R1's or R4"s???

[k0ua]

I had a tractor for 20 years with R1's. I never thought about the tires, they were tires and they worked.

I have had a new tractor for nearly a year now, with R4's. I've used it in dry conditions, in wet conditions, thru record breaking amounts of snow, in mud and on my lawn.

They are wide, giving the tractor a wider more stable stance. I think that the wider tire gives you more surface on the ground making up for the deeper cleats on the R1's.

They ride NICE (don't over inflate). They're tough. They handle the woods great. They work well in snow, mud. They don't tear up my lawn.

I'll never go back to R1's.

Others seem to disagree, but I can't understand why.

I agree with you. But if I was plowing soft ground or mucking around in a feedlot I would want R1's. There is no perfect tire as we all do different things. I have had both types, and prefer R4's for what I do now.

 

[arrow]

As usual in these discussions, there are a myriad of "unspoken" details that make the difference in the experiences of owners of either tire. Tire size, tractor weight distribution, terrain slope, terrain soil make up, soil moisture content, tread design, ply rating, operator weight, attachments, tractor job description, etc. to just name a few.

It is not a cut and dry question and for each one of us it will be different. I log with my 4000 lb tractor, I push and pull snow with it with a ballast of filled tires, chains and rear blade. That is the basic work description of my tractor. Occasionally I travel on the grass with a buckets of manure for the garden. I have 11.2x24 ags on my tractor and I wish I had the 20x43 industrials. Why you ask? Because the ags crucify the lawn. Any traction loss in the woods or snow with R4's would be mitigated by chains as I have chains on the ags anyway.
Ground engaging tasks such as harrowing ,plowing, furrowing seem more relegate to ags.

 

[4570Man]

R4's are way better. I will never own a tractor with r1's. They tear up the yard too much, and they sink in soft ground. Around here when you sink you go to the frame, and traction doesn't matter at that point.

 

[vtsnowedin]

As usual in these discussions, there are a myriad of "unspoken" details that make the difference in the experiences of owners of either tire. .

:laughing: I think we do a good job of "Speaking" every conscious thought that might apply and more then some that don't.
The tires on your tractor are both expensive and heavy when changing them so you the purchaser has to pick the tire that will suit his or her needs most but not all of the time. There is no style that is perfect for all thing but some like R4s work well on a number of tasks and at least aren't terrible at a lot of others. I've got no quibble with anyone that chooses them for their machine. I being a long way from any pavement with both woods and field work to do and almost no lawn choose R1s which are more specialized for that work.
The R4s are like the 30-06 of tires. Good for everything from gophers to elephants but not really the perfect choice for anything like a 270 for antelope or a 300 Savage for deer. :stirthepot:

 

[oldpilgrim]

The R4s are like the 30-06 of tires. Good for everything from gophers to elephants but not really the perfect choice for anything like a 270 for antelope or a 300 Savage for deer.

The .30-06 comment could turn into a thread as interesting and opinionated as the R1/R4 threads.

BTW, I'll take the .30-06 any day.

 

[4570Man]

I would rather have a big chunk of lead. I have a 375 JDJ, a 454 casull, and my favorite is a 45-70. The first two are handguns.

 

[vtsnowedin]

The .30-06 comment could turn into a thread as interesting and opinionated as the R1/R4 threads.

BTW, I'll take the .30-06 any day.

Yeah but you have to come up to Vermont to use it. I prefer my 7x57 Mauser in a Ruger M77 tang safety but will not pick an argument with a man carrying an 30-06.

 

[arrow]

I would rather have a big chunk of lead. I have a 375 JDJ, a 454 casull, and my favorite is a 45-70. The first two are handguns.

Don't know how old you are but there was a TV show in the late 50's (Wanted Dead or Alive) that had Steve McQueen with a sawed off 1892 Winchester crank gun that was chambered for the 44-40. Well when they put these cartridges in his belt, they were not impressed by the size so they stuffed the 45-70 cartridge in the belt even though the gun itself would never contain them for the "impact" feature to the audience.. You never actually saw him take these bullets out of his belt and chamber them into the gun in the entire 4 years the show was on.

 

[4570Man]

Don't know how old you are but there was a TV show in the late 50's (Wanted Dead or Alive) that had Steve McQueen with a sawed off 1892 Winchester crank gun that was chambered for the 44-40. Well when they put these cartridges in his belt, they were not impressed by the size so they stuffed the 45-70 cartridge in the belt even though the gun itself would never contain them for the "impact" feature to the audience.. You never actually saw him take these bullets out of his belt and chamber them into the gun in the entire 4 years the show was on.

I'm not that old. I have seen a 45-120 cartridge. It is about 5 inches long.

 

[joeu235]

Based on the OP's usage, I think R1s would be best. If they do get punctured, you can get them foam filled.