Tires R4s are better in the snow than R3 turfs

[RalphVa]

Gotta admit that R4s are better forward and backward in the snow than R3 turfs. R4s nor R3s turn in the snow worth a ****. Need individual rear brakes for that like my 4010 had or a JD 2025. R3s turn better on grass. R4s aren't worth a **** turning in grass, but they won't tear up the grass like R3s do in the turns (grip; tear).

Ralph

 

[Threepoint]

Gotta admit that R4s are better forward and backward in the snow than R3 turfs. R4s nor R3s turn in the snow worth a ****. Need individual rear brakes for that like my 4010 had or a JD 2025. R3s turn better on grass. R4s aren't worth a **** turning in grass, but they won't tear up the grass like R3s do in the turns (grip; tear).

Ralph

Boy, my experience has been just the opposite, both in the snow and on grass. And just last night, when I was plowing the 9" we got yesterday, my neighbor commented again that he wished he had my big Titan R3s on his Kubota M6040, instead of his R4s. He has to use chains. The Titan R3s are very impressive. I'm thinking the overall size of the tire may make a difference in the effectiveness of specific tread styles. The bigger the tires, the bigger and deeper the lugs on the R3s.

 

[Looking4new]

I have R4's on mine and am very happy with them. I had ag tires on my Farmall and I hated them. I was stuck most of the time. My neighbour has turfs on his tractor and he plows snow with it and never seems to get stuck.

 

[varmint]

Although I have chains on my trufs now, just because I hate putting them on when the conditions A) require them and B) those conditions mean its nasty work, but the turfs work fine in regular snow. More gripping edges equal more traction. Nuff said.

 

[oosik]

Well, I got R1s and they tear the snot out of my grass, leave deep chevon marks etc - I honestly try to stay off my grass with the tractor. In snow it a completely different story. They work great in snow just like they do in soft dirt. I just wish my volcanic rock would quit taking bites out of the tread bars.

 

[jim44]

I must say, R4s look a lot tougher than either of the others, and supposedly will carry a lot more weight. As far as driving around, turning, or pushing, they pretty much suck.

Just my 2 cents worth..............

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have R4's on mine and am very happy with them. I had ag tires on my Farmall and I hated them. I was stuck most of the time. My neighbour has turfs on his tractor and he plows snow with it and never seems to get stuck.

4WD vs 2WD, right?

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Probably depends on how worn your tires are. I didn't have any problems the first year with my R4s. After a couple years of wear, the treads don't have as sharp an edge to them and don't bit into the snow and ice like they did when new. Doesn't mean the tires won't last many more years/decades. Just means it's time to start pricing chains.

 

[Tractor Tom]

I find Turfs to be the best in the winter. Good grip on ice, nice wide footprint. The only thing they don't handle well is 6 - 8 inch of corn or meal type snow, then again not much does.

 

[SweBota]

Gotta admit that R4s are better forward and backward in the snow than R3 turfs. R4s nor R3s turn in the snow worth a ****.

Deep snow or compacted snow? I think the general consensus here is that turfs are the best in snow and R4s the worst, hence the huge thread about improving R4s for snow. My experience is certainly so. Everyone with a snow contract over here uses turfs (chains not allowed) and does just fine, better than the big Ag tractors with R1s. Never had a problem with turning either.

/marcus

 

[amigauser]

I also have run both (R4 on a B3030 and R3 on my GL3240). The Titan Turfs on the Grand L work much better in snow. The B3030 was horrible with the industrial tires although they are heavier duty and better for loader work than turfs.

 

[devildog1]

Well all I can say is the R4's on my Grand L3540 with no chains seem to work real well on all the snow we have gotten here in up-state New York, and boy oh boy have we gotten snow! I use the fel and either the LP3584 BB or the L2674 Three point snow blower and I have been pushing back 7' & 8' banks back on the end of the driveway which the state plows have left when plowing our road. We just on Saturday received 10" and I do my drive 200 ' and elderly widows the same distance driveway and most times I'll never spin a tire. I live in the country with large open fields, so lots of drifting. So I'm really wondering how some have issues with even bigger tractors then me with R4's .
DevilDog

 

[Sprinklerman]

I have r 4 on the front and turf on the rear , the best of both worlds

 

[Jay4200]

I must say, R4s look a lot tougher than either of the others, and supposedly will carry a lot more weight. As far as driving around, turning, or pushing, they pretty much suck.

Exactly - they look great, but aren't worth much except for loader work where the stiff sidewalls prevent blowouts. They are worst of all worlds when it comes to traction.

 

[PILOON]

Stands to reason when you look at the treads.
Turfs are closest to a snow tire tread, just that the rubber might be a different composition.

 

[JerryK]

Turfs are great if you are running chains, but are useless when the right kind of snow packs the voids full and they turn into slicks..... Running without chains, I'd take R4's or R1's ...

 

[RalphVa]

Sounds as though my memory is bad. Think this dry snow is just more grippy for any tread.

From the comments, think I'll go for R3s in my next tractor. I've really notice the R4s aren't worth swat for turning traction, and I get antsy if I going across a slope without much clearance to the sides (between stuff), afraid they'll slip sideways.

Yeah, these R4s do appear a little better for loader work, and they're keeping their air better than the R3s.

Ralph

 

[Billrog]

Some thing I haven't seen mentioned is there are different stiles of turf tires & I have all three. 2 of them are very good in snow and icy conditions the one pair not so good. Then good year on my small tractor are good the titans on my new tractor are good the Kubota ones are more like slicks than good snow tread.

 

[SweBota]

Turfs are great if you are running chains, but are useless when the right kind of snow packs the voids full and they turn into slicks..... Running without chains, I'd take R4's or R1's ...

Every snow contractor in this country would disagree. The advantage for turfs is even bigger without chains. I only need chains once every 5 years.

/M

 

[RoyJackson]

I've also found R-3 tires are much better for snow removal. I've had both R-4's (on a 790) and R-3's (on a 4400). The R-3's plow right through the snow...R-4's...well, not so hot.
My current tractor, a 4520 Deere, has R-4s. I had a chance to swap for R-3s when I bought the machine, but I wanted the R-4 tires for some field work...much more puncture resistant (8 ply R-4s vs. 4 ply R-3s).
There is a thread in the snow removal forum discussing siping (grooving) R-4 tires...pretty good thread and most have had good luck with siping their tires. I just received the siping gun and I'll be doing my tires when it gets warmer.