor moving, but did not push it through. You can see the mud level on the tires and rims....:licking:
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #25  
I have R4's on my L3940 and pull a two bottom plow and a 6' disc without any problem. Now like others have said R1's are hands down a better tire in mud, but I dont normaly plow or disc the garden when it's muddy. I opted for the r4's because I use the tractor to mow my lawn with.
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #26  
Wouldn't chaining up R4's help those with the occasional need to work in conditions or certain operations where R1's would be more ideal?
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #27  
A quick search on the site should provide somewhere between 100000 and 1000000000 threads on this topic (couldn't help myself).

Generally speaking.
R1's are maximum traction in loose conditions.
R4's are medium traction in loose conditions.
Turf are minimum traction in loose conditions.

I like R4's for where I live, up here in Rock country. The tires are super thick and tough to rip apart with rocks. R1's would tear my lawn up and I've ripped lugs off of them before with rocks.

I guess if you are tractor pulling on pavement then maybe turf would be the way to go, or maybe drag racing.

Turf and R4's are totally useless in mud.

Joel
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #28  
Wouldn't chaining up R4's help those with the occasional need to work in conditions or certain operations where R1's would be more ideal?

I could not imagine a chained R4 coming close to an R1 in mud.

Joel
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #29  
I have R4s on my MX5000, its used mostly for logging...they work fine but I still plan on switching to R1s once those are done...in 30 or 40 years !
 
   / Ag tires vs R4 #30  
It depends on what you are doing, how and where you are doing it.
You can usually get a LOT more ballast into R4s, you can lift a lot more in the FEL without overloading the front ones and they have a better ability to "float" across some types of mud - where R1s will sometimes cut right down DEEP before you have to admit that you REALLY ARE stuck.

So; yes, no and maybe (-:
 

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