R4 front tires, Turf rear

[LD1]

You cannot go by the manual unless the turfs and R4's are both identical diameters.

The R4 front tires the manual specs are matched to the R4 rears it also specs.

Since you want turfs on the back and r4's on the front.....you have to do your own homework. IE: if the R4 rears are smaller than the turf rears, the the R4 fronts it specs will also be smaller than the turf fronts it specs.

 

[like2wheel]

Rolling radius, diameter, circumference, height.....etc.

Dont matter what you use, make sure they are the same otherwise it could tear up your 4wd.

I agree with this, & recently when I was at the dealer talking about buying turfs for my BX, the manager mentioned that many people put turfs on the front, & leave the R4's on the back. The reasoning was that the R4's on the steering axle did most of the damage to a lawn.

I questioned the the idea of putting 2 different types of tires on a 4wd tractor, & he said it wasn't an issue because both were the correct size. Meanwhile there were a couple of BX's right there in the lobby, & the turfs looked obviously shorter.

I've had enough experience with tires on ATV's & AWD vehicles to know the circumference varies greatly between different tire models of the same size.

 

[medic1050]

When I bought my 4410 used it came with turfs on it. The previous owner has mostly used it for snow removal ans pasture mowing with a brush hog. I anted it for the loader and backhoe to clear an area in my bush lot to build a cabin. That summer I realized that turf tires have little to no side wall strength and that they collapsed under the weight of a full loader bucket of gravel. After two years the side walls began cracking and I was slowly losing pressure needing the ires to be topped up every few weeks. I decided to switch them for R4 in the same size. For the last two years I have been running loaded turf in the rear with R4 in the front with no issues. I've noticed a significant increase in traction in loose soil with no perceivable loss of traction on ice and snow. Just make sure the rolling circumference is the same and it is not an issue. The additional bonus was I did not have to change my rims to change to R4 for the front. When the rears eventually wear out I will have to buy a rim to switch them to anything other than turfs.

 

[bucktaker]

like has been posted determine the circumfrence of your old tire and find a r4 that matches it. Change wheel if necessary.

I would like to do something similar only change my rear R4 to R1 leaving my front R4's on. It will be a long time thou unless someone needs 17.5-24 R4's

 

[MHarryE]

I did a quick check of tires in my Kubota book. The R4 rears on mine have a rolling radius of 22.3 inches. The recommended turf tire rears for my tractor have a rolling radius of 22.1 inches, not a lot of difference. I have attached a sample link because my tractor has Titan tires. Click on Info to the left of the tire size you want to look at and you will see the complete tire information including list price. In addition note that overall circumference is not a good way to compare tires. The 2 rear sizes I selected for comparison - the turf tire rears were larger in overall circumference but the R4s were larger in loaded radius. The loaded radius (some tire books list rolling circumference) is the number to compare. A general rule the design guide uses is fronts 6% fasterthan the rears, more important on larger tractors because of power hop. Power hop is a condition you get on larger tractors where the tractor starts bouncing like a bucking bronco as you cross a field.


Titan® Tire catalog

 

[Doty]

Thanks to all for the informative responses. I know I can trust your advice.

Now I'm confused though. I can't really trust the manual for mis-matched tires; manufactured specs vary so I can't really trust those either. So do I just replace the 23x8.50-12 turfs just to be safe? If so, what ply strength should I use? I hate to take a chance on messing up my 4wd.

 

[SPYDERLK]

IF the R4's will be the same rolling radius as the rears, I dont see a problem with it.
Most are set up where the fronts spin faster than the rears anyway, so even on a harder surface, I dont see it being an issue. But when on hard surfaces it isnt a good idea to leave it in 4wd anyway regardless of tire type.

Yipes! I know that is a misspeak. The replacement fronts whatever variety, should have the same rolling radius as the front tires specified for the tractor. This will preserve the probably positive front overdrive prescribed by the mfg.
larry

 

[Doty]

That's probably the safest option, and shop for some 6 ply tires.

Carlisle Multi Trac Tires C/S

Do turfs come in any thicker ply rating? I can't find any locally.

 

[LD1]

Yipes! I know that is a misspeak. The replacement fronts whatever variety, should have the same rolling radius as the front tires specified for the tractor. This will preserve the probably positive front overdrive prescribed by the mfg.
larry

Yea, typo or brain fart I guess. :confused2: Good catch:thumbsup:
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Listen to what I mean.....NOT what I say:laughing:

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks to all for the informative responses. I know I can trust your advice.

Now I'm confused though. I can't really trust the manual for mis-matched tires; manufactured specs vary so I can't really trust those either. So do I just replace the 23x8.50-12 turfs just to be safe? If so, what ply strength should I use? I hate to take a chance on messing up my 4wd.

:confused2: So ... Youre giving up on the conversion to R4 fronts? It should be easy enuf to get rolling circumference specs from tire mfgs to compare with what you have now. If youre doing loader work the R4s would be a plus.
larry