Traction Tire Swap - R-14 Versa Turf In - R-4 Out
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hube2
Veteran Member
I have AG (R1) tires on mine. Traction has been mostly good. I live on a hill as well and I'm a little east of you, south of Utica and we also get a lot of wet heavy snow. I also have studded chains on the rear and my rear tires are filled. I have to do some moving of snow across some slopes and I see some loss of lateral traction on the front wheels when plowing snow with my FEL and when turning on the road and grass when it is slick with snow. When pushing snow across my front lawn I need to turn the wheels uphill to keep it going straight. I will not put chains on the front because they are not recommended due to the fact that they could cause damage to the front wheel drive chain.
As I said before, I should have done some more research on tires before I got my tractor, I think that the pattern on the tires you got, which are very similar to R1's with grooves across the lugs will be an improvement over R1s
I would be greatly interested if your tires help with the traction loss that I am seeing so please post back when you get a chance to use it in the snow.
I would actually call the dealer and have a set of these installed except for the fact that it would be a huge expense and a huge PITA to have it done. Also the traction issue that I'm seeing is something I'm used to, I've been moving snow here for over 20 years and I have always seen this lateral traction loss in everything I've ever used.
My plan right now is to cut 2 or 3 1/4 inch grooves across each of my lugs to give them a similar pattern to your tires to see if this improves traction. Not sure when the weather will permit me to get it done at this point. But this is why I would really like to hear how these tires perform on the front of your machine in turns when it's slick.
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hube2,
You are east of me as I am near Canandaigua Lake. You plan to groove your tires sounds like a good one and seems like it will help. Most years I don't look forward to the snow, but since I have the new GC, nothing in sight as luck would have it, but we'll get some no doubt.
I will definitely post updates how the tires work in the snow and they are similar to an ATV tire.
You are east of me as I am near Canandaigua Lake. You plan to groove your tires sounds like a good one and seems like it will help. Most years I don't look forward to the snow, but since I have the new GC, nothing in sight as luck would have it, but we'll get some no doubt.
I will definitely post updates how the tires work in the snow and they are similar to an ATV tire.
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hube2
Veteran Member
Ya, I corrected that, originally said I was west of you
My compass must have been off this morning.I never look forward to the snow and I'd like nothing more than for this new tractor to sit in the new shed most of the winter. After the last couple of winters a little less snow would be a nice change. However, I also know there will be at least a couple of big storms even if the winter is light. But I like living here most of the time.
I have a rear blower instead of the front, we've had 2 small snow accumulations here so far that were not enough for me to bother hooking up the blower and I plowed with the bucket. It was a learning experience. I went with the rear blower and bucket, because like I said, I've been here for more than 20 years. While I've never had a machine like this before I know what it is possible for me to be dealing with and I've also seen neighbors use all types of equipment and configurations for snow management, which is why I went with the bucket and rear blower.
My compass is off every morning! I grew up in Rochester and have been shoveling, or snow blowing since the 60's, so I'm not a fan of snow, although cold doesn't bother me. With my driveway going uphill to the road and the heavy, wet snow that comes more frequently than it used to, I went with the blower. Also, since my spring chicken days are long past, I went with a front blower to give my neck a break (my wife breaks it enough!).
Tractors, buckets, plows etc. are fantastic ways to remove snow and I am grateful to have them. Anyway, I'm dreaming of a green Christmas!
Tractors, buckets, plows etc. are fantastic ways to remove snow and I am grateful to have them. Anyway, I'm dreaming of a green Christmas!
cglaser104
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2016
- Messages
- 746
- Location
- Lockport, NY
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC1710, Cub Cadet 2206
Rochester, eh? Howdy neighbor! I'm front the Buffalo area. I like the snow and the cold and it's a good thing since we get lake effect @#$ kickings every year.
Howdy cglaser! You guys do get some good lake effect. Is it from Erie, Ontario, or both? I live in the Bristol Hills, so we get it from both lakes depending on the wind direction. My wife and I dislike the snow so much, we have gone south in past winters, but with things like they are, we'll be staying put for now.
What tires do you run now, and how do they perform?
What tires do you run now, and how do they perform?
cglaser104
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2016
- Messages
- 746
- Location
- Lockport, NY
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC1710, Cub Cadet 2206
We get it from both lakes. We're north and east of Buffalo so much so that we can get hit either way depending on the weather pattern. We're not as bad as south of Buffalo where the only place that competes with them is watertown.
I have R4's and a gravel driveway as well as my parents blacktop driveway. To be frank about it...they suck in the snow. My dad has a BX with turfs and is much better is snow conditions. I mow with a cub cadet so I got R4's for the loader/dirt work and wrongly assumed they'd be great for snow. I don't mind mowing with them but when the ground is soft they do tear the turf up some. I've been super interested in the versa turfs largely because of snow and soft ground mowing performance. Most of my dirt work is done since I bought the machine in 2015 so now my needs have changed as well.
I figured you got it from both lakes. I haven't been to Lockport in 20-25 yrs. Thanks for the info on the R-4's. Before I bought the GC I asked some friends who have tractors for decades about the R-4 and turf tires and both suggested I get the turfs (they were unaware of the new R-14 tires). When I spoke to the Massey salesman and asked him about which tires would be better for snow removal, he said the R-4's would be fine. He said the 1723 I was buying was on the lot and only came with the R-4's, so if I wanted to put other tires on I would have to buy them, but I would still keep the R-4's as they would not buy, nor credit me for the tires. I had done some research on tires here at TBN, but wasn't aware of the R-14's then and saw comments/threads with some people saying R-4's were fine in the snow, & others saying not so much.
In the end, I decided not to chance it as your experience shows with in the winter conditions being identical to mine, so thanks!
In the end, I decided not to chance it as your experience shows with in the winter conditions being identical to mine, so thanks!
hube2
Veteran Member
That sucks, the dealer I got mine from at least swapped out the tires for the R1s at no charge and kept the R4's. And they are the ones that suggested I get the R1s. On the other hand, given the aggressive chains I ended up getting after research I doubt that choice of tires on the rear made much of a difference, which is where my attention was when it should have been on the fronts. More than likely I'll be swapping out the tires before they ware out, but right now when you add the cost of having a dealer pick up and return the tractor plug changing the tires with the ones in the rear being filled on top of the cost of the tires themselves.... I can live with the the traction I'm getting for now.
