Are R4's Really Bad In The Snow?

[scesnick]

I think it depends on what kind of tractor you are talking about also. I had a little Yanmar that didn't do too well with R-1's. It was too light in the rear to be productive in the snow. But my MX5100 is plenty heavy enough for the R-1's to be beneficial.

 

[Reg]

Short answer; No.

R4s are no worse than R1s on hard packed snow or ice - and it is RARE (around here) that we get the type of snow that will plug up R4s.
Technique may play a part here; I clear with the FEL before I drive onto an area and clean up with a rear blade - I do NOT go bounding across open fields in 3 ft drifts, if I did maybe R1s would have a margin over R4s.

You pretty much NEED the R4s for loader work, especially if you push the limits of your loader (& who DOESN'T ?).
They are after all "industrial" tires built for construction equipment, e.g. backhoes & loaders on construction sites.

Having said that, I switched to my turfs on the little tractor last week and 2 days later encountered a project that a) required the hoe b) required hauling wet heavy spoils across some UGLY terrain to dump them.

Chains are an option for ICE and there is at least one poster here who really likes their turfs with chains.
Chains can get kinda LOST in the tread pattern of R4s or R1s, but stay on top of the turf tread.

OK, so I admit to not knowing what a 2520 model is, but if it was delivered with turf tires I am guessing that it is a fairly small Cat 1 or Cat 0/1 tractor that is often used for mowing applications.

I think if I were in your current situation I would play it approximately as follows;
Wait until the dealer calls to say R4s have arrived.
Play undecided, maybe cite the snow chains on turfs vs R4s question, say you'll call back.
Don't call back, wait for him to call you again, play it out.
Negotiate, you might be able to get them for real cheap.
I would WANT to keep both sets, but not let the dealer (yet) know about that want.
I have both sets on my smaller tractor and LIKE it, the R4s are loaded with RimGuard.
The turfs are not loaded, so things are some 1100 lbs lighter when that tractor is a mower.
I don't have chains for either set, as I said I tend to clear ahead of what I drive on, so plugging up with snow is not an issue.

 

[coollx]

Since I started this thread I thought I would tell everyone I decided to stick with the R3 Turf's. My reasons are as follows:

- Had turf's on all of my previous JD's and never had a problem in the snow or with loader work

- I went and looked at the turf's on my last JD tractor (4100) that I traded in and the Turf's (R3's) on my 2520 are definitely a little more aggressive and should work better

- most of my loader and backhoe work will be either on my lawn or driving across my lawn and the R3's will be kinder to the turf

- I always have the option of adding chains should I encounter a traction problem

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks everyone for your input because it helped me decide.

 

[Mighty Dodge]

I've got turfs on mine, no problems in the woods or in snow. I did replace the fronts with 6 ply tread when they wore out.

 

[whistlepig]

My neighbor has a JD4020 with R1's and a loader and he helped dig me out winter before last. At that time my tractor with the loader had R4's on it. His much heavier JD4020 with R1's ran circles around with my tractor With the R4's. Last winter I put studded chains on. Last winter my tractor ran circles around his.

 

[RoyJackson]

Since I started this thread I thought I would tell everyone I decided to stick with the R3 Turf's.

Do order chains for those rear tires soon though. Odds are, you will need them next winter.

Good luck with the tractor!

 

[fabsroman]

Do order chains for those rear tires soon though. Odds are, you will need them next winter.

Good luck with the tractor!

How do chains work on asphalt? Already read that they will do a number on a garage floor. Don't want to find out that they did a number on my asphalt driveway after all the snow is gone.

 

[RoyJackson]

How do chains work on asphalt? Already read that they will do a number on a garage floor. Don't want to find out that they did a number on my asphalt driveway after all the snow is gone.

Depends on how aggressive the chains are and your operating technique.

I have the 4 link ladder style which www.tirechains.com calls "road chains". I have a hard packed gravel drive but I do park the tractor in the garage (concrete floor). No marks from the chains at all.
Buddy of mine has the 2-Link Ladder (also "road chains")style and does run on a steep asphalt drive with hairpin curve. He did mark the drive up a bit initially, but when he learned to not do a 3 point turnaround on the asphalt, he had no more problems. Even the marks he did make (during his first use of the chains) were what he called "insignificant". He really likes those chains...and I really like mine (except for putting them on...they are heavy SOBs!).

 

[revitupfaster]

I bought a 2520 late last year, and one of the main reasons was that I wanted to be able to plow snow, without having to use chains. I also agonized over R4's or turfs, and ended up with the R4's. In my case, they have worked great. We have had a heavier than normal year for snow, and I have had no problems at all.

Asking if R4's work in snow, will get you a ton of different answers, but mostly it's because, hardly anyone will have the exact same conditions, upon which they are basing their opinion. In my case, I have a fairly level driveway, a "heavy" snowfall would usually not exceed 10-12", and any more than a couple of dumps like that would be rare.

Once you get into an icey condition, I don't think there is any tire choice out there that would be much better than the other. I will say however, on advice from this forum, I did go with a ballast box for added traction, and it did make a huge difference.

The R4 tires will be much superior to the turfs when it comes to loader work. They have a much stiffer sidewall, and will handle the added weight of the loader and full bucket far better.


I have also found that the R4's are not really an issue when mowing grass. By the look of them, you would think that they would be hard on the grass, but as long as the ground is fairly dry, and you don't use 4wd or make sharp turns, I find them not to be a problem. You just need to be aware that under certain conditions, you should stay off the grass. I find sometimes they will leave a crosshatch pattern behind you, but this dissappears as soon as the grass straightens itself up in a couple of hours, no big deal.

See pics.....all done with the blade, R4's, and no chains (I do have the ballast box on)

REV

 

[whistlepig]

How do chains work on asphalt? Already read that they will do a number on a garage floor. Don't want to find out that they did a number on my asphalt driveway after all the snow is gone.

The studded chains are not for asphalt. I have a gravel drive and I do turn around on the asphalt road with studded chains in front of my drive way. I can see no damage to the road from this. But I think if I spun the studded chains they would groove the asphalt.