R1 vs. R4 in the mud

[Kendall69]

Don't forget sand my R4's are worthless in the sand ( deep sand ) NEVER again for me.

 

[Cidertom]

If I have to work in the mud (clay + water, potters call it "slip", so do I) I have to get out the chains. Home made from load chain. UGLY but...

I had issues with the first tractor and R1's. 80% of my use is loader /BH and I was seeing a lot of wear so I went to the industrial tires. If my R4's were not loaded, I might spring for a second set of tires for the extended projects in the winter. I just am not comfortable with getting those heavy SOB's on and off safely. I tried to float the idea of a second tractor with R1's at the wife and got shot down pretty hard.

Somedays I think the old idea of steel wheels and huge paddles would still be the best in this stuff we call "mud"

MUD = Messy Unworkable Dirt

 

[LBrown59]

If it don't have R1s it's not a tractor.

 

[SPYDERLK]

If it don't have R1s it's not a tractor.

ever notice that r-4s totally flatten the grass in a field, whereas r-1s leave it so most of it springs back?
larry

 

[Deadman]

Hate my R4's and I only have 1 HR logged on the tractor.

 

[LBrown59]

Hate my R4's and I only have 1 HR logged on the tractor.

xxxxxxxxxxx
R4's are a universal tire.
Universal means it won't work for anything.
Folks think they offer the best of Turfs and AGs - but what you get is the worst of both worlds.

 

[slaveToHorses]

ever notice that r-4s totally flatten the grass in a field, whereas r-1s leave it so most of it springs back?

Actually no, my experience is just the opposite. My 855, with R1s would leave ruts and the 3720, with R4s (all 4 filled and even with hoe and loader mounted) just leaves a very light foot print which goes away. It also doesn't carve up the mud roads as much. In fact last weekend the road that I use to move our manure pile was heavily rutted by the 2755 (R1s). But after repeated runs with the 3720 most of the R1 tracks were all smoothed out the road looked much better

I currently have tractors with R1,R2 and R4 tires. They all have their applications. I don't see the R4 as any more compromised than the other two.

My 3720 is used on grass, woods and dirt and gravel roads. For this purpose, I am pleased with the R4s. The tractor I had previously, for this same purpose had R1s. A year later I am happy with the choice. I would not choose R4s if I was going to use the tractor for field work or if it was going to be in heavy mud a lot.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Originally Posted by SPYDERLK
ever notice that r-4s totally flatten the grass in a field, whereas r-1s leave it so most of it springs back?


Quote from slaveToHorses: Actually no, my experience is just the opposite. My 855, with R1s would leave ruts and the 3720, with R4s (all 4 filled and even with hoe and loader mounted) just leaves a very light foot print which goes away. It also doesn't carve up the mud roads as much.

We must have different characteristics in our grass. In a reasonably dry field the R4s leave our grass flattened in tracks visible for a day or so. The R-1 leave tracks that are sometimes hard to see to follow after only afew minutes. I wasnt talking about ruts.
larry

 

[Deadman]

Thats how ours is too. The R1's only put pressure on a small area, so the majority of the grass is not flattened, but the R4 is like a huge roller that just flattens everything. (better flotation though)

 

[SPYDERLK]

Its just that the tread is so poor for all around traction. A comparably wide, high ply rated shallow ag tread would do much better on everything that pushes predominantly forward. They would be bad news on a skid steer tho if it was being swiveled a lot. The problem would be too much ground disturbance not a shortage of traction.
In my experience R-4s are a puncture resistant, wide, ridgid tire that excels at spinning without leaving much of a mark or generating appropriate thrust.
larry