Tire Chains or Better Tires?

[ky8t]

I bought a barely used Kubota BX2230 with FEL last year, and it came with turf tires. It is clear that they do not provide sufficient traction for the kind of clearing and landscaping work I need to do on my new home site. As a new tractor owner, I need the advice of the grizzled veterans.

1. Will tire chains provide sufficient traction to do serious work with the FEL?

2. If not, do I need to get tractor or industrial tires?

3. Does it make sense to buy tires and wheels and change them back and forth as my needs change?

4. My tractor has 4WD. Do i need to buy new front tires also?

5. If I need to buy new tires, where can I get the best price?

 

[Casco1]

I bought my Kubota used (68hrs) with turf tires. Problem, they filled up with mud and clay and turned into racing slicks. I traded them for R4s and not only did I have no further problem with traction I also gained about 5 inches of ground clearance. Very glad I did it. Hope this helps.

 

[JOELENAHAN]

I am sure that chains will help your traction problems, but you might be putting alot of strain on them depending upon your environment.

I am no expert, but I think you will have to buy new front tires if you change the rears.

Although my tractor is a bit heavier than yours, I have not had many issues with my r4's unless the terrain is muddy. Of course the tires spin on occasion when trying to move heavy rocks, but for the most part I get pretty good traction. I see that you are in Texas so snow should not be an issue, but for that said, my r4' have performed exceptionally.

The only time I have to be careful with the r4's is when my lawn is soft, make a quick turn, you will tear up the grass.

 

[JOELENAHAN]

Should have included this in my previous post. The ballast that you are using means an awful lot. In my case the heavier the better. For the summer months, I usually have a box blade on. In the winter it I have a rear blade on and can really feel the difference.

 

[RFB]

Chains are best for snow.

The best traction tires are R1's

R4's give the best load-bearing.

R1's will cause the most turf damage, and they have softer sidewalls than R4's

If traction is key, and you do not anticipate regular maximum FEL loads, R1's

R4's second choice for the greater strength and less traction.

 

[Egon]

Get a set of chains for the rears. All problems solved. For winter use or serious traction add some chains for the front.

My little tractor has spent about 2700 hours sitting on turfs and has done some serious pulling/digging. If I need real serious pulling or winter/mud traction the chains are the way to go.

 

[AKfish]

Yup... chains 'l git' er done -- rain, snow, mud er sleet! And they're definitely a cheaper alternative than another set of tires.

But you better not let yur wife catch ya' wearin' 'em on the lawn or the driveway or anywhere that might be a bit sensitive to gettin' tore up! 'Cause chains will do a good job of that, too!

I use chains on my turf tires for winter purposes; snow plowing, corral cleaning and pullin' the neighbor kids out of the ditch. They work better than the R1's with chains -- IMO. 'Cause they're wide and flat and the chain links sit straight across the face of the tire.

I did buy another set of R1's with rims for summer field work, though. Crawlin' around in the woods or pullin' a disk harrow through a soft (a bit moist) field didn't always pan out the way I'd like...

But, if I only had 1 set of tires -- they'd be R4's. Swappin' rims is a pain and puttin' chains on and off is next in line for bein' a PITA.

My $0.64.

AKfish

 

[Egon]

Chains in mud and snow.

 

[milkman]

If you go with tires for the BX, the cheapest I found was through the Kubota dealer, this set, four wheels and tires was ~$300 ordered through whole goods. I don't have turfs and I use these to mow the grass also, not hard on the lawn unless I turn sharp or in 4WD.

 

[vic4news]

If you need more traction I would go with R4's for landscape work.
Chains provide great traction, but the ride is very bumpy. I use chains in the
winter, but I wouldn't want to use them for dirt work.

Vic