Tire Selection Zero turn bar tires

[Hay Dude]

I am not new to operating equipment (farmer), but I am new to operating a zero turn.
Today was my first day running my used Kubota ZD331. It came with 1/2 tread depth turf tires.
On flat ground or mild-moderate hills, it's fine.
However, I am cutting an HOA with a very steep hill with a pond at the bottom. The hill is 300' high and steep enough that one lapse of judgement could mean me and machine going for a swim. Going up/down the hill is NOT an option because of the pond and for the property owner. To make matters worse, there's a pump house, a rock outcropping, and a few trees about 1/2 way up the steep hill. Going around them brought some butt-puckering moments. I slid sideways a few times, but recovered. I need to improve the situation.
So, I am looking at a combination of my lack of experience and the possibility of better tires as sources of improvement.
Would the bar-type tires make a big difference on that sliding sensation on a steep hill? I can't help but be sure it will improve when I turn uphill or downhill.....I think.
Or is there another tire I dont know about?
Thanks for reading and suggestions.

 

[DK35vince]

I went from a turf tire on my Hustler Super Z to bar tires (Chevron AT 101) and it made a HUGE difference in traction/control on hills.
The turfs were awful.

 

[4570Man]

Take the turfs off and throw them in the pond where they belong. Maybe the fish can use them. I have bar tires on mine and it makes a huge difference.

 

[Scook222]

The grasshopper mowers around here come with a bar tread pattern. It has a lot better grip on taller we grass and doesn’t make riots as bad as the turf tires unless you get stuck. Lots of people love the bar tread moving ditch banks and hillsides with them. Both my mom and mother in law have husqvarna zero turns with tie tires and will be glad to put better tires on them soon.

 

[Hay Dude]

what about "sideways slide", when mowing along a steep bank?

 

[mikester]

what about "sideways slide", when mowing along a steep bank?

I put a set of Carlisle WT300 tires on my ZD326 and they will definitely help with what you are asking for. Heres a link to my blog on my ZD mods with photos of the tires
Quest for a better Zero Turn – Kubota ZD326-6P Modifications – Divergent Stuff

I mow on some slopes with a pond at the bottom and its a day and night difference in control with the bar tires. My only regret is not putting them on years ago. You get way more control on the bar tires. They work great in the soft wet stuff that the turfs just spin in. You can also tear up the turf easily if you dont use finesse.

Inexperience, steep hills and wet grass can be a dangerous combination.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I have a Grasshopper front deck with bar tread tires and I filled them with water. It made them extremely stable on a sidehill and as good of traction as I can get going uphill. If you are on a midmount you will get better traction going uphill forwards but very little if trying to go backwards up a hill. The best thing to do if you start to slide is not try and control it and just stop the controls.

 

[kf4uda]

Here is my thread when I was asking for advice on bar tires:

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...t/387141-zero-turn-rear-tire-suggestions.html

As you can read in the thread I went with the bar tires. They are far superior to turf tires on a zero turn.

I now have the recipe for a good zero turn mower (in my opinion)

1) Suspension seat (if the mower does not have a suspension system)

2) Mulching kit

3) Bar tires

In a few years I will replace my current mower with a new one. It will have all of the above when it comes home.

 

[Hay Dude]

So I found out the "Grasshopper" style bar tires arent available in my size (26-12.00-12).
I have decided to go with the Carlisle tires.
They are going on this afternoon.

 

[ProjectKing]

So I found out the "Grasshopper" style bar tires arent available in my size (26-12.00-12).
I have decided to go with the Carlisle tires.
They are going on this afternoon.

Interested to see how they perform for you. Be very careful on that hill. Steep hills and z turns don’t get along.