Love of the R-4 Tire

[Highlander]

I cannot for the life of me figure out why everyone just loves the R-4 Tires found on practically every new compact tractor. I have found over the past seven years operating my 4300 John Deere, that in my case at least, the R-4 Tire has been terrible for traction in my one acre garden, especially once I till the ground and then operate over the tilled ground to cultivate or disc. And the same would apply for when I go out in the pasture come springtime to knock down the gopher mounds as I pull my disc and chain harrow. And the same goes for the winter, when I loose all traction and chains become necessary to do the plowing and such. Anyhow, I have finally made the decision to spend the big bucks to change over my wheels and tires to R-1 Ags not only for the fore mentioned reasons but also for the added stability when the R-1 wheels are adjusted to the outter positions. NO SPACERS FOR ME! I want traction. I will post pictures once the Ag's are loaded and installed. Just a mute point!

 

[machmeter62]

I cannot for the life of me figure out why everyone just loves the R-4 Tires found on practically every new compact tractor. I have found over the past seven years operating my 4300 John Deere, that in my case at least, the R-4 Tire has been terrible for traction in my one acre garden, especially once I till the ground and then operate over the tilled ground to cultivate or disc. And the same would apply for when I go out in the pasture come springtime to knock down the gopher mounds as I pull my disc and chain harrow. And the same goes for the winter, when I loose all traction and chains become necessary to do the plowing and such. Anyhow, I have finally made the decision to spend the big bucks to change over my wheels and tires to R-1 Ags not only for the fore mentioned reasons but also for the added stability when the R-1 wheels are adjusted to the outter positions. NO SPACERS FOR ME! I want traction. I will post pictures once the Ag's are loaded and installed. Just a mute point!

I agree with your decision! I have a fleet of tractors; all but two have R-1's. The R-4's are on a commerical designed TLB that comes standard, and the other is on a tractor used for mowing! If traction and slopes are an issue, R-1's get the done without the frustration of the cleats building up in muddy conditions, or lack of traction in soft soil. However, the R-4's do ride better on firm ground?

 

[thcri]

I don't think the R4's were designed to do that type of work. Even though I use mine in my garden I don't have any trouble. So I really don't know what your saying here. I would never want the R1's on my yard which is where my tractor spends it's majority. In fact turfs were not designed for garden work but I bet they work just fine.

It all depends on what you do with your tractor should be the determining factor of what tire you get. I am glad you like the R1's, but don't put them on my lawn.

murph

 

[JerryG]

They LOOK tuff, they let people mow their lawn / yard without much damage and they will hold up a loader better than turfs. That's the reasons that most compacts have them. Personally, I wouldn't have R-4s unless I had a dedicated TLB.

 

[AKfish]

I now have both turfs and R1's. The turfs are great for mowing, raking, tedding and roto-tilling. But they don't cut the mustard when I'm out in the woods crawling around with my backhoe on digging up tree stumps!

Lower to the ground and they load up like slicks if it's the least bit muddy. Pretty soon I find myself draggin' belly deep and pushin' and pullin' with the hoe and the FEL to get myself out of a tight spot!

But I'll need them later this summer and early fall for the hay season. So, I don't have anything weighted or filled cause I like my back in the same condition it is right now --- thank you very much...

In addition, having the 8-position R1 rims is a great thing for stability and traction!

No R4's for me, either.

AKfish

 

[_RaT_]

They LOOK tuff, they let people mow their lawn / yard without much damage and they will hold up a loader better than turfs. That's the reasons that most compacts have them. Personally, I wouldn't have R-4s unless I had a dedicated TLB.

The R4's that come with compacts are almost always "tougher" then any R1 that comes with compacts. Both in plys and in weight carrying ability. It does depend on your soil, no doubt the R1's have much better traction. I would argue the stability perspective. I could not have had R1's on my L3830 out any further then my R4's. Since most of my work is loader work and I rarely work in the mud, never push snow, I prefer a tire that can take the weight better. I have found that the stock R1's pumped up to their maximum PSI still do not handle the weight as well as a R4. The tractor I have now, a NH TC33 has R1's and I cannot move them out further. Even at 35 PSI, the fronts are still easy to overload when I heap the bucket. If I was buying new tires, I would try hard to get Michelin radials in a R4 tread. They look like R1's.

Michelin AG - Products - XM27™ Utility & Industrial

 

[pat32rf]

Why couldn't they supply an adjustible rim for the R4s. That way you could have floatation, stability and throw on a set of chains for traction. When I ordered my 4300 I really didn't want the R4s but now I'm beginning to like them for bush work and I can drive accross the lawn.

 

[Timber]

I love my R4s It all depends on what you use your tractor for

 

[shvl73]

I've yet to have a problem with the R4s on my tractor. They seem to be a good all around compromise for traction and floatation in soft conditions. I can cross my yard without tearing it up when wet. Repeated trips will cause ruts. They seem to work well in the snow also. I can till my garden without a problem. It does get real wet, I just stay out of it until the end of May.

 

[jcmseven]

I have had both on the same tractor, my 3720 JD. I can say that the R1's did pull better, but I do not get into much mud with my tractor, so the R4's were close. I liked the r1 tires for traction but they are TOO narrow for my tastes, both aesthetically and in stability. If JD would come out with an R1 pattern that was about two inches wider, I would change quickly. With tractor tires, as in life, all is not so black and white. My tractor with R1's did not tear up grass like I thought it would , and the R4's got better traction than I thought they would. In the end, I sent the R1's back, as I liked the extra stability on hills and ballasting I could do with the R4's but given the offering above I would change back quickly.

John M