Tires

KentP · May 31, 2004

I am planning a purchase of a JD4310 4wd. I have pretty much decided the options. Today, I ran into a gentleman on the JD lot who has a 4310. He said that I should get the R3 tires. He has them and loves them.

I was planning on the R4s. I will be operating with a FEL in the woods mostly with very low under brush and a lot of rocks. I won't be on my small lawn much but I am sure I will be at times. I will use a rotary cutter, blade, rake and box blade at times also.

I will also be in snow but I will have the 4wd.

From experience, do you think the R3s will offer enough traction or should I stick with the R4s? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks!

NIXON · May 31, 2004

Kent . Welcome to TBN ! While I can't give you a direct answer to your question . I can give you my reason for choosing R4's . I'm in much the same conditions you discribe . Rocks and trees . I wanted a tire with a tougher carcass . While the R4's are not as good overall as an R1 traction wise ,and not as forgiving on lawnsas R3's they make for a decent compromise . If I need more traction ,I have chains .
If I need to run across the yard a lot .... I have grass seed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Seriously though do a search on tires . You'll get quite a lot of varying opinions on the subject and quite an education on it as well . John

frank_f15 · May 31, 2004

WELCOME TO THE FORUM: THE AGE OLD QUESTION WHICH TIRES? I USE AND LIKE THE R4'S ut there are times i whish i had R1's and times i wish i had nothing! point being that no tire is best for all uses , but i find the R4's to be a good comprimise.

AndyMA · May 31, 2004

I think R3 Lawn rires would definately be the wroing choice. They do not do well in woods and would with their soft side walls would get cut up on the rocks. I run R1's on all of my tractors and spend a lot of time on rocks and in the woods. R1's definately have the best traction and for the types of tasks you 're looking at I would give them some consideration.

Andy

755inNY · May 31, 2004

KentP,

Based on your description of use, I think R3 tires are definitely NOT appropriate for you. In wet, muddy conditions the R3's quickly get filled and become slicks. There are many TBN members who have happily used R4 tires while mowing the lawn so your limited use on the lawn should be of no concern. With the terrain you described, you want the tuffest tire construction, R4's at the least and maybe even R1's.

What options are you getting on your 4310? Mine is on order and should be here any day now.

Jeff

Henro · May 31, 2004

<font color="blue"> I USE AND LIKE THE R4'S ut there are times i whish i had R1's and times i wish i had nothing! </font>

Well Frank, I would not got that far... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I have R4s and sometimes in mud wish I had R1s. But I have never wished for turf tires, and never,ever wished for nothing!!!

Now I don't finish mow with my larger tractor and that may make a difference. But for loader work and being in the couple acres of woods I have, the R4 are the best all around.

Still, even with chains on, in the mud I keep hearing R1s calling my name. But I am not in that kind of mud very often...so for me the R4s are a good compromise...and one I would choose again...

KENB · May 31, 2004

I faced the same dilemma. Which tires. I got the R1s. Everytime I am in the mud I am so glad that I went with them. A few turns and the tire slings clean. I have several neighbors with tractors. All of them have R1s. The biggest problem with R4 tires is that they make the tractor look so darn good. It is hard to NOT go with R4s once you see your tractor with R4s mounted. I'll admit, I think my tractor looks better with R4s, but I am glad I got R1s. I don't have a yard to worry about tearing up with the R1s. All depends on your situation I guess. Sometimes I wish I had another set of tires in the R4 so that I could have the best of both tires.

Gary_in_Indiana · May 31, 2004

I have a 4200 with R4's. They're a decent compromise tire. If I could get anything else in addition to these I'd probably go with the turf tires for mowing. Please note that I said "in addition to" and not "in place of" the R4's.

I now have a lot of my property to the point where I could use turf tires for mowing. There are quite a few more areas where I'd ruin them in a few hours.

Right now I'm using a rotary cutter, finish mower, box blade, front end loader and backhoe more than anything else and the R4's, besides tracking a little in soft dirt when I mow, have been fine. If I were you I'd go with R4's for now.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope this helps. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ole_Hickory · May 31, 2004

<font color="blue"> In wet, muddy conditions the R3's quickly get filled and become slicks. </font>

The R-4's will load up with mud as well,I had a set of R-4's when I 1st got my tractor and I cussed the tires all winter. I have R-1 tires now,it was unbeliavble the difference the R-1 tires made,the tractor even set higher thus increasing my clearance. It made my tractor look like it was a bigger model tractor.

KiotiJohn · May 31, 2004

For your described uses, I would go with R4s or R1 ags. Turf tires do better in many instances than one would think, but they won't do you as well as the others. R4s are my choice for most of the woods tasks I do, occasionally I wish I had R1s, but not often. John