R4's are USELESS!

[mike69440]

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.

It's the type of snow that Determines if R4's work or not. Dry crunchy frozen snow, R4 work. Wet snow, Hockey pucks on ice. Total difference.

 

[mars1952]

I just got a set of chains a week ago and put them on the tractor last Saturday.

Hi: You need to buy a set of chain tighteners. Get good ones with 4 or 5 springs in the middle. Don't go cheap and use bungee cords or you will be sorry.
Good Luck, Marshall

 

[mars1952]

Hi DeadMan:
I think that you will not be able to find R1 tires to fit your R4 rims, I couldn't. Reverse your rims side to side to get more clearance and put on chains. There are some great links about tire chains here on TBN. I will try to post the links later. Make sure that you get a good set of chain tighteners. They keep the chains in place and prevent damage to your fenders. Most people here don't use enough counter balance. I have a JD 4300 4X4 w/fel and JD recommends 1200# of counter balance even with the tires loaded. Many of the users here run around with just a 500# box blade on the back and call that good enough.
I have used my R4s on the farm for 5 years and I think that they are a good compromise I have only been stuck once and I can cross the lawn without tearing it up. There was a huge difference in traction after I loaded the tires. Also the R4 tires will have better traction than R1s on dry turf or dirt whether it is packed or loose as long as the dirt isn't muddy or greasy the R4s will be better. If you do get a set of R1s make sure to get six ply tires.
Good luck, Marshal

 

[AJones]

We just had an approx. 12 inch snow storm here in the Northeast PA and I decided to give the rear mount 5' Inland snowblower a try on a NH tc33d with R4's. My paved drive is about 1000 feet long up the side of a hill with a200' stretch that has a 12 percent grade. The snow was wet on the pavement after in was scraped off and froze enough that I could not get up the hill with 12 percent grade. I ended up spreading some salt to get enough traction to get back up. I recently purchased this tractor and this is my first snow experience with this setup. My thoughts are to load the tires with WW fluid, add a set of 4 link ladder chains and hope this solves my traction problem. Does anyone else have an Inland brand snowblower? I bought this used and do not have any paper work with it.

 

[FULLPULL]

The day back in 2002 i got my tc40d i tried my tractor out and i didn't like it at all it spun and was not stable.When i filled the tire's with fluid it made all the differance.The same went for my tc55 i can't tell you your tractor would be better as far as tire traction but mine was .

 

[Steve_Miller]

OK This tops them all.................

I live in Wisconsin, and all of our snow is finally melting. So my dad decides to get his car stuck in the soft snow, and melting snow. He's driven down by his walk-out basemant and can't get back up the snow covered hill.
So I go get the 2520 with the FEL on and about 1,200 LBS of lead in the ballast box. (remember its got R4's on it!). I get a chain (no jerking planned) and hook up the tractor. Well I can move him like 3 feet and thats it, so we let the car back up and try it again and again and again untill we finally are swearing at the tractor for being so ****-poor as far as traction goes.
I then decide to get my dads ATV and see what that does (just to prove these tires are making this tractor "useless"). Well its only maybe a 800LBS ATV thats 4wd. Its a Polaris Sportsman 700. It still has the snow plow hanging on it too! ........so I hook onto the exact same chain and slowly tighten the chain and IMMEDIATELY drag the car out and all the way up the hill! THANK YOU POLARIS!

Thats PROOF that these tires belong on a "mower", not a working tractor.

I looked at putting chains on them, but the R4's are so wide that they're rubbing the 3 point arms when the ballast box is on. SO if I did put chains on it, they'd just be dragging on the 3 point arms and chewing things up. I also called a Goodyear tire dealer and they said that they can't find a replacement tire in a BAR style tire in that size.

You guys got any suggestions?

Did the Polaris have R4's on it?

Steve

 

[RobertN]

Hi DeadMan:
I think that you will not be able to find R1 tires to fit your R4 rims, I couldn't. Reverse your rims side to side to get more clearance and put on chains.

I WANTED R4's on my Kubota(mid 80's B8200, similar to newer B2710). I had Turf's.

I found that the rims used on the rear for Turf's are wider than those used for AG/R1 or R4's. I had to get new tires AND rims on the back. The new rims would support either R1 or R4.

For the front's, the rims for the turf were the proper width to fit R4's too. AG/R1 would require a narrower rim.

My Kubota specced two sizes of R1; one was narrower on the back, and would require a narrower rim. So there were two front rim combinations depending on tire type, and THREE rear rim combinations depending on tire type.

Your mileage may vary, but definitely there may be need for different rims if you change tire type, on either the front, or the rear(maybe both depending on the tractor...)

FWIW, my R4's work great. For my applications...

 

[RobertN]

Thats PROOF that these tires belong on a "mower", not a working tractor.

Don't tell that to all the backhoes that run them, and skid steers, and...

Sounds more like they simply don't fit your application...

Unfortunately, it is expensive to swap; tires are expensive, as are rims. When I switched from Turf's to R4 I found out... The tires were expensive, and my rear rims for turfs were too wide for R4's, so I had four new tires, and two new rear rims.

FWIW, I swear by my R4's. Obviously it varies by situation and application

 

[mars1952]

I WANTED R4's on my Kubota(mid 80's B8200, similar to newer B2710). I had Turf's.

I found that the rims used on the rear for Turf's are wider than those used for AG/R1 or R4's. I had to get new tires AND rims on the back. The new rims would support either R1 or R4.

For the front's, the rims for the turf were the proper width to fit R4's too. AG/R1 would require a narrower rim.

My Kubota specced two sizes of R1; one was narrower on the back, and would require a narrower rim. So there were two front rim combinations depending on tire type, and THREE rear rim combinations depending on tire type.

Your mileage may vary, but definitely there may be need for different rims if you change tire type, on either the front, or the rear(maybe both depending on the tractor...)

FWIW, my R4's work great. For my applications...

Hi: I don't know all the rim diameters or rim widths for all tractors. In my case the problem was that the rear rims were 19.5" inches diameter and there were no R1 tires that would fit a 19.5" rim
Marshall

 

[RobertN]

Hi: I don't know all the rim diameters or rim widths for all tractors. In my case the problem was that the rear rims were 19.5" inches diameter and there were no R1 tires that would fit a 19.5" rim
Marshall

It is surprising they make all these rim and sizes! You would think there would be more standard sizing to make production easier. Guess it's like the car/light truck market; they make a huge variety there too... They tend to be less expensive though.

 

[Todd_C]

I was going to stay out of this until today. I've been happy with my R4 tires for the most part. Today, I felt like cutting all four tires on my TC 40A. My neighbor called and asked if I would level out the dirt next to his storage shed that is on a slight incline. The first few passes went well then my R4s loaded up with mud. The back end lost traction as I was turning and I just knew she was going to turn over. I didn't even have anything in the bucket. The back end started sliding around to the front of the tractor. I still don't know how I managed to keep it from turning over. I couldn't speed up because I had the darn thing in low range. I had a two bottom plow on the back and my rear tires are filled. I couldn't even back up the hill. I told my neighbor I would try it again after the ground dried more. I drove back home with a burised ego and a set of muddly slicks.

 

[638]

How about shaving down the width of the bars on the R4s. Something like they do on the tires that are on pulling tractors (you know, at the fair grounds).

ron

 

[Deadman]

I'm thinking about it for sure, just don't have the Marbles to put a knife to my tires yet!

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Attached should be a photo from this morning.

We had a thaw, then rain then it froze into a sheet of ice before it snowed again, I have to wear ice creepers walking the dog on this stuff but the JD 3320 with R-4s & chains doesn't slip at all.

Stay warm

 

[ding2520]

Deadman,
You asked the dimension inside of my 3pt arms with the I-Match on and what kind of clearance I had with chains on. I installed a "cold shut" in my new chains and put them on the tractor, decided to install a second one in each side to tighten them even more. I measured the clearance and it is close to one inch between the tire edge and the arm. You have to remember that our tires are not turning at the rpm's that you will see on an ATV or car.

I have photos of chain slack before installing "cold shut" and after, also the clearance between my 3pt arms.

 

[Deadman]

THANKS, thats WAY more clearance with the I match. I'll be looing for an I Match right away. Any suggestions of which one to get? I'm leaning twords the Deere one.
The pics are great, thanks again!

 

[Deadman]

Oh, 1 more question......In those pics were the 3pt arms UP or Down? They look like they were down, but just wanted to be sure because the measurements change as the arms raise!

 

[ding2520]

The photos were taken with the arms all the way up....

 

[ding2520]

Arm clearance with chains installed.

 

[RobJ]

It is surprising they make all these rim and sizes! You would think there would be more standard sizing to make production easier. Guess it's like the car/light truck market; they make a huge variety there too... They tend to be less expensive though.

When you think about it it makes some sense. My turfs are on a wide rim because they need a wide tire for better floatation. My ags are on something like a 10" rim. Narrow tire for more digging(I know they make very wide r1s for some apps). R4's have a wider rim because IMO they are more of a flotation type tire. Not a real digging type tire. Another reason r1 are better for wet, dirt stuff over a r4, the gaps between the lugs are larger, deeper to take a bigger bit out of the ground. That's also why a1 are not so good on pavement. Same theory with truck tires, offroad tires have less rubber on the pavement than a AT or street tire.

I think someone mentioned putting r4s on turf rims. I could see this. But on mine I recall the turf rim sort of smallest. But I've never check it out.
Rob