KenB2920
Veteran Member
Looks great!!! You'll be happy you did it.
Snow Equipment Owning/Operating Cutting / Groving / Siping R-4 for snow
- Thread starter gladehound
- Start date
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Looks great!!! You'll be happy you did it.
TSO
Elite Member
Personally, I'd say 25-50% better snow traction. I need to go back over mine and add straight-line sipes as well (not just horizontal) for side stability.
KenB2920
Veteran Member
I couldn't give an exact number but its definitely a huge improvement.
Before really commenting, I wanted to get a little seat time. Now that I have 10 hours or so in typical slick conditions, I can definitely see where I used to slide, I now stick and have control.
Now there are times I can spin my tires but nothing like before.
Now the best I can say is when I slid 80% of the time before, Now I slide 10% of the time. I still have a driveway that was almost dangerous last year that Id like to try again and see the difference there as well.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
I know what you mean, I did my Kubota before I traded it off, and we only had one dinky 4 inch snow, and while it felt like it was better, I just didnt have enough time to come to a valid conclusion in what little snow we had that year. Last year here really sucked, to the point I ordered chains for the Kioti to be able to get around at all. I never cut the kioti's tires so I just can't say.
KenB2920
Veteran Member
k0ua
Epic Contributor
Well, thanks, but I still have mine, I just never did the Kioti's tires, and I have the chains on now. I was thinking about maybe doing the fronts though.
Last year we had some bad snow and ice, and once I barely made it back to the barn, and had difficulty putting it back in.. I ordered the chains. Made all the difference in the world. I used them several times last year. This year, we havent really had anything you guys in Michigan would call a snow.
OP
gladehound
Veteran Member
On the lb19i'd say I got at least 50 percent more traction on hard packed snow/ice
KenB2920
Veteran Member
Ah very good. Yes, I agree it makes all the difference in the world.
As some people mentioned, they don't want to buy the tool since they'll most likely only use it once. Even if I end up only using it one (which I won't because I will do my ATV tires etc) it's still definitely worth the money
As some people mentioned, they don't want to buy the tool since they'll most likely only use it once. Even if I end up only using it one (which I won't because I will do my ATV tires etc) it's still definitely worth the money
MikePA
Super Moderator
This summer (ah, yes, summer, I remember it well :applause: ) I siped my tires and replaced two halogen lights with a single 21" LED light bar. Both have made a huge difference when plowing. One driveway I plow has a steady incline that I've rarely been able to plow a full path to where i can dump the snow with my FEL. Even in 4wd, my tires would spin. Not this year. Granted, this isn't a scientific test, but I fully expected the tires to spin and they didn't.
After reading all 39 pages of this post, I just ordered a grooving gun! When I bought my BX25, the dealer sold me on R4s for winter plowing. Boy was that a misguided sale!!! I bought 2-link ladder chains for the rear...mainly for a nasty year with more icy storms and less powder. Haven't used them yet and hesitate to do so for fear the ride will be horrible (lots to clear) or I hill chew my already failing paved 300' driveway. At any rate, thanks for the info and quality posts!!! Can't wait to do this mod but may wait until July so I can use the sons heat to help soften the rubber.