Tyre Choice

[aesmith]

I've only ever had a tractor with conventional agricultural tyres. Now I'm looking to replace the tractor i will need to consider firstly what type I would choose if it's a new tractor. And secondly if whatever is on a used tractor is going to be good or bad.

Generally my impulse would be to stick with what I know, which is ag. But there may be better options to consider.

Or disasters to avoid, for example finding that certain types are really unusable without chains, but are too wide or tight to even fit chains.

So assuming completely free choice, what sorts are best in snow?

And what are the absolute worst?
.

 

[oldnslo]

What size tractor are you looking at? Some of CUT size only offer R4 industrial, turf, and possibly the newer R14. Of these 3 options I suspect R14 but have no actual hands on experience. I do know that my experience with R4 is they are worthless on snow.

 

[RjCorazza]

Differing conditions mean you will get a wide variety of opinions. I personally run R4 tires, but I grooved them for winter traction. For my use, grooved R4's allow me to plow my residential contracts without chains.

That said, I think I would recommend that you consider R14's, or stay with the R1's that you know. I suspect you would need to change rims for practically anything but R1's, so it's gonna be expensive.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I've got R14's on my CK2610, and I've found them to be awesome in the snow. I haven't used tire chains on them, I don't even own a set for this machine.

They've been great.

 

[Rustyiron]

I'd make my choice based on your most often use, dirt or winter conditions.
putting chains on for the appropriate conditions is better than having an almost useless tractor for 3/4 of the year in soil or mud.
Check out the recent tire stud threads.
They're a pretty good compromise for not "chaining" regular ag tires.

 

[chim]

aesmith, your comments resonate with me. It's difficult to change from a type of tire that has worked well. Maybe even ill-advised? My first 4WD tractor came with R1's and have been replaced with R1's. It worked well so why change. Then the next 3 all have been equipped with R4's. The last two have been grooved as RjCorazza mentioned. Every time I got another tractor I'd agonize over the tire choice and end up with R4's anyway.

Better than 99% of the time these tractors have been on grass, paved areas or gravel. There have been a few times when they were used for some grading and dirt work but the work wasn't done in the mud.

 

[aesmith]

Thanks everyone. New tractor will be around 40HP, depending on what turns up.

Snow clearing is the most critical job, because if I can't clear our tracks, we can't get in or out. We use a snowblower so traction is needed to push into banks, but I guess less than if I was using a blade or plough. But we do have gradients.

The rest of the year it's mowing, and lifting and carrying. For these tasks it would be better to mark the ground less than ag tyres. But I can accept that damage rather than compromise snow performance.

Thanks for comments about R4. I was thinking they might be the right option, but it sounds like that would be an expensive mistake.

 

[aesmith]

This is an example of the choices on offer with a new tractor. Most expensive turf option adds around £2,500 over the basic ag option. R14 add £1,250.