Snow Best tires for the snow.

[daveinnh]

We have a Kubota L4310 w/ ag tires and plow a ~800' drive in central NH. Last December, it started getting icy, so I ordered chains for the rear wheels (some posts warned about screwing up the front diff.). It worked out well since our area had the 2nd highest recorded snowfall ever.

Be sure to check space between the tire and wheel wheel. I saw a local Kubota equipped with R-4's that couldn't fit the chains.

 

[Jibber]

I have all three sets of tires for my BX.. purchased with R4s.. I got turfs for mowing..then got a deal on regular AG tires from a friend who was selling his BX. Anyway.. AGs work best in snow for me.. but I have gravel on the driveway and am not worried about any damage. The R4s are good in wet snow.. not as good in cold dry snow.. bad on Ice. The turfs for the BX are very close tread.. not at all good in snow.

I just have the R4s for the bigger tractor.. and they are good in snow but not as good in ice.

ps..TUG HILL ADDICT

Great picture! Looks like my little man. Always the foreman!

 

[muskokaBX24]

I run industrial tires with a 2750 front mounted blower. I cannot blow up a paved driveway with some slope. Anyone have any thoughs re what tire pressure should or could be for better traction. Last year I left them at written pressure but thought I could maybe lower for more traction?

 

[brandoro]

I had turfs on my previous tractor (B6200) and have turfs on my current tractor (B7610), no problem pushing the snow blower or the FEL. With the blower I usually run in 2WD so the wheels will slip if I hit something unexpectedly in the snow. We don't get too much wet snow here so don't have trouble with the finer tread pattern plugging up.
I have a gravel drive so shorten the top link on the 3pt to raise the cutting edge of the blower the first couple of times to leave the gravel and a little bit of snow behind. After that, when there is a layer of packed snow on the drive I will let the cutting edge back down to remove all of the fresh snow.

 

[bx24d]

I have all three sets of tires for my BX.. purchased with R4s.. I got turfs for mowing..then got a deal on regular AG tires from a friend who was selling his BX. Anyway.. AGs work best in snow for me.. but I have gravel on the driveway and am not worried about any damage. The R4s are good in wet snow.. not as good in cold dry snow.. bad on Ice. The turfs for the BX are very close tread.. not at all good in snow.

From a guy whose tried all three on a bx, you probably have the best experience out there. Are any of your tires loaded and do you think that would change your ratings?

 

[BizDoc]

I originally had turf tires on my first tractor, new holland, but when I traded for my Kubota I wanted R4s because I thought they would be better in the snow, the dealer told me that turf would work as well and sometimes better because they have more surface in contact with the ground. I didn't believe him and went with the R4s anyway, and I find in my situation that the turfs did work better, I do not have the traction I had with the turfs. So in my situation the turfs worked better in snow.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Loaded turf are the way to go! NH winter storms on the seacoast give us ice, sleet, snow, slush. I have a steep paved drive. never a problem. but get them tires loaded for the weight! Ags and r4 tires slide especially on ice and hard packed ice...

 

[botayota]

I have R4's and they work fine for my primary needs-skidding logs and trail maintenance but I added front and rear chains for winter snow clearing

Northland, what kind of chains/brand did you purchase?
I'm running R4's also, will give it a go this winter season without chains, but I have an inkling that if we have an icy winter chains will almost be a must.

 

[Northland]

Northland, what kind of chains/brand did you purchase?
I'm running R4's also, will give it a go this winter season without chains, but I have an inkling that if we have an icy winter chains will almost be a must.

I have 4 link v-bars chains on the back and 2 link v-bar chains on the rear. I got both sets from Tire Chains by TireChains.com - great selection, prices and delivery

I regret not buying the 2 link v-bars for the rear tires. They would provide better traction and ride.

I had to reverse my front tires/wheels in order to accomoodate the front chains.

Before I bought my rear chains I had my tractor slide side-ways on my driveway and trails. The rear chains stopped that from happening again but my steering wasn't good enough. The additional traction the front chains provided was remarkable and a big bonus.

 

[easygo]

I also have turfs on my B7510. It did fine during last years very long and snowy winter. When the snow was 8" or more I had some traction issues. Later I put a set of old car chains on the front and it helped a lot. This winter I will also run chains on the rears. I guess that should be all the traction I need.