Tires R4 or R3?

[gageslake]

I'm going to buy a Deere 2320. I have 53 acres, of which 1 is actual yard, which I cut frequently during the season, and 2 is hilly meadow which I cut twice a year. The other 51 acres is woods with a lot of trails that need to be maintained, drainage to be looked after, windblown trees to be removed for firewood, etc. I also have a 3/8 mile dirt driveway to snowblow, with snowfalls as much as 12 inches, and to grade periodically.

R3 tires, with chains, are tempting for the yard, because of their flotation, thus reducing the problem of compacting soil, ditto for the trails, which are often wet (R1s are out of the question). But I wonder if I should get R4s (again with chains) for better traction on the trails, the hilly meadow, and the dirt road. Will R4s destroy the lawn (which ain't exactly golf course quality, but still . . . .)?

Help appreciated.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

I'd say R3's...if you're using chains anyway you might as well get the tires that work better with chains...with R4's depending on the size it's almost impossible to get a chain that doesn't fall in the lugs of the tires.

 

[wny770]

My new ride is a NH T1510. After reading the hundreds of tire postings here, I bought it with R-1 tires. I then switched to R-4. Now I can cut lawn without destroying it. They will leave slight impressions when the lawn is wet, but gone in a day. I blow snow also, and they work fine. The rears are loaded, but I have plowed well over a foot with no problems. I'm actually surprised how well the R-4's work. They are GREAT in the woods. Good luck with the new tractor.

 

[TripleR]

You can spend hours on here reading old threads on this subject with no clear winner. I personally have R4 on more tractors than anything else though I do use all types.

 

[RoyJackson]

I go for the R-4's too. More robust tire for the fields and trails and not bad on the lawn if you're careful.

 

[gageslake]

Thank you everyone, you've raised points I hadn't thought through. Then there's bucket size, but that's for another day.

 

[easygo]

I recently traded my R3 for a set of R4 tires. I loved the R3 in the yard but they were sometimes not enough on the woods trails. I can tell you that R4s are just terrible in the snow without chains but the benefit is that they are a bit better for my need when there is no snow and I have no chains on during that time. That said they will both work one is slightly better at a few thing then the other. If you can be careful the R4's will not tear up your yard and if you choose your time well the R3 will be fine in the woods.

As for the bucket. For that size tractor I would opt for something in the 50" range. Again. It depends what you are trying to do.