R1 Tires

[Mark Page]

I've settled on 2615 Massey with a FEL. I have my choice R-1 tires or ag tires. The machine will mostly be used for mowing our fields and pasture. I've been told the r-1s are very hard on turf when turning. I'm using 4 rib front tires on my 231s and they will scrape off the grass if you don't throttle back on hard turns, especially when conditions are damp. Are the R-1 rears going to be as good in snow as the ag tires I have on the 231s?

 

[MMagis]

If you do a search, you'll find more reading on this subject than you could get through in a month. There are way too many variables to say for sure, and everyone has their own opinion.
Edit: I think you mean R-4 (industrial) tires
R-1 tires are ag tires.

 

[RoyJackson]

R-1's are Ag tires...did you mean R-4 Industrials?

Assuming that's what you meant, and since you're field mowing (and not lawn mowing), a degree of scuffing shouldn't really hurt anything. I'd go for the Ag tires and have them filled and set wide.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Go for AG R1 tires. I know too many guys who love the looks of the Industrial R4 tires but hate the performance. They load up with snow and mud much more easily, ect.

You can argue they tear up your yard all you want but I do not buy it. I have 2 R1 tractors that I have mowed my 3 acres with for 10 plus years. Dont mow when its wet, period. Just about every other farmer in the state mows with a 8N or Fergy 30, R1 tires, and a 6 foot finish mower and the yards are fine.

You will do much more damage getting stuck with R4's then R1's will ever do.

Chris

 

[Emagri]

The performance will be much better with R-1's, because the pattern is designed for traction operation in farm surfaces. It is a self cleaning pattern

R-4 are designed for back hoe equipment, mainly for transportation, and some traction.

R-3. Are designed for flotation, mainly for compactors and lawn & garden.

R-2 farm aplication. Deep mud

But not all sizes are available in all patterns.

Your tractor is 4wd or 2wd? What sizes are you using now? Front and rear

 

[sweep]

I've settled on 2615 Massey with a FEL. I have my choice R-1 tires or ag tires. The machine will mostly be used for mowing our fields and pasture. I've been told the r-1s are very hard on turf when turning. I'm using 4 rib front tires on my 231s and they will scrape off the grass if you don't throttle back on hard turns, especially when conditions are damp. Are the R-1 rears going to be as good in snow as the ag tires I have on the 231s?

I have R-1 ags and love them. BH the fields 5-6 times per year and no damage to the ground.

 

[TripleR]

A lot is going to depend on your soil type. We run tractors with Industrial as well as Ag tires and with our Missouri clay on our hill farms, you really can't tell the difference. On our flat land farm where there is more loam type soil, the Ag leaves pretty significant imprints.

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I say go for the Ag's. I have ag's and my grass looked really good this year.

Here's what I do.... In the spring I use my tractor around the yard a lot, on the grass. I get a "road" going on the very edge of the woods line. I turn off the road to get to the work area. While the ag's do some damage, it's usually an easy repair.

No need for chains with ag's. Excellent in snow and mud. Get the tread as wide as you can.

Ag's.:thumbsup:

 

[MMagis]

No need for chains with ag's. Excellent in snow and mud. Get the tread as wide as you can.

Let's not get carried away. The difference between chains and no chains is huge in snow or on frozen ground.

 

[charleyfarmall]

You meant R4 ( industrial) vs R1 ( Ag) tires. Go for the Ag tires.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Another R1 fan here. Go for the ag tires. :thumbsup:

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Let's not get carried away. The difference between chains and no chains is huge in snow or on frozen ground.

I can only speak for myself and my experience. 2 Maine winters and 2 wet springs....Ag's, no chains.

Good question though...How many in the tractor world put chains on ag tires.?? I know I don't feel the need to.

 

[grnspot110]

I can only speak for myself and my experience. 2 Maine winters and 2 wet springs....Ag's, no chains.

Good question though...How many in the tractor world put chains on ag tires.?? I know I don't feel the need to.

Things like this have a lot of variables! I grew up farming before the use of "front assist" tractors. When feeding in deep mud or with icy conditions chains are required! I have a set of chains for my JD 790 w/R4's (cut down grader chains I already had) & have needed them occasionally with ice.

All depends on what you're doing at the time!

As for the original question, for me, the R4's are a compromise, they don't tear up the yard like Ags, but have better traction than turf's. ~~ grnspot

 

[Smallplot]

If you are just mowing either should perform well. If you have to drive on paved roadways you may consider the R4s because they will wear better. R1s on the front will tend to wear more when used on hard surfaces. You might look into what replacement cost for each tire, front and rear, for both the R1s and R4s. That may be enough to persuade you into one over the other.
I have never had anything with the R4s but, someone correct me if I am wrong, believe you will be stuck with what ever profile you choose because they require different sized rims. Meaning without buying replacement rims you can not just replace R4's with R1s or vice-versa.

 

[crazyal]

I can only speak for myself and my experience. 2 Maine winters and 2 wet springs....Ag's, no chains.

Good question though...How many in the tractor world put chains on ag tires.?? I know I don't feel the need to.

I love my AG tires. This has been the first year I been doing some serious logging getting firewood for next winter and I can't believe how well I can drag large logs through mud without getting stuck.

I run chains in the winter. My driveway is steep enough that I do not want to find out the hard way that I didn't have enough traction (sliding down a hill out of control in equipment is not fun).

 

[JDGreenGrass]

I love my AG tires. This has been the first year I been doing some serious logging getting firewood for next winter and I can't believe how well I can drag large logs through mud without getting stuck.

I run chains in the winter. My driveway is steep enough that I do not want to find out the hard way that I didn't have enough traction (sliding down a hill out of control in equipment is not fun).

If I ever need chains...Those be the ones.!!:thumbsup:

 

[mikescruggs]

My first tractor had R4 tires because that was what it came with. The second tractor had R4 because I new to research it a little more and there were many who said the R1 tires would tear up a lawn. Well I am on my third tractor and have R1 (AG) tires. They are so much better in the woods, in mud, and in snow. In fact the only time I need to have chains on the tires is when ice builds up on the drive way and I have a relatively steep driveway. As far as tearing up the lawn they do no worse than the R4 tires did and if I put the tractor into 2wd and turn carefully I can nearly eliminate ruts.

The one advantage to the R4 tires I have found is carrying heavy loads on forks. They don't rut the ground as much and seem to allow for better turning.

Mike

Added:

I noticed the chain pictures. Make sure you buy chains that have a "H" pattern or resemble those of the chains on skidders.

 

[slofr8]

Don't be so quick with the R-1s. I had ag tires on my 30 hp kubota. Mowed fields, cut wood, snow bolwed, plowed, disced...... When I bought my Mahindra 4035 it had R-4s. I wanted to change to ags but the dealer asked that I try them for a few days and then decide.
I mowed...worked fine as expected.
I cleared brush......fine.
I hooked on to everything I have and found it worked well, even in this wet weather we've had.
The test came when I put on my logging winch and took to the woods. I find that the wider tires (esp. the front) kept me from digging in and didn't tear things up as much as my ags did. Better floatation. They are also rated to handle a heavier load then ags for loader work, which I will be doing a lot of. Bottom line for me, a CUT will, by definition, wear a lot of hats. I know I'll struggle pulling a plow or disc in lose soil but I'm not a farmer. If I need ags to mow the fields then it's to wet and I have to park it and do something else. Same thing with logging. It's fire wood for me. When I logged for a living we ran forestry tires and ring chains on the skidders and really ripped things up when it was wet. It was someone elses land.
That said, I only have 50 hours on my new tractor and have not tried them in snow. Time will tell but that's my take on it.
Dan.

 

[EMB5530]

Here is another thought.
Do the R1's hold up against thorns/nails and punctures as well as the R4's

do you even have to worry about these problems?

Just food for thought.

 

[Fermenter]

R1's are designed to dig, just decide whether you want your tyres to dig. Are you working on plowed soil?

I currently have turfs (R3) but will probably go to R4s as what I really need is traction and good wear on hard surfaces (dry clay, gravel tracks etc) and protection from staking. R4's are generally wider, not as aggressive and have a tougher compound than ag tyres.

R1's will wear faster and have less traction on hard surfaces. They are more prone to stake damage than R4s (but less than R3s). If I wanted maximum traction in soft ground then obviously I'd pick R1, but on my block the ground is hard more often than it is soft and if the ground is soft then I don't want to carve it up anyway and I'll find something else to do.

You will generally require some new rims if you switch tyre types, especially if you have 4WD/FWA - if the section width doesn't get you then the axle ratios will.