Snow Equipment Owning/Operating snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4's

[Shimon]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

I almost bought R4s after reading about them on this forum but decided to stick with the R1s since it gets pretty muddy here. A couple of posts mention that they prefer the "look" of R4s. Since when does appearance have anything to do with tractors? Maybe I'm old fashioned but function always trumps form in my book. I guess to each his own.

 

[jcmseven]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

Oh c'mon now, doesn't looking good mean everything??? Why do I polish my tractor so often then?? In all seriousness, of course, although each tread pattern has its fans, it seems that R1's are generally better than R4 tires in snow. In ice, reach for the chains or, at least here, be prepared to take a little ride--maybe where you don't want to go.

John M

 

[Shimon]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Oh c'mon now, doesn't looking good mean everything??? )</font>

I guess if I looked good I would care more. I was giving you guys a hard time. I know a lot of guys on here really love and baby their tractors and take pride in their appearance. I just have to rib them. I've never been one to wash and wax...I can't remember the last time I washed my truck...I think it was before the turn of the century. Like I said...to each his own.

 

[Boondox]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I don't have a basis for comparison since I have never had R-1s. However, My R-4s do very well in snow and on any ground other than deep mud. I recently put chains on them for use on ice, although they got through last winter fine without them. We had rain and a thaw today and with the chains on they also do very well in mud.

They are extremely effective for FEL work the rest of the year. If you get a lot of ice, chains are a good idea as my understanding is that no tire gets decent traction on ice without chains. )</font>

Exactly! MadDog got to the heart of the issue. Nothing works well on ice (especially hillside ice) without chains. R1s shed mud much better so excel in that stuff. R4s offer a wider footprint, more stability (especially if loaded) and a lot more case strength if you work them hard.

So it all comes down to your needs and conditions. If you have a lot of mud on your property -- like me, unfortunately -- you either get R1s or keep your chains on half the year. For those of you blessed with sandy soil, mud is not a problem.

Pete

 

[Boondox]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I almost bought R4s after reading about them on this forum but decided to stick with the R1s since it gets pretty muddy here. A couple of posts mention that they prefer the "look" of R4s. Since when does appearance have anything to do with tractors? Maybe I'm old fashioned but function always trumps form in my book. I guess to each his own. )</font>

That unfortunate use of words was mine. By "looks" I meant the wider, heavier (if loaded) footprint would give more stability on my slopes and less damage on soft ground. Sort of like when I look at a 3/4 ton pickup completely covered with mud (which covers the rust holes) hauling a load of sugar maple firewood out of the forest I mutter a respectful, "Looking good!"

 

[HEC]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

I really didn't get them for there appearance but for there case strength as I do some work in the woods and always running over something .We have briars up here which are about 3 inches long and go through tires quite easily.My neighbor has had several flats due to the briars,fortunately I haven't yet.The good news is his has always been in the front,I couldn't imagine getting a flat with a rear tire and watching all the fluid come out plus trying to fix one of those big rear tires in the woods,would ruin a mans day for sure.Well we got about another foot of snow last night so back outside to clean up the yard again.

 

[daTeacha]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

In my experience, true ice, not hard packed snow, makes anything without chains pretty useless. Sometimes even chains don't help if you're not packing enough weight and dealing with hills. When using chains, the more open lugs are not as good as the tires with more rubber on them since chains will tend to drop into the spaces between the lugs. Not completely, but somewhat.

That's why my Cadet 109 garden tractor, 2wd with turfs and chains and a front blade, will sometimes be more useful than the Kubota with 4wd and ags with a rear blade. In heavy snow, the Kubota is better because the lugs can work. On ice, the Kubota can't move much snow unless I'm heading downhill. If there is a lot of snow, the blade in the back causes the Kubota to be pushed sideways as I try to move.

This is just my experience working snow on my hillside -- your situation and conditions may be different and need different solutions.

 

[Deerlope]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

I can not totally agree with you on the tire chain issue. There are chains designed so the will not drop between the lugs.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

With me on the tractor, who's looking at it? I guess I should be concerned that my chariot is worthy of such a handsome figure though.... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

After owning dozens of tractors with every imaginable configuration of tires, I can only come to one conclusion.

Tractors, no matter how they're equipped are all but helpless on ice. Snow is a bit different, but not much. Add to that, I deal with measurable snow maybe 2 or 3 days a year typically. There's a few days when I need to feed cows and it's a bit muddy, but generally, I try to stay on dry ground then too.

I buy my tractor tires to deal with conditions on the "other" 350 days of the year.

R-1's are "tractor tires" in my book.

Your results may vary.

 

[Boondox]

Re: snow, rain, freezing rain, with R- 4\'s

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( When using chains, the more open lugs are not as good as the tires with more rubber on them since chains will tend to drop into the spaces between the lugs.

This is just my experience working snow on my hillside -- your situation and conditions may be different and need different solutions. )</font>

Sounds like your problem is with the type of chains you use, not the lugs on the aggies. If you had chains with continuous contact with the ground, not those wimpy ladder-style chains, you'd see a world of difference. The taller profile of the aggies, coupled with my aggressive Norse ice chains, handles anything nature throws my way. My neighbor has R4s and identical chains, but in truly deep snow the flotation of those wide industrial tires makes him lose contact with solid ground and he often spins, especially up hills.

Pete