Ag tires vs R4

jenkinsph · Mar 21, 2011

When you consider most of the members have small tractors that perform a multitude of utility type tasks from lawn mowing, fel, backhoe, grading and pulling a few small implements you would think it is obvious that R4 tires are a good choice. I suspect in normal conditions you can use R1, R4 and R3 for almost everything. That is not to say that some users do not need specific tires to meet their own conditions and uses.

I would surmise that for most people with average uses for a 20 to 50 hp compact tractor the manufacturers offer the R4 tires in most cases because these are a good general purpose design.

bigbull338 · Mar 21, 2011

my MX5100 came with R4 tires on it.an to me they are better than the ag tires,as the ag will leave some deep ruts.an the R4s seem to stay on top of the ground as much as possable.

goldenwings · Mar 21, 2011

This..... what can I use to get through the combination of snow, with deep mud underneath on my little Deere 2520. The R4's like everyone says just load up. I'm not certain R1's would fair to much better as I'm almost certain you'd just end up deeper in the mud. The only thing I've found to get through this is my winch.

Anyone got a set of tracks I can install?

On another note, I'm curious as to whether the tires would be better off with some ballast in them. In the photo, I had my loader and ballast box attached. I did manage to get out without the winch after a couple of minutes though.

Gods Country · Mar 21, 2011

goldenwings said:
This..... what can I use to get through the combination of snow, with deep mud underneath on my little Deere 2520. The R4's like everyone says just load up. I'm not certain R1's would fair to much better as I'm almost certain you'd just end up deeper in the mud. The only thing I've found to get through this is my winch.

Anyone got a set of tracks I can install?

On another note, I'm curious as to whether the tires would be better off with some ballast in them. In the photo, I had my loader and ballast box attached. I did manage to get out without the winch after a couple of minutes though.

JMO, but loaded rears with the right chains should help tremendously.

jenkinsph · Mar 21, 2011

goldenwings said:
This..... what can I use to get through the combination of snow, with deep mud underneath on my little Deere 2520. The R4's like everyone says just load up. I'm not certain R1's would fair to much better as I'm almost certain you'd just end up deeper in the mud. The only thing I've found to get through this is my winch.

Anyone got a set of tracks I can install?

On another note, I'm curious as to whether the tires would be better off with some ballast in them. In the photo, I had my loader and ballast box attached. I did manage to get out without the winch after a couple of minutes though.

I don't think lgp tracks are the answer either to your problem. Better planning might help, cutting your firewood in the dry season and stack it to dry ahead of time. Operating a tractor in the conditions pictured is a newbie mistake imo. If you must go there put in a road when the weather improves.

We all have to learn sometime, been there and done that.

goldenwings · Mar 21, 2011

jenkinsph said:
I don't think lgp tracks are the answer either to your problem. Better planning might help, cutting your firewood in the dry season and stack it to dry ahead of time. Operating a tractor in the conditions pictured is a newbie mistake imo. If you must go there put in a road when the weather improves.

We all have to learn sometime, been there and done that.

Would love to do that during the "dry" season.... thats about 1/2 of august though... not technically the dry season, but that seems to be about the only time I can drive in the swamp like conditions. That or when its completely frozen, which did not really happen this year. Unfortunately the majority of the property I have access to is this way. Would love to have some hills, but am stuck here with this low lying "wetland" type terrain.

Reg · Mar 21, 2011

jenkinsph said:
When you consider most of the members have small tractors that perform a multitude of utility type tasks from lawn mowing, fel, backhoe, grading and pulling a few small implements you would think it is obvious that R4 tires are a good choice. I suspect in normal conditions you can use R1, R4 and R3 for almost everything. That is not to say that some users do not need specific tires to meet their own conditions and uses.

I would surmise that for most people with average uses for a 20 to 50 hp compact tractor the manufacturers offer the R4 tires in most cases because these are a good general purpose design.

That and the likelihood of being SUED when Joe Homeowner loads the bucket up with so much gravel that it will barely come off the ground - then blows an R1 tire as he takes it down the bank and flips over (-:
Check out whatever tractor you want in that 20 to 50 range, check it's loader capacity, check that against it's R1 tire rating, then figure the bucket is cantilevered out some 4ft or more in front of the tires.
See what I mean ?
(-:
Yeah, better COUNT on the bucket getting loaded to what it will barely lift.

There ARE dealers who won't sell a Cat 1 tractor and loader without loaded rear tires.
The homeowner market really IS too stupid to operate withing the capacity of what they buy.

They CAN read, they CAN'T be bothered to.