Turf Vs Bar

[ethr]

Noob alert!

My father an I have been "discussing" the merits of the turf vs bar tire tred. I am worried about tearing up the yard since I will be (purchasing in April 2007) using a PT-422 to mow our horse ranch and some rental property. Pops seems to think the bar will be fine and thinks we won't get enough traction from the turf tred. I think bar will rip it up especially on wet ground and if we need that much traction we should bust out the Allis Chalmers D14 . I figure we start with the turf and if we end up needing the bar tred then getting another set of wheels. I don't mind swaping tires I have an impact wrench

Any comments?

It will also be used to plow snow. I assume that if we get the bar tred we will *have* to have chains. True?

I have read many forums on the net and this one for Power-Trac is obviously top shelf. Kudos to the members, your posts have been extremely helpful!

 

[ClintBlake]

I have turf tires on my 422 and have never seen a reason to want the bar tires. When I bought my 422 in 1999, PT recommended the turf tires and even said they would get better traction than the bar tires except in mud. Unfortunately, I have never been able to do a comparison of the same machine with the bar tires on it.

 

[KentT]

The bar tires on a PT will not tear up the turf nearly as much as on a conventional tractor, since the tractor articulates to steer. The only time they'd cause damage is by spinning -- which is much less likely due to the agressive tread. The bar tires will leave "little dimples" in the soil if it is wet.

IMO, the key question is how level is the area where you'll be working. If it is pretty level, you'd probably be better satisfied with the turf tires. However, the bar tires will not spin as easily climbing steep slopes as the turf tires will in wet conditions, nor are they as prone to sliding down a steep slope if the grass is wet...

I haven't used turf tires on my PT, only bar tires. But, I don't use my PT to mow yet -- I'll begin using the brush-cutter this fall. With what I'm doing with it, and where I'm using it, I wouldn't consider turf tires...

Only a few folks on here have both types of tires -- they'd be the best suited to answer your question, IMO.

 

[ethr]

IMO, the key question is how level is the area where you'll be working. If it is pretty level, you'd probably be better satisfied with the turf tires. However, the bar tires will not spin as easily climbing steep slopes as the turf tires will in wet conditions, nor are they as prone to sliding down a steep slope if the grass is wet...

At the rental property there are some steep slopes. I will post a picture to get people's opinions on whether the PT would be suitable for mowing that grade at all.

 

[Beechwood]

I have the bar tires on my PT180 . I will be buying a set of turf tires mounted on rims very shortly. IHO after using the bar tires for nearly 2 years I have no regrets, But snow plowing on pavement with bar tires is no joy, I ended up putting chains on the front and back for the traction I needed, With that said , the bar tires have great traction in muddy or off road conditions. Cutting damp or dewed lawns the bar tires will leave a footprint. Just do what I'm doing and buy a set of each!.

 

[pajoube]

I have the turf tires and really like them. Here in Montana we do get to remove snow and they have never been a problem. I have used about every attachment with turf tires without fail.
PJ

 

[Barryh]

I had planed on buying bar tires, but after listing to what Beechwood had to say about having to buy chains a few posts back. I have changed my mind. I was impressed with the traction I got with my turf tires this winter in deep snow and ice. Very sure footing nothing stopped the little tractor. I’m now planning on just buying a good 6 ply turf for my needs.

 

[MossRoad]

We have turf tires on our 2001 PT425. I have never regretted it. The only time I have run out of traction is in slick mud or going up a very steep hill while pushing the brush hog. On the hill, all I did to remedy the situation was lift the brush hog out of float an inch. That put enough weight on the front tires to give me the traction I was lacking and I was able to continue up the slope. I have had problems with popping the turf tires on thorns and such. I think the bar tires are heavier ply, and you would probably have fewer popping problems.

Also the unit will crab downhill when going across a slope in snow with turf tires. I do not know how it would do with bars, but I suspect the bars would help in that situation. On level pavement or concrete, the turfs have excellent traction for snow plowing. Hope this helps.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, and welcome to TBN!

 

[RegL]

I have a set of each for the 1430.I bought the bar treads after running turfs for about a year, thinking I would get better traction. After running them for some time ,working in the woods, field mowing and snow removal, the bars now just sit in the barn. They will get stuck just about anywhere the turfs will and in most cases, have less traction. I think the turf are a better all around tire for the PT. I think changing over to those 4 or 6 ply might be a good idea to save on flats.

 

[FOURTEEN]

using a PT-422 to mow our horse ranch and some rental property.

Any comments?

Is mowing A LOT of lawn your primary use for a PT-422? If it is, I recommend that you buy a quality ZTR mower, such as a Hustler! The Hustler will do a much quicker, more comfortable, and better job of mowing at less cost!

The PT is designed to do many jobs very well, and if you need a tractor to often dig, scrape, spread, lift, stump grind, trench, brush cut, lawn mow, grapple, etc, etc, etc, there isn't a better machine! However, if a lot of lawn mowing is what you mostly need done, I say go ZTR!

 

[tracdoc]

Noob alert!
Pops seems to think the bar will be fine and thinks we won't get enough traction from the turf tred.

Always listen to Pops! I have been using bar tread tires for more than 2 seasons on close to 3 Ac of lawn. Of necessity, I sometimes have to mow when it's not as dry as I would like. I have had no problems whatsoever with damage to the lawn. The developer in this neighborhood uses two Kubota turbo-diesel ZTRs with turf tires to mow common areas and un-sold building lots. No difference at all in tread dig-in, etc. and the lawns are identical composition. His Kubotas may weigh in a tad less than the PT.

So, first do no harm... bar tires don't hurt turf unless someone is a real hot-dog with their machine. Now, for the advantages. To work around a barn, out in the rough stuff with the brush hog, or digging/pulling trees in the woods, bar tires have been superior performers.. Neighbor's SCUT with turfs spins after the treads get filled with mud and forest floor mulch stuff. The PT keeps right on working.

Bottom line (my $0.02 for sure) is that I agree with FOURTEEN. If mowing is the chief objective, a turf tread ZTR is better. If one wants a PT as it should be, namely the "Swiss Army knife" of small tractors, the bar tread tires will overall be a better match.

 

[ethr]

Is mowing A LOT of lawn your primary use for a PT-422? If it is, I recommend that you buy a quality ZTR mower, such as a Hustler! The Hustler will do a much quicker, more comfortable, and better job of mowing at less cost!

The PT is designed to do many jobs very well, and if you need a tractor to often dig, scrape, spread, lift, stump grind, trench, brush cut, lawn mow, grapple, etc, etc, etc, there isn't a better machine! However, if a lot of lawn mowing is what you mostly need done, I say go ZTR!

No it's not a lot of lawn to mow both sites are currently mowed with a 21" toro personal pace. I will be moving from the rental to the horse farm and renting out both sides of the duplex instead of one. So I want to be able to mow quickly.

As far as a ZTR goes my Father-in-law is the Wisconsin, Northern Il, Upper Michigan factory dealer for Dixon ZTRs, the original ZTR, and there would be some major problems if I bought anything but blue!

 

[J_J]

Travis, Fourteen is right , about speed, cut appearance, bagging capabilities, the ZTR's can't be beat. But you have to consider the cost of buying a ZTR, and maintaining anither engine, belt replacement, hydraulics, etc. The ZTR will cost anywhere from $2995, up to about $10,000
with decks from 36 in to 72 in. I do believe that the deck on the PT mower will last longer than any of the ZTR's decks. It is made of thicker steel.

Maybe your Father-in-law can get you a good deal on a Dixon. That would help some. .