Traction INDUSTRIAL TIRES OR AG TIRES

[outdrmer]

I am looking at buying a used L2800 Kubota or a new L3301 or L3901 Tractor. The new ones has the re- gen on them which don't cause any problems on my M7060. Will that L2800 25 PTO HP be enough horse power to pull a 5 foot bush hog in a thick pasture. I am also wondering if bush hogging on a sideling pasture should I get ag tires or industrial tires. It looks like the industrial tires would be more stable with loader operation but one salesman told me the industrial tires would slide on a sideling pasture. The 2011 L2800 has no warranty but saves about $3,000.00. Do you want to pay $3,000.00 for the warranty and a little bigger tractor and get the tier 4 engine. A lot of questions I know.

 

[TSO]

Rule of thumb is usually 5 PTO HP per foot of PTO implement. So, 25 PTO HP div by 5 HP = 5 ft implement. You should be fine with a 5ft b'hog.

Regarding the AG vs R4 tires ... That loader won't lift enough to stress the AG tires during loader work, so the AG tires will be just fine. Only other consideration is that if you are on grass/lawn often, the AG tires will rut worse than R4's. The AG tires will offer much better traction in most conditions.

Good luck with the purchase!

 

[outdrmer]

Great information, Thanks

 

[Creamer]

I pull a 5' bush hog with my 1710 (24 PTO Hp). it does fine.

 

[geneP]

I have a 35 PTO horsepower tractor and 5' cutter. My field is Bahia grass and where it is the thickest I have to go to 3rd gear or the tractor lugs. I have been in some grass in an overgrown field that was bogging it down in low gear. I have a Land Pride cutter with sharp blades. I guess it depends on what the grass is and how fast you want to go. My 49 PTO hp Kubota zips through it in 5th gear.

 

[kebo]

My opinion is that unless you have to worry about tearing up a lawn, or will hardlv ever use the tractor for serious discing/tilling/box blade work (ground engaging stuff), there is no reason to get anything other than ag tires. Ag tires are what a tractor works the best with, at least for ground engaging attachments. Mine has bar tires on it, but I wish it had the ag's, but when you buy used, it tends to limit your options.

 

[Citydude]

Your dealer is correct. Industrial tires will slip on side hills. Ag tires will grip the ground however are not turf friendly.

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

My Kioti DK50SE has R4's on it. They're ok, but I sorta wish I had R1's just for the extra traction.

 

[wolc123]

Industrial tires are really only good on hard, flat surfaces. The only reason they are used on 90% of CUT's is to reduce turf damage. R1 tires offer traction so superior on soft ground that an equal weight 2wd tractor with them can develop as much or more total traction force than a 4wd with R4's. If you really want to get maximum traction from any tractor, R1's are the way to go. I have no need for R4 tires and use (4) tractors with R1's in the fields and woods, and (2) with turf tires on the lawn. If I were limited to one tractor, I would probably go with turf tires and removable chains for snow and soft ground work before I would go with R4's. R4's are particularly weak for snow removal work which I do a good bit of up here in upstate NY, especially on the record-breaking winter we just had. With a 4wd with front loader, rear plow, and R1 tires (loaded rears), I can push mountains of snow without even slipping the tires and without the need for chains.

 

[s219]

Industrial tires are really only good on hard, flat surfaces. The only reason they are used on 90% of CUT's is to reduce turf damage.

I have heard people mention this before, but don't believe that is the true reason. Yes, R4s will damage turf less than R1s, but almost any type of tire will damage turf less than an R1, so that is not saying much! My Kubota with R4s will make a mess of my lawn compared to my Deere with turfs, so I don't consider the R4 much benefit at all.

Many tractor owners don't care about turf, so they would be picking R4s for another reason, likely for front loader work and durability. If the tractor has a front loader that is to be heavily used on mixed surfaces, the R4 is the logical choice. Most types of construction equipment use an R4 tire, and they do it because of the load capacity and thick/heavy tread. Turf damage is rarely ever a factor with construction equipment, in fact I bet the topic almost never comes up. People who know why they would want an R4 tire on a compact tractor would be choosing them for the same reason.

All the tires have priorities and are a compromise at off-design conditions. Pick the one that makes the most sense and know it will have downsides. The basic priorities are:

R1: traction in soil and mud, best for ground engaging work
R4: highest load capacity and damage/puncture resistance, best for front loader work or construction/similar usage
Turf: minimal damage to turf, best for mowing work on lawns