Comparison Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar

   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #1  

Scooby074

Super Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2006
Messages
6,152
Location
Nova Scotia
Tractor
BX 25, ZD 326
How hard are Bars on grass vs turfs and industrials?

How about traction on clay?

Im considering a BX25 and the dealer is really pushing turfs. He said that due to the rain this year people are wanting to go from industrials to turfs on their machines due to damage when turning. Where do Bars fall in there? Easier on the grass when turning, yet still grippy?

What about puncture resistance?
 
   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #2  
I went with Industrial because I use my L3700SUHST primarily for cutting brush and weedy woods. I have a lot of Mesquite trees and other thorny plants in my area and do not want to spend a fortune on tire repairs and service.

I do not have a "lawn", but rather have a country yard. My bermuda grass is slowly getting started, but tire marks in the dirt don't bother me as much as head high weeds.

I have had no issues with traction in my clay until I try to pull a 4" diameter tree out of the ground with a chain. I will dig in and spin a bit then. I do not have weights or loaded tires. I have not attempted this on wet ground as I am sure I would have less traction then. Dry clay will crumble into powder and reduce traction while wet clay is slick from the get go.

I have no experience with any other type tire on my tractor so I cannot give a comparison.
 
   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #3  
Industrials (R4's) are designed for operating on relatively hard surfaces, have very good puncture resistance, but traction on soft ground not a whole lot better than turfs. They will also damage soft lawns but not quite as bad as bars (I assume you mean mean Ags, or R1's when you say bars). On CUT's, Turfs are far and away the optimum tire type for operating on lawns and R1's are optimum in most situations off the lawn. Folks who need to use the same tractor on and off the lawn generally compromise in both situations by going with R4 tires. If you can swing it, you will be in for less dissapointment if you get seperate tractors for on the lawn (with turfs) and for off the lawn (with R1's). If you are limited to a single tractor, then R4's are more than likely going to be your best bet, and they are found on more than 75% of CUTs. Just prepare yourself for some lawn damage and some traction issues off the lawn. Personally, I would never consider R4 tires for any of my own tractor applications. I have (2) tractors dedicated to the lawn, each with turf tires and (4) for off the lawn, all with R1's. I am not someone given to compromise as is required if you try and use R4 tires for applications other than industrial for which they were developed. I dont want any damage on my lawn, and I want to always have the maximum available traction force from my tractors in field applications. R4's wouldnt provide me with that. I dont do any "industrial" work, and luckily, in 40 years of tractor operation, I have not puntured a rear R1 in the fields or woods on my farm.
 
   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar
  • Thread Starter
#4  
I should have posted that this machine if purchased would spend 80-90% of its life as a mower.

Ive had industrials fill with clay.. no fun for sure:thumbsup: Not much better than turfs.

Current machine (x540) has HDAP's.. again not much better.

The "Bar" tires arent really like traditional ags (R1). Theyre pretty wide and the bars are shallow. as compared to narrow ags with deep bars. I guess technically they will be R1's. The tires im thinking of are a bit different than the pic. The bars are straight, with no curve

Ill try and post a pic if i can find one. Im hoping theyre a better compromise than industrials. without being too agressive

The tires in question are more like the second picture (single tire)
 

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   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #5  
I would suggest you ask about "bar turfs" before you commit. Mine has R-4's, and as mentioned they are a compromise. Still, they do everything better than the alternatives for me (probably), but I saw a pic of bar turfs...a tire I didn't know existed and is apparently available on Kubota's and I'm pretty sure that would be a superior choice.
 
   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #6  
I have the Bar tires on my BX1850 and they have not damaged my lawn at all. I find the turf tires will spin easier and tear up the lawn quicker than the bar tires will. Tires are not filled nor do I have any extra weight on the tractor.

If the lawn / ground is real wet you may leave some lug marks.

Roy
 
   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #7  
I had BAR's, nice and soft and wide tires on my BX23TLB and mowed about 2 1/2 acres of grass,
(not golf course lawn). Never had a problem cutting up the lawn, mater of fact I do miss them as I have Industrials on my L3540 and I have to stay off grass when to wet and be careful when turning while turning when using fRFM.
DevilDog
 
   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #8  
what works for me I have R1 tires and our farm is rough terrian they work fine just dont spin em.any tire will mar up the lawn if they spin.
 
   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #9  
I've got bar tires on my SCUT, and they work fine on grass. Also comes in handy when I plow snow with it in the winter, sooo much better than industrials.
 
   / Turfs vs. Industrial vs. Bar #10  
I have got hard clay and "bar" tires. Even when wet they don't tear up too much turf when I mow. And I do have steep hills too. I also am quite picky at how my lawn looks. I also use it around the farm and do some minor excavating with it and am very happy with the all around versatility of the tires. My tractor came with the Titan ag tires. I will get them again if they ever wear out!
 

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