I use my Alamo to cut my lawn, and it has the rough cut blades. Granted it isn't the prettiest cut, but I don't care much about my lawn (I've debated letting it grow and baling it...). My 917 did and SHD88 does leave tire tracks in tall grass (both had/have knives), but in short grass that isn't an issue. I'm at about 7,000 lbs with the mower, but I have industrial tires so it helps preserve the lawn a little better (again, I don't really care about my lawn). About the only way to get away from the tire track issue is to mow a 2nd time a day or 2 later. There's a reason hay-making cutters are always off to the side of the tractor.