Do you like your R4 tires?

[buck12]

I have R4s and often wish for ags. Every time I get in the mud I want ags other wise I am happy with R4s. With the mud/clay in my area R4s load up quick and don't clean out well. Just today I was trying to get a bucket of clay for the base of a water bar and it was very frustrated with the R4s.

 

[milkman636]

I bought my first tractor with r4 tires last November. They are loaded with 90 gallons of rimguard. They still will leave a nice trail across grass. There really isn't any appreciable difference between my new r4 tracks and my older tractors r1 tracks in grass.

What I do notice is there have been several times that the rear end has broken track in the snow where I know my r1 won't. It seems like it still needs more weight on the tire even though I have over 900 lbs of ballast. I think the wider R4 rear tires really want to have ALOT of weight on them to perform.

Like you're thinking about now, I settled for R4s because I got a sweet deal on the tractor with them on it. I figured I'd try them out and see why they are so popular. Now that I have tried them, I probably won't buy them again. They work, but after decades with R1s I've come to expect and appreciate the traction they offer. Maybe the perfect combo would be loaded R1s on the rear with the wider R4s on the front. I wonder when we might see a manufacturer offer that combo?

 

[k0ua]

I love my R4's, but as pointed out earlier, we all don't have the same needs our uses or even the same type of soil.. get what is right for you. What might work well for me might be useless for you.

James K0UA

 

[RPW]

I've noticed one thing when people compare R1's and R4's in that they will reference construction equipment. Cool, but one thing is omitted is that construction equipment on average weighs alot more than what most people are buying for personal/ag use. So a R4 on a construction grade backhoe will operate quite differently than a smaller backhoe that we might purchase for our personal needs. That is going to translate into different traction gains/loses.

 

[ejkessler]

Maybe the perfect combo would be loaded R1s on the rear with the wider R4s on the front. I wonder when we might see a manufacturer offer that combo?

You can't mix and match, the actual base tire diameters minus the tread need to be matched accordingly. The tires and wheels are different sizes from any of the types to the other. They are very specifically designed for their matching front and rear. On a 2WD would not matter, with the 4WD your tranny and gears will be toast in no time.

 

[TripleR]

You can't mix and match, the actual base tire diameters minus the tread need to be matched accordingly. The tires and wheels are different sizes from any of the types to the other. They are very specifically designed for their matching front and rear. On a 2WD would not matter, with the 4WD your tranny and gears will be toast in no time.

We have been running this set up since 1986 and it was set up that way by the dealer. It is a geared unit, so maybe that makes a difference.

 

[milkman636]

The allowable 1-5% overspeed would allow for some variation in "actual base tire diameters minus the tread". With some careful tire selection I bet it wouldn't be a problem even on hard surfaces (where 4wd isn't needed). It probably just looks wrong so nobody wants to try it.

The advantage r4s offer is extra front tire width and load rating in small sizes. The r4 rears don't provide any real advantage that I can see.

 

[rebelback]

I wanted the R1's but my dealer didn't have any along with 6 other dealers I called. So, I settled for R4's since that is all I could get without ordering and paying a lot more. I got a 2010 Case Farmall 45 HST with FEL for $22,560. I thought that was a pretty awesome deal.

 

[beenthere]

Seems your dealer can order the next tractor of your size with Ag tires and switch them out for yours. Might have to delay taking ownership until that next tractor gets delivered so the dealer doesn't have to have used tires on a new tractor.

But I prefer the R-4's on my 4300 for most uses. Some woods work I know I'd have better traction, but the heavier ply sidewalls make for better woods work so it is a fair trade-off.
I also like how well the R-4's clean compared to my R-1's from previous days. That is a plus for me not having to drag so much mud around to other places. Now when in the wet clay, then it sticks to everything. Less disruption of the lawn with the R-4's.

 

[ejkessler]

We have been running this set up since 1986 and it was set up that way by the dealer. It is a geared unit, so maybe that makes a difference.

Good to know. I was basing my comment on a discussion I had with a dealer. I'd be willing to bet that those front tires base diameter are the same as the base of the normal turfs that would have gone with it. I guess I should not say always, just be careful if you do go that route.