JD 425 Tire Recommendeds

[undercoverpoe]

Rather than just blindly buy a tire in the World Wide Web, I will ask the experts here on tractors by net. Can you point me in the right direction? Right now I have Ag tires and I have to admit they do rip up the grass. So
Maybe I need turf tires? I don’t know. Would turf tires also perform in the snow? I don’t like using chains because 4 wheel steering and if I need chains I have some off set rims and turf tires I can use. But I don’t like that either because the off set rims and tires are wider than the thrower. So keep it like it sits right now is my plan. Just what tires? Stick with Ag? Or turf? And which one ? Pics for reference. Yes I use mad weight in the rear.

 

[K5lwq]

It is hard to know what someone else needs but if it were me, I would stay with the Ag tire.

 

[undercoverpoe]

How do turf compare to Ag tires in the snow?

 

[K5lwq]

I do not get enough snow to give a good comparison but I would think Ag would be better in snow. Most I have had a one time is 7” and my Ag worked just fine. The type Ag you have is nice and wide. That should help as well.

Hopefully some of the other guys that deal with snow will chime in soon.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I have never used ag tires in snow on a garden tractor but from what I've read turfs have more traction in snow. That being said I would have a look at this thread "Tire Swap - R-14 Versa Turf In - R-4 Out". The Versa turfs are available in 26x12-12 which I believe your tractor has. They are also a radial which will help too.

 

[CoyPatton]

Several points
1) I would not consider what is shown in your photo to be R-1 tread. Those “lugs” are no where deep enough to be considered ag tires.
They appear more in line with a moderately aggressive ATV tires
2) typical turf tires will fill will snow and ice between the lug pattern on them and I doubt that while pushing a snow blower, you will run fast enough for them to self clear the lugs. So without chains as you seem opposed to, I would suspect little to no traction within a few feet of snow blowing.
3) it seems that you need a second set standard rear wheels (not offset) although you might try your second set of wheels with turf tires for mowing and other non winter chores chores and then have a set of aggressive tires mounted on the wheels in the photo for snow blowing.
4) yes there is a fairly recently developed tread pattern called R-14. U have no first hand experience with this tread, but it is supposedly a mixed tread design.

 

[Deere Dude]

People have different ideals about what is suited for them, but what I did in Wisconsin with 2wd JD4XX and 5XX and my X740 series was used turf tires. And chains always. I took chains off for a few years, but that was a suck job, then I just left them on all year long. Nothing works in snow like chains. It never hurt the lawn either.

Of course I had fluid in the tires and 2 sets of wheel weights, so I had plenty of traction for whatever I need to do. Finally after 30 years of snowblowing I got a big tractor so was able to shed the chains,

 

[bigtiller]

I had eight 425's from '93 until 2000. I think only the last few were 4 wheel steer.
I would stay with the R1 Ag tires you have now. The difference in traction isn't very noticeable in the 900 lb tractor.
What would help more than changing tires is to add about 200 lbs of weight into your weight box.
If you get much more than 250 lbs, then your front end will get light.
You won't have any problems if you can stay on paved surfaces.
If you have a lot of gravel and deep, wind packed, heavy, wet snow, then buy JD's wheel extensions and chains.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Several points
2) typical turf tires will fill will snow and ice between the lug pattern on them and I doubt that while pushing a snow blower, you will run fast enough for them to self clear the lugs. So without chains as you seem opposed to, I would suspect little to no traction within a few feet of snow blowing.

It's the fact that they fill with snow and ice between the lug pattern that lets turfs grip better on snow. Snow on snow grips better than rubber on snow.

 

[CoyPatton]

It's the fact that they fill with snow and ice between the lug pattern that lets turfs grip better on snow. Snow on snow grips better than rubber on snow.

Until he is trying push into a heavy wall of snow and then snow on snow has no traction and spins super easy!
He needs chains for traction, but if not doing chains an aggressive lug is better.

 

[Deere Dude]

Until he is trying push into a heavy wall of snow and then snow on snow has no traction and spins super easy!
He needs chains for traction, but if not doing chains an aggressive lug is better.

If any type of incline or more than a few inches of snow and without chains I would just leave the tractor in the garage. That is a heavy snowblower and with that type of tractor, you need all the traction you can get. With chains and weight even with 2wd you can almost always keep moving forward.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Until he is trying push into a heavy wall of snow and then snow on snow has no traction and spins super easy!
He needs chains for traction, but if not doing chains an aggressive lug is better.

I agree on chains but not on the aggressive lug being better.

 

[undercoverpoe]

I feel you guys for the advise. Based on the comments stick with Ag (or whatever I have now). If it’s not broken don’t fix it right? Lots of advise on putting chains. My problem w/ chains is I need offset wheels (which I have and chains are on my spare wheel). So rest assured that if the weather is such that I’m spinning Sh*t. I’ll put them on. The problem with my off set wheels/chains IS THAT ITS WIDER THAN MY 46” SNOW THROWER. Which is why I started this thread for tore recommendation. Chains work the best. I got it. But they don’t fit on my tractor because of 4W steering. Unless I am doing it wrong????
Just to make it clear I have 240 lbs of weight in the back not including the weight of the ballast box.

 

[undercoverpoe]

 

[K5lwq]

You have a beautiful place but after seeing how much snow you are dealing with I officially change my recommendation! Put your tire money towards a bigger tractor with a cab! Holy smokes that little Deere has some work to do! :thumbsup:

 

[oldnslo]

I realize not completely tire related but my son went from X485 with blower to X749 with blower. X749 has 4WD and all wheel steering. He said no comparison on moving snow since now all of the machine weight is on drive wheels. He runs ag style tires with no chains on both machines.

We did buy a tachometer and adjust front wheel speed to match rear wheel speed so very little to no turf damage in summer mowing either..

My experience is old JD112 with ag tires would drive places the X540 with HDAP tires and differential lock would not in snow without chains.

With chains the X540 and diff lock wins.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Ok so it's a given that the tractor can push a lot more with chains. Your issue is that with chains your tractor is wider than the snow blower. How much wider?

So depending on how hard your snow gets would you be able to add "wings" to each side of the blower to help guide the snow into the blower?

 

[bigtiller]

View attachment 680449

You have a beautiful place but after seeing how much snow you are dealing with I officially change my recommendation! Put your tire money towards a bigger tractor with a cab! Holy smokes that little Deere has some work to do! :thumbsup:

Now that's good advice. :thumbsup: The O.P. should consider taking a look at the 2 series Deere tractors.

 

[undercoverpoe]

Ok so it's a given that the tractor can push a lot more with chains. Your issue is that with chains your tractor is wider than the snow blower. How much wider?

So depending on how hard your snow gets would you be able to add "wings" to each side of the blower to help guide the snow into the blower?

I thought if the wings ideas. I’d need a few more inches on each side. Say maybe 4” on each side. But how to build them and not have them get bashed off? Now if the factory made a part that I can bolt on?? But if doubt that exists. Btw the little tractor did the whole 150 foot driveway with Ag tires and no chains so I’m not getting new tractor. Let’s just get the best tires I can

 

[pmsmechanic]

I thought if the wings ideas. I’d need a few more inches on each side. Say maybe 4” on each side. But how to build them and not have them get bashed off? Now if the factory made a part that I can bolt on?? But if doubt that exists. Btw the little tractor did the whole 150 foot driveway with Ag tires and no chains so I’m not getting new tractor. Let’s just get the best tires I can

I've seen a few pictures of these wings. I don't know of any factory option. As far as the "bashing off" I think you are getting into operator error territory.