R1's vs. R4's one more time, please

etgjr · May 29, 2003

R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

Hi All,

I am veeeery close to a 4330HST w/853FEL!

I was all set to get R4's (loaded). I think I have read every tire post going back 2 years. Now I am not sure! Most people seem to mow and they are in the R4 or Turf quandary. My quandary is will the R4's give me enough traction in the woods? I have read a few post where guys are in the woods and they flatly stated the R4's don't work.

Please offer you opinions based on you experience with my intended uses.

To recap my use:
240a mostly hardwoods.
Little to no mowing.
Brush Hogging to reclaim woods roads.
Knock down 4 or 5 old farm builds and dispose of.
Plant and maintain wildlife food plots.
Maintain ditches and roads (back blade).
Build pole buiding. (Site work, post hole digger, etc.)
Build a pond.
Total of about 4 miles of woods roads, break down to about 10% steep, 60% moderate, and 30% flat.

Eventually I will get a snowblower to keep access open in the winter. We typically get 200+ inches of the white stuff each year. The snow work will be on flat ground,

Thanks all for a great education site!

Ed

JATO_RaT · May 29, 2003

Re: R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

Ed, there are lots of reasons why R4's would make the most sense for you. When compared to the stock R1's, R3's or R4's your likely to get upon purchase . They typically have the highest load rating, typically are wider, and will typically have the greatest resistance to puncture with the R3's being the least resistant. The R1's will no doubt offer the greatest traction. You also have options of changing to some much more aggresive R4's in the future (over the stock Firestones)should you wear the ones out, a long process, especially on the rear. Michelin makes a set of R4's, the XM 27 or XM 37 which are about as bulletproof setup as your going to find, very pricey too. If you get the R1's, you will have a narrower tire and rim. You cannot put a wider tire on the stock R1 rim. If your in wet muddy areas for most of your work, you will probably want R1's. If not go R4's and inflate them only as needed. Mine are at 15 PSI, 5lbs less then the manual states. Michelin has a great website for AG tires and explains pressure/compaction and the tires PSI very thouroughly. Rat...

Anonymous Poster · May 29, 2003

Re: R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

Hi Ed, I can't speak for the turfs but I do have R4s on my L3830 and love them. Yesterday I went to do some fel work behind my barn and didnt realize it had rained so much the night before. The R4s did great. I was in mud using the fel and even slid into about a foot and a half ditch. Pulled out no problem. I guess 4x4 had a little to do with it. Just couldn't imagine in all that mud with turfs. I have around 29 hrs. now on them. Hope this helps. I am sure you will love that L4330 no matter which tires you choose. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

popeye · May 29, 2003

Re: R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

I have an MX5000 with R1's and am doing about the same thing you are. After bushhogging saplings and moving dirt filling in dozer and skidder ruts this week I'm glad I had the R1's. Had to engage the differential lock at least four or five times which ended my curiosity about R4's.
Mike

CSAW · May 29, 2003

Re: R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

I debated the same thing and went with R4s. I think they are the most versitile and the toughest. I have been in some pretty serious mud with no problems at all (4wd). Tractors pull pretty good anyways. I can't argue that R1s wouldn't have better traction in the mud. (I try to stay out of the mud it is bad for everything) I would argue about everything else. You need to ask yourself what percentage of the time you will be in very serious mud and how much you will be doing everything else. Good Luck

JerryG · May 29, 2003

Re: R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

One thing about R1's that hasn't been touched on is that when going along the side of a slope, the lugs will get more of a bite to keep you from sliding down hill. They do this because the lugs are farther apart and they don't have the flotation bars in the middle of the tread. I personally would not have a R4 tire. I am on the side of steep slopes quite a bit and I don't care anything about sliding.

MarkV · May 29, 2003

Re: R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

I'm on the fence here. I have R4's on a smaller tractor and they have worked great. I have also been in the mud when they loaded up and R1's would have been better. I believe that when I move to a larger tractor (we have just bought 32 acres, wooded) that I am leaning towards getting the R4's and a set of chains. We plan to have the property line dozed, install fence, do some limited clearing and some light logging. My thinking is that I want the puncture resistance and the load bearing ability of R4's for newly bush hogged areas and loader work. The chains, often used by loggers, will add the extra traction when conditions require it. We will use other equipment for finish mowing.

MarkV

JATO_RaT · May 30, 2003

Re: R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

Jerry makes a point that is very important. On the sides of hills, R1's do a much better job. My 2WD has R1's, my Kubota R4's. Now that everything is back to being covered with grass, the slippage is not a problem. Prior to that, I could not keep my Kubota L48 on the hill sideways. It always slid down as soon as I tried to do any work . Once the soil dries up, it's no longer a problem. If your in mud a lot, your going to do better with R1's and thats pretty much the end of it. I purchased my Kubota with R4's because being in the mud around my place is not a great idea. I just wait a few days and let things dry out. Working in the mud with a tractor here pretty much just makes a bunch more work. Rat...

etgjr · May 30, 2003

Re: R1\'s vs. R4\'s one more time, please

Thanks all for the R1 vs. R4 recap,

Very good points made and this is my conclusion,.... R4's.

RaT said "I purchased my Kubota with R4's because being in the mud around my place is not a great idea." This is a wise statement! Trying to work in mud makes more work than the work getting done! I had a guy out to my place last fall doing a gravel pad, he got it done but with the rain (mud) he made a holy mess. The lesson for me was "just cause I can work in mud doesn't mean I should! Their are those folks who are using their equipment to put food on the table, they have to get it done and R1's give them that extra needed in the not so favorable conditions. My tractor use is more theraputic!

Thanks again for all the help,

Ed