Tire Question

[Xplorer]

I hope this is the proper section to pose this question. I have a 4x4 Kubota that has ag tires. Both front tires are leaking due to poor plugging from the previous owner and they are getting a lot of dryrot signs. Can I change the fronts to R4 tread tires? I have been told not to mix tire designs but am too poor to do all 4 and since I don't drive or operate on paved surfaces, was hoping to get away with just fronts at this time. Thank you for any input or suggestions.

 

[oosik]

I've been told that rims for R4 tires are not the same as the rims for my R1 tires. R1 tires can't be put on R4 rims and vice versa. Maybe that's what they are telling you. I would think the rolling circumference of the new and old tire would be an important consideration also. I don't know - with any authority - what to tell you about mixed tire designs. I guess you mean R4 fronts and R1 rears.

 

[Xplorer]

Yes, that would be the combo that I'd be after. I would kill 2 birds with 1 stone, replace leaking front tires and get better traction on dirt.

 

[jim44]

If you're looking for traction, stick with the ag tires. The R4s pretty much approach slicks as far as traction goes.

 

[pat32rf]

Of course R4s with chains are better than ags in the snow......
I'd check out changing the rear to R4s before doing the fronts. You may find that it will cost more than you think to do the rear, then you would be stuck with new ags on the back, used R4s on the front

 

[wolftree]

Xplorer,

I would either "SLIME" or put inner tubes in the fronts until you save up enough to replace them. Since you do not go on paved surfaces, that is even more reason to stay with AG R1s all around.

 

[oosik]

Some good points made here - the cost of new rear tires whether R-1 or R-4. Its probably not the best idea to run mixed tires - R-4 front & R-1 rear. Slime or tube the fronts until you can afford to replace all four tires. R-1 gives better traction in dirt - R-4 is generally better in rocky conditions. I run R-1 on all four corners. My part of the world is not just rocky but has very sharp basaltic lava and the offshoot which is very sharp boulders, stones, rocks all the way down to gravel - everything has at least one sharp edge. When I look at my poor R-1's - I've many times wished for R-4's. However, when things get mushy around here - fall, winter & spring - I'm really glad for the R-1's. My previous tractor - Ford 1710 - had the R-1's on the rear for 26 years and they were still in good condition. Chewed on but no dry rot. I had to replace the fronts once because of a stupid mistake I made. I just checked the price of new rear tires yesterday because I was at the local Les Schwab store. Firestone or Goodyear 6 ply run right at $1050/tire and that does not include Rimguard transfer or a service call out to my place.