R4's are USELESS!

[orezok]

Out here in the desert (where we had less than 2" of rain last year), R4's are the only way to go. Too many plants with long nasty thorns for turfs and ag's just disappear down into the loose sand. Need a GREAT tire like a R4 with a wide stable flotation tread to work here.

Bottom line is match the tire to the need.

 

[ducati996]

I am also a new 2520 owner with R4's. My tractor was a dealer demo model, the inside of the lugs of the rear tires are knicked up from the 3-pt arms not being adjusted correctly to limit the side to side movement in the hitch. The tractor had a 3-pt mower on it when I looked at it at the dealer. Must have mowed a lot of side hills and the mower would swing to the downhill side and the arm would rub on the tire. I purchased an I-Match with the tractor and adjusted the arms for minimal side to side movement. I just got a set of chains a week ago and put them on the tractor last Saturday. My chains were manufactured by Peerless Chain in Winona, MN. The bag they came in said "Truck Chains" on it, and are supposed to be their Heavy Duty chains. I had the tractor in my shed on concrete with a floor jack lifting up on drawbar assembly. Both rear tires off of the floor, bucket down flat, real stable working conditions. I installed the chains, and felt that they fit well over the tires but the length was a little long. I have since picked up some "cold shuts" to install and shorten the chains without cutting any links out. I had plenty of room between the 3-pt arms and the chains, there had to be over an 1 inch of clearance.

Ding,

Thanks for those pictures - I was going to say I know chains will fit that machine, but your pictures just proved it without me saying it. I have seen V-bar chains as well fit fine. My personal suggestion would be to load the tires with liquid ballast as well as 3 pt ballast. There is nothing like weight directly on the wheel itself. I have had R4's on similar or exact machines being mentioned. Never had an issue in the snow or ice conditions as well as mud where I couldnt move or do my work. Ballast (could be also wheel weights) in the wheels themselves makes all the world off difference in my opinion.

Duc

 

[Deadman]

Anyone know of a chain manufacturer or retailer to look at to find a set of chains?

ALso I'm just not seeing ANY clearance on my 2520 with my ballast box on and the 3 pt arms all the way UP. There is less than 1/4 inch on each side.

 

[Jim_in_Omaha]

I just bought a JD 2520 with R4's and it has far less traction that my little 2210 had with Bar tires on it. These R4's are just absolutely useless, I'm hoping there is a reasonable solution to get me a set of Bar tires.....any suggestions? Rears only.

I still get stuck with R1's.

 

[Deadman]

I'd hope you get stuck in that deep of snow. My R4's would never even get out of the garage if there was that much snow.

 

[Jim_in_Omaha]

I'd hope you get stuck in that deep of snow. My R4's would never even get out of the garage if there was that much snow.

I have had to deal with the extreme side of mud and snow here on our 10 acres. Our soil is just dirt without any rock in it. When it is dry and I'm mowing I wish I had R4 or turf tires.

This last snow storm was bad. They were off by at least 10 inches in the forcast. And to make matters worse the ground was mud from the thaw when it came. I have to get a snowblower.

 

[Taiser]

I have never had problems in snow with my R4's!!! I don't know what you guys are doing to lose traction, but with the bucket down and 2' of snow on my driveway I drive 300' to the road and never miss a beat. Only time I've lost traction is on ice and even then I just raise the bucket a few inches and do two passes...no problems, all done in medium gear. Sounds like you guys need some more weight!! The weight of my BH is a obvious factor.

 

[Hard]

Weight and chains will help a lot on the R4's. Even R1's, in very wet and sloppy mud, will dig in and get really stuck, in deep snow they will get stuck (check out Jim's photo). And then there is mowing a lawn with R1's, that's a whole other debate. Some will swear they do no more damage than Turf's and others will swear that you will totally rip your yard to shreds...........

Has anyone missed anything regarding the R4's v. R1's debate?

 

[Ford850]

There's a wide selection of chains available at tirechains.com

 

[Deadman]

Thanks, I'll check out the chains if I can find tire clearance.