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.