On flat but wet ground, will a zero turn or tractor have better traction?

[garciawork]

Because we never stop thinking about new machines... I started pondering a zero turn to replace my X350. Why? I don't know... but I was wondering if a ZT would handle some pretty wet spots in my yard better. I have some natural springs, and other drainage issues, so even when it is super dry, there are some iffy spots. I swung by the JD dealer just to look at ZT's (never considered one originally, my wife said she would use the tractor, but would never use a ZT, turns out she won't use either...), and the sales guy noted that ZT's can have better traction, since the tires that need to bite have all the weight over them, whereas my X350's engine weight is all over the little front tires. Never thought about it but had me thinking that Z530R could... maybe handle things better? Maybe I am just dreaming of something new... Let me know which is correct!

 

[bmaverick]

4WD tractor would win every time. Tires are the most important factor.

 

[3gunr]

Just guessing but probably the ZT, I love my bad boy Zt , Willy is right about a 4x4 tractor , But that would tear up the yard in wet spots,

 

[oldnslo]

Does the Z530R have oscillating front axel like the X350 tractor? If not I would suspect X350 would do better with similar style tires. The oscillating axle allows weight to stay on all four tires vs trying to twist frame with rigid front caster wheels.

 

[4570Man]

An actual tractor with 4x4 will have better traction. But I really took the post to mean a garden tractor. Any ZTR or garden tractor gets pretty awful traction on the stock turf tires. But if you put a set of AT-101s on it’s a different game. Most cheaper garden tractors don’t have diff locks and even if they do the ZTR has more weight on the back.

 

[Streetcar]

My John Deere 1025r with r14 tires is hands down better in wet ground than exemark with turf tires. Both 60 in deck, exemark will rut wet areas,

 

[Torvy]

More to the actual issue, if you have perpetual wet areas that cannot be fixed with a drainage solution, I guess I would plant something that likes wet soil and doesn't need mowing. Maybe even build a small pond.

 

[Yander]

I think the ZTR would be fine as long as you're not turning in that wet soil.

ZTR turning on wet soil is not a good combination, tears it up.

 

[workinonit]

ZTRs are terrible in wet ground. Big part is likely the tires I run but the weight distribution and 2 WD make them really bad.

 

[2manyrocks]

For the cost of buying a new ZTR, I'd try switching to bar tread tires on the X350 first.

If you really have traction issues that a 4wd would solve, you could get a Power Trac, but that's substantially more $.