Tires Selection criteria of ag or industrial tires

[SPYDERLK]

Nope. From experience. The R4s are wider, for a given tractor and have a flatter footprint and wider lugs. This puts much more rubber in contact with a flat surface than an R1, even a worn down R1.

Sure, but the R1s are larger diameter. A worn R1 is kinda like a slick. The sparseness of the lugs cause them to penetrate the little they stick up, letting the whole area carrying the lugs touch as well. Im looking for a pair of well worn 12.4x24 to replace my 10% worn11.2 fronts. Oughta be a reasonable circumference match.
larry

 

[ArtMech]

Another thing I've learned from the posts - You have or may have various ground surfaces in the farms. I guess even the same lot could consist of different soils: soft and hard ground, like JoelD says. For these cases You own a few tractors with R1s and R4s. Yeah, if You're working with a FEL on a rocky surface or on a pavement, there's nothing to do without R4 tires.

We have nothing else except soft soil all arround the country. R4 are mostly being in use in the open pits and in the road or building constructions.

 

[ArtMech]

If you decide to go with Ag tires, the Firestone's (bridgestone in some parts of the world) are hard to beat. Something like the 'Traction Field & Road' they offer would be my choice. They have a 23* lug and really pull and wear great. We have them on a few different tractors and have gotten great service and performance out of them. They are a bit more spendy than other cheaper tires, but in line with Titan and Goodyear.

Verticaltrx,
I'm not much experienced about today's tractor tires, but my L machine is shod with comparetively new Bridgestones, and there are a lot of cracks on them. When I wrote about old Titan tires on an M tractor, saying there are no other traces of wearing except lugs, I meant Titan for me seems to be better than Brigestone. But probably my comparison is incorrect.
I think tractor tire is not a subject to skimp. Most important is to feel reliability from that part of machine.
Thanks for Your advice. I'll check all possible tire manufacturers.

 

[foggy1111]

I set out to buy a new tractor and would have spec'd R1's for traction. New tractor prices were too high for my limited needs.....so I went shopping for a good used tractor. There are VERY FEW used tractors available with R1 tires....so....I had to re-evaluate my traction needs.

For MY NEEDS.....here are the points I considered:

1. I have sandy loam soils....I seldom have mud issues (although I need to watch it in some swamp areas). I can be working my ground two hours after a rain later due to my soil type. Water passes through the sandy soils.

2. I don't do as much heavy duty pulling as I first thought I would. I no longer use use a moldboard plow (only turns up the sand under my good dirt). I am using a tiller more...which does not take much pulling force.

3. I do use a 5.5' Disc...and even with R1's on my old tractor could have my hands full at times - largely due to "loose" sandy soils.

4. I will do allot of general maintenance and loader work. Stump grinding and tree and brush work. Traction requirements are not paramount.

5. Box blade road maintenance. Relatively hard surface gravel.

So....number 3.....pulling a disc in loose, sandy soils becomes my biggest issue. I'm not too sure the larger diameter, wider R4's wont out-perform the R1's from my previous (JD790) tractor. Given the larger footprint, and the soil types I have its going to be interesting to find out after my spring tillage.