What tires to get on my first tractor?

[greggh]

R4's are more flexible. What I mean is that they have less ply in the sidewalls for the flexiblity. R1's do not have that flex because of having more ply in the sidewalls. The R4's are designed to work on hard surfaces such as concrete where they have more bounce. The R1's are designed for farm work which requires more pulling and traction.

But for heven's sake make sure you get one or the other. I grew up and learned on a steel wheel Case tractor. I think it was made in the late 20's early 30's. No power steering in those days.

 

[LBrown59]

any reccommendations on tires? .

R1s
Bar tires.
Did I mention AGs?

 

[Mikeeemo]

I'm in too... Ag's !

 

[LBrown59]

I'm in too... Ag's !

That's Agzactly right.

 

[N80]

I've got a 4wd L4400 (45hp, 38 at PTO) with Ags. Couldn't do with any less traction than they give me. Often wish I had more.

I think some of the bias against R4's is that for some reason people think they look good (and they do) and that dealers get extra money for them. Most Kubota ads show tractors with R4's, even doing ag work. Most dealers push them. And I think a lot of new buyers get them for those two reasons without knowing exactly why or what they really need.

If you need an R4 then an R4 is what you need. I just think that 'need' is a good bit narrower than what most people think. From my point of view I see them as more destructive than turfs and far less traction than ags.

 

[LBrown59]

********
A spinning turf tire will do a lot more damage than a non spinning AG tire.
Found this out when I got my BX 1500 into a soft spot in the yard.
The front wheels started spinning and cut some pretty good ruts in the yard
even though the rear tires were on solid ground backing the tractor away from the soft spot.
Turfs will spin out a lot easier than AGs in such spots which equals more yard damage than AGs that probably wouldn't have spun out.

 

[Wombat125]

A spinning turf tire will do a lot more damage than a non spinning AG tire.

This is exactly why we put ag tires on the back of our little JD 316 100 years ago back in Iowa -- less lawn damage on anything that's remotely slippery or wet.

 

[Charlesaf3]

Like everything else, there's a tire for the situation. I have r4s. and will get my next tractor with r4s. If I were doing straight field work it would be ags.

I have wondered about the turf plus chain combo

 

[Ken Cunningham]

I have R1 tires and ive allmost go it stuck in 4wd a few times, im sure if i had R4 tires i would have had to hook the truck to it and pull it out.

Having said that, my tires are also loaded and a few posters commented about the jarring ride. That made me think of how nice the spring loaded seat is to have on that tractor. So i was wondering, how many tractors come with spring loaded seats? Mine is a 1994 JD 1070

 

[Charlesaf3]

Good point. My tires are foamed - stiffer than loaded. But the ride is a pleasure, as I have a spring loaded seat. Adjustable and comfy.

Got it on Neil Messicks advice since the stock kubota seats had a bad rap. $400 and worth every penny - 8 hours in the seat feels like nothing.