R4 Tires in snow

[nspec]

Yup...same here. Loaded rears and I grooved both front and rear. I pull a back blade and push up huge piles with the loader. My paved driveway is very steep.

I have no problems at all. Tractor is like a tank - unstoppable. Totally unreal. Ice, it will slip, but never in snow.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Yup...same here. Loaded rears and I grooved both front and rear. I pull a back blade and push up huge piles with the loader. My paved driveway is very steep.

I have no problems at all. Tractor is like a tank - unstoppable. Totally unreal. Ice, it will slip, but never in snow.

I bet you run all season tires year round on your truck to.

 

[oldballs]

Teikas Dad, .....after you have more experience in the snow, let us know more about the performance. Looks like you did an expert job with the tool. So far, all we have gotten is drizzle, rain and some sleet/ice.

 

[Teikas Dad]

Teikas Dad, .....after you have more experience in the snow, let us know more about the performance. Looks like you did an expert job with the tool. So far, all we have gotten is drizzle, rain and some sleet/ice.

I usually use my Rhino for plowing anything under 10 inches....so far I haven't needed the tractor, unlike last year. But, as soon as I get a chance to try it out I'll post. There are a bunch of posts on the threads that I listed where other members have reported good things in the snow with the grooved tires.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

I've been using R4's since 2002 and they've always worked fine. There was a very long and interesting thread here about grooving R4's for better traction. I have the rears filled and only use the FEL and a rear blade for snow. I wonder if most of the people who complain about traction have big plows mounted way out in front that give the snow leverage to work against the tractor.

I complain about r-4 traction and my plow is mounted as close as you can possibly get it. I have a sub-frame that bolts up to the loader frame and brush guard on the tractor. The truck snow plow pins right to it actually behind the leading edge of the front tires and I can't push a full blade of snow without the tire chains on the flat let alone uphill.

 

[dave1949]

It probably makes a difference how old the tires are, of any style. I know my ten-year-old R4's are worn down some and the rubber is probably harder than it was when new.

At our old house when my tractor was new, I had the backhoe on the tractor, plus loaded rears and no chains. I never had traction problems but the driveways were almost flat, not very long, and one was asphalt.

The first two years at this house I didn't have chains either. This drive has a slope to it and it's much longer and more to clear. Plus originally this driveway had a ditch on one side and a steep drop off on the other side. Picture trying to clear with just a FEL bucket on a hog's back. :laughing:

I got tired of trying to stay unstuck, or getting stuck. One time I had to get out the chains and come-along and pull the tractor back into the center of the driveway using the nearest tree. If I would lift the backend up and swing it over with the backhoe, soon as I took pressure off the hoe, the tractor slid back into the rut I was in. Enough of that, I put chains on.

I could see sipping if the conditions are right for it to get more traction, but if it won't work on ice and work very well on everything every time, it's not very useful to me. I'm not going to put chains on and take them off all winter whenever the weather changes. I'm also pushing the snow out on a close to half-mile loop now for a place to walk the dogs. I need to be able to go and not be screwing around getting stuck. I'm too old for that. :laughing:

 

[Bob77064]

It probably makes a difference how old the tires are, of any style. I know my ten-year-old R4's are worn down some and the rubber is probably harder than it was when new.

At our old house when my tractor was new, I had the backhoe on the tractor, plus loaded rears and no chains. I never had traction problems but the driveways were almost flat, not very long, and one was asphalt.

The first two years at this house I didn't have chains either. This drive has a slope to it and it's much longer and more to clear. Plus originally this driveway had a ditch on one side and a steep drop off on the other side. Picture trying to clear with just a FEL bucket on a hog's back. :laughing:

I got tired of trying to stay unstuck, or getting stuck. One time I had to get out the chains and come-along and pull the tractor back into the center of the driveway using the nearest tree. If I would lift the backend up and swing it over with the backhoe, soon as I took pressure off the hoe, the tractor slid back into the rut I was in. Enough of that, I put chains on.

I could see sipping if the conditions are right for it to get more traction, but if it won't work on ice and work very well on everything every time, it's not very useful to me. I'm not going to put chains on and take them off all winter whenever the weather changes. I'm also pushing the snow out on a close to half-mile loop now for a place to walk the dogs. I need to be able to go and not be screwing around getting stuck. I'm too old for that. :laughing:

That makes sense, even as good snow tires get old they don't work as well.

 

[Looking4new]

I've got loaded R4's on the Kioti CK27 and so far (touch wood) I haven't had any trouble at all. I keep it in 4WD all winter except when I go to town for fuel.

 

[Mike476]

My neighbour has a newer 4WD MF with R4's, before he installed chains he used to get stuck while removing snow on occassion.

I've gotten stuck with my 2WD MF 135 pushing snow back into a ditch once or twice. Ag tires and a 7 foot rear blade I have to say that the old girl will move a lot of snow and is manoeuverable, can spin it around on a dime with differential braking.

My 4WD with Ag tires, loaded rears and a 7 foot back blade I have driven through ditches to place a 6 FT loader full of ice and snow off the road and never so much as spun a tire. I've yet to have to lock the rear end to get out of a situation, hope I never have to.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I had huge concerns when I bought my Kubota R510 loader with turf tires. I spend a lot of time looking for something else, yet after the first winter, my fears were not realized at all! I think nothing short of chains will work on Ice!

I simply LOVE those tires now as I can drive anywhere in any conditions and not leave a mark unlike my JD with AG tires!