Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Cutting / Groving / Siping R-4 for snow

[Deadman]

Tires are a bit more messy in the mud. The new cuts fill with mud, and then when you drive down the road at speed, the mud comes out of the tires and makes a little mess. Minor, but just something I noticed!

 

[DAY]

In other words- no different than ANY tire!

I wonder, Deadman- or any of the others who followed this thread-does grooving the tires improve traction enough to negate the need for filling the tires?

 

[gladehound]

For me, filling tires isn't just about traction, it's about stability. I will always fill my tires. That being said, when plowing snow my tractor is operating at 5100 pounds. The 400 pounds of fill in the rears is only 8% of that total so it's not the major contributer to traction for me.

 

[DAY]

Not to beat this topic to death, but wouldn't a rear weight- ballast box/55 gal drum/fat friend standing on the drawbar-add the weight WHEN NEEDED, and be removable when not (i.e. mowing the lawn)?

I'm still in awe over you guys' grooving/siping adventure!

 

[gladehound]

Not to beat this topic to death, but wouldn't a rear weight- ballast box/55 gal drum/fat friend standing on the drawbar-add the weight WHEN NEEDED, and be removable when not (i.e. mowing the lawn)?

I'm still in awe over you guys' grooving/siping adventure!

I mow with the zero turn, not the tractor. Everything the tractor does, it does better with more weight. If you mow with your tractor then sure.

 

[FastPauly]

Update;
I got my #6 head/blades...I went over the center lugs with it. I think I am going to leave the outer lugs with the skinny groove (laziness maybe). Am I believer and recommend doing this? Yes...there is a noticeable gain on snow.:thumbsup:


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[gladehound]

I'll be interested to see which groove (skinny or fat) holds the snow better in the winter. Keep us posted on that. I'm betting on the skinny one if they are the same depth!

 

[FastPauly]

gladehound....hopefully that post will be about 8 to 9 months from now.

 

[High Compression]

Well you are definitely on the right track. (no pun intended). A little trial and error and go a little at a time on each tire and you'll have it dialed in. Then you can write a manual for the rest of us.:thumbsup:
My skid loader tires are basically the same as R-4's and I knew how bad they were in the snow before I bought my tractors. I ordered both my bx2660, and my b3030 with turf tires and have no regrets. Their primary rolls are snow removal, and that they do very well.

 

[llkojnjhfy]

Fastpauly: looks good. Is that a 2520? And, which cutter did you use?