oldpilgrim
Elite Member
I've been through two of the worst winters we've ever had and never once thought that the R4's were inadequate.
Time to decide
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I've been through two of the worst winters we've ever had and never once thought that the R4's were inadequate.
Uncle Hulka
Silver Member
I just went through an unusually mild winter (thank God). The R4s on my 2555 are loaded. The 3-pt mounted hydraulic pump/reservoir holds 30 gallons of hydraulic oil. Because of the horrible traction I had with my Deere 4300 R4s, and the night-and-day difference after I mounted tire chains on her, I bought tire chains for the 2555, but I did not have a chance to mount them.
As mentioned, going across slopes can be problematic as R4s will slide. Traction was not a problem, but I was blowing snow, not plowing it. Nowhere's near as much resistance. I experienced a bit of slippage that had I been plowing, might've become a problem.
All the points made about chains in general should absolutely be taken into consideration. As for me, I am of the opinion that chains are cheap insurance. But that's me. You could try it for a couple seasons without them as suggested, but if you get a large storm, that's a heck of a time to discover you need them. I would suggest paying a visit to tirechains.com (or similar site) and if you can afford chains, buy them. Don't install them and see how you do. If you have no problems with your typical winter snow, leave the chains on the shelf. I say leave them on the shelf because one winter, you will get the storm (or storms) that no one expected and you'll be glad you have them.
As mentioned, going across slopes can be problematic as R4s will slide. Traction was not a problem, but I was blowing snow, not plowing it. Nowhere's near as much resistance. I experienced a bit of slippage that had I been plowing, might've become a problem.
All the points made about chains in general should absolutely be taken into consideration. As for me, I am of the opinion that chains are cheap insurance. But that's me. You could try it for a couple seasons without them as suggested, but if you get a large storm, that's a heck of a time to discover you need them. I would suggest paying a visit to tirechains.com (or similar site) and if you can afford chains, buy them. Don't install them and see how you do. If you have no problems with your typical winter snow, leave the chains on the shelf. I say leave them on the shelf because one winter, you will get the storm (or storms) that no one expected and you'll be glad you have them.
We dont get the kind of snow you get in Michigan or Connecticut. I've lived on the east coast and up near Minneapolis; nothing like that here. I've read about tire siping. Seems like a novel solution if it works and some do claim it does. I'll probably wait a winter and see how it goes. Maybe I should get turf tires for the winter. 
Also a status update. After a long drawn out process I now have a firm move in date for my new property. By mid-July, I will be the proud owner of 16.5 acres. About a week later I'll get my tractor. Looking forward to it.
Also a status update. After a long drawn out process I now have a firm move in date for my new property. By mid-July, I will be the proud owner of 16.5 acres. About a week later I'll get my tractor. Looking forward to it.
JerryK
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2004
- Messages
- 3,240
- Location
- Vanderbilt, Michigan, USeh?
- Tractor
- Mahindra (2011)5035 HST TLB & (2016)2555 HST Cab & (2017)1526 HST(2018)Cub Cadet Pro Z 154L (1991) Caterpillar E70B
If I ever have a need for chains again, I am going to look at some type of mesh cable strap on chains for as much as I would ever use them. Something easy to put on/take off. If your tractor is big enough, weighs enough, and has big enough diameter tires in the front/back... your need for chains goes down real quick. There are a million plow trucks up here in Northern Michigan, and I have never seen one need chains yet. My 5035 is so big/nasty that I just start it and the snow runs away as fast as it can......
dickfoster
Elite Member
We dont get the kind of snow you get in Michigan or Connecticut. I've lived on the east coast and up near Minneapolis; nothing like that here. I've read about tire siping. Seems like a novel solution if it works and some do claim it does. I'll probably wait a winter and see how it goes. Maybe I should get turf tires for the winter.
Also a status update. After a long drawn out process I now have a firm move in date for my new property. By mid-July, I will be the proud owner of 16.5 acres. About a week later I'll get my tractor. Looking forward to it.
Man are you going to be busy. Trying to move in and unpack and deal with a new tractor all at the same time. We didn't even have pictures hung until about a month had passed, I couldn't get my truck into the garage until about six months after we moved in.
dickfoster
Elite Member
That's good to hear. I've been worried a bit about that.
dickfoster
Elite Member
Oh joy, now you'll have lots of stuff to get rid of before you even get packed to move. The longer you've been in one spot the more junk you tend to collect. I was in my last one about 20 years and there was a lot of stuff to get rid of. Of course now I wish I had some of it but it just wasn't worth moving like my scrap metal pile that I was always reaching into to build something new. While some stuff that you swore you'd packed never showed up.
JerryK
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2004
- Messages
- 3,240
- Location
- Vanderbilt, Michigan, USeh?
- Tractor
- Mahindra (2011)5035 HST TLB & (2016)2555 HST Cab & (2017)1526 HST(2018)Cub Cadet Pro Z 154L (1991) Caterpillar E70B
I KNOW .... !!!! I have been selling stuff, giving it away, and junking stuff in my barn. Trying to make room for another new tractor and new truck .. IS HARD WORK...!!!! [ sorry, had to vent, hard to suffer in silence, waiting for the phone call... ]