Tires R4-Turf debate is over for me!

Don87 · Oct 30, 2010

mcd176 said:
I personally like my R4's with chains on my L4200, but my tractor is used in the woods and in my fields, both plowing and cutting grass.

And on my B2150 I have turf tires for mowing around my house

As others have said on here each person uses their tractors for different things.

Yes Sir they do. And that's why different tires are made, what works for me, may not work for you.......so on and so forth.
But I like the discussions, ya learn something new every time the topic comes up.

LostInTheWoods · Oct 30, 2010

Don87 said:
No jokes, just a question..........they do sell them in the KY now don't they?:laughing:

Sure they sell them, we just don't buy 'em.

Don87 · Oct 30, 2010

LostInTheWoods said:
Sure they sell them, we just don't buy 'em.

Wasn't sure..........I heard 'the razorback' just started sellin them last summer. LOL

ecoslik · Oct 31, 2010

TheFlatlander said:
"... purchased and tried the R4's and took the time to report back so that you might not have to spend the money to find out. That is what makes this forum interesting and worth participating. I have also taken advantage of what i have read and was able to save a few bucks or at least make the best use of what I spent. Just doing my part...and took one for the team here."

TheFlatlander,

I certainly appreciate your feedback. We purchased a used Kubota this summer that was equipped with turf tires (foamed in rear). So far I have not had anything that I could not do with the turfs although I do rely on the dif-lock for steep terrain when failure is dangerous and, today, FEL work with 70 yards of red clay that we had brought in.

While our rears are foamed, the fronts are air only. While lifting and erecting heavy steel, I had to max out the pressure at 30 psi. I would have preferred 30 psi in a tire rated for 35+psi since I was spooked by the warning that explosion may occur with pressures over 30psi.

I really enjoy how easy the turfs are on our irrigated areas. I can run all day across grass with heavy loads, turn on the sprinklers at night, and the grass looks the same by the next evening. The other day, I let a tractor-style ditch witch that was working in the ROW cut across the property to save him a long drive around, and his R4s did damage to the lawn.

Before having any experience with turf tires, I assumed that R4s would be perfect for our property and am still interested but unsure. Your post helps. I certainly would not want to tear up my lawn, would not want to be restricted by a lack of traction. My fingers are crossed that these turfs keep impressing me as they have every day that I have used them. :thumbsup:

TheFlatlander · Oct 31, 2010

ecoslik said:
TheFlatlander,

I certainly appreciate your feedback. We purchased a used Kubota this summer that was equipped with turf tires (foamed in rear). So far I have not had anything that I could not do with the turfs although I do rely on the dif-lock for steep terrain when failure is dangerous and, today, FEL work with 70 yards of red clay that we had brought in.

While our rears are foamed, the fronts are air only. While lifting and erecting heavy steel, I had to max out the pressure at 30 psi. I would have preferred 30 psi in a tire rated for 35+psi since I was spooked by the warning that explosion may occur with pressures over 30psi.

I really enjoy how easy the turfs are on our irrigated areas. I can run all day across grass with heavy loads, turn on the sprinklers at night, and the grass looks the same by the next evening. The other day, I let a tractor-style ditch witch that was working in the ROW cut across the property to save him a long drive around, and his R4s did damage to the lawn.

Before having any experience with turf tires, I assumed that R4s would be perfect for our property and am still interested but unsure. Your post helps. I certainly would not want to tear up my lawn, would not want to be restricted by a lack of traction. My fingers are crossed that these turfs keep impressing me as they have every day that I have used them. :thumbsup:

Your welcome.

Turfs seem to do everything for me and after reading some other posts, just to clarify I have some very steep hills on my propety and I can also go over them without tearing up the fragile sandy ground that I have here. Maybe here in Michigan wearing shoes gives us better control of our hydrostatic pedal:laughing:<My very first use of a smilies

TripleR · Oct 31, 2010

Don87 said:
Wasn't sure..........I heard 'the razorback' just started sellin them last summer. LOL

Actually, I checked Snopes and that was just a viscous rumor started by someone in Missouri.:laughing:

rScotty · Oct 31, 2010

TheFlatlander said:
Turfs seem to do everything for me and after reading some other posts, just to clarify I have some very steep hills on my propety and I can also go over them without tearing up the fragile sandy ground that I have here.

We've used fat wide turfs for most FEL work in the rocky mountains since about 1980. In the winter I simply add chains. The reason for turfs isn't traction - although that is better - it is mainly that turfs lower the tractor and widen the stance which makes the tractor noticibly more stable on hills.
One thing to be aware of is to spend some time getting the front-to-back rolling diameter ratio right when converting to turf wheels and tires. As a rough test You'll know when it is right because the tractor will shift into and out of 4wd very easily....and vice versa.
rScotty