Zero turn turf tires

[dragoneggs]

My first zero turn (850 lbs) with turfs was terrible on hills.
My current zero turn is nearly double the weight (1600 lbs) with turfs was no better on hills. (the extra weight made little to no difference in traction IMO).
I replaced the turfs with bar tires (Chevron AT 101) and the difference in traction and mowing hills is HUGE.
Our hills that were always a problem with crappy turfs are no problem at all now.

hey vince, thanks for posting the side by side pic. I think I might look at cost of swapping out my turfs on my little Z turn. I have fair amount of sloping and not always dry lawn. Do you get better traction in terms of a sideways slide (mowing across the slope)? I can imagine the traction going up/down the slope would be much improved.

 

[4570Man]

Yea, because heavier mowers are less likely to get stuck in the mud

Foaming all 4 wheels would be a steep cost. It cost me $70 just for the fronts on mine. I wouldn’t want the hard ride of foamed backs anyway.

 

[big bubba]

personally, zero turn riders don't do well on wet slopes. the OP got stuck in mud, but doesn't say on slope or level. big difference.
no doubt more aggressive treads (preferably w/some ballast) will do the trick. wet slopes?....you'll tear it up regardless of tread on a zero turn rider

90% of my mowing 4 acres is done on zero turn rider, fairly level.
on the 3 spring fed pond banks, etc, i use a walk behind zero turn. much better on all fronts incl safety. (at least for those who might have the ambition or initiative to do a little walking while mowing for a change).
foam filled all 4 tires
Hydro Drive Walk-Behind Mowers - Encore

 

[DK35vince]

hey vince, thanks for posting the side by side pic. I think I might look at cost of swapping out my turfs on my little Z turn. I have fair amount of sloping and not always dry lawn. Do you get better traction in terms of a sideways slide (mowing across the slope)? I can imagine the traction going up/down the slope would be much improved.

I gained traction in every way vs the turf tires.

 

[4570Man]

Here’s mine. My sideways traction is much better. Going sideways it’s really still a game of not letting the up hill tire slip forward sending the front of the mower down the hill.

 

[dragoneggs]

Here痴 mine. My sideways traction is much better. Going sideways it痴 really still a game of not letting the up hill tire slip forward sending the front of the mower down the hill. View attachment 597000

Dang, and I thought I was all set for another mowing season. You guys got me thinking. There indeed is a lot of finesse with handling Z's on slopes and I enjoy the challenge, but more traction just means you upped your game! :thumbsup: :dollarsign:

 

[4570Man]

Most people’s mistake on hills is jerking back with the uphill tire and spinning it and then it’s game over. You have to be careful with the up hill tire and push into the hill with the downhill tire. Which the tires on my machine are 58” apart outside to outside and has a Kubota diesel mounted behind the center of the axel with helps the hill siding tremendously.

 

[4570Man]

My first zero turn (850 lbs) with turfs was terrible on hills.
My current zero turn is nearly double the weight (1600 lbs) with turfs was no better on hills. (the extra weight made little to no difference in traction IMO).
I replaced the turfs with bar tires (Chevron AT 101) and the difference in traction and mowing hills is HUGE.
Our hills that were always a problem with crappy turfs are no problem at all now.

Our wide commercial machines will definitely out perform the little machines in hills. Take a homeowner machine with useless turf tires and add what’s likely a first time operator and it’s no wonder why ZTRs have a reputation for sucking on hills. Imagine what could be accomplished with a front wheel locker.

 

[dragoneggs]

Our wide commercial machines will definitely out perform the little machines in hills. Take a homeowner machine with useless turf tires and add what痴 likely a first time operator and it痴 no wonder why ZTRs have a reputation for sucking on hills. Imagine what could be accomplished with a front wheel locker.

Yeah, not fair. I don't have much to mow but it is sloped. I could barely justify a z turn and my JD garden tractor until recently was at a rental. It does better on slopes but I don't want to be switching machines to get the whole job done. As it is, I still need to push mow the tricky areas. I surely cannot justify a bigger wider stance mower due to the 1+ acre I mow including part of my neighbor's property. I do call it technical mowing though... with orchard trees, tight spaces, etc. Z turns kick the crap out of GTs when it comes to mowing time.

I live on a steep hill that I am terracing and trying to create a landscape that I can maintain in a minimum amount of time and continue to do so as I age and cannot continue to expend the same personal horsepower as now. I want to die here and not in some place I am where I am not responsible. I think I am becoming an accomplished Z turner but traction is the 'game'. Time to google chevron tires for my little Z

 

[4570Man]

I paid about $230 total at a tire store installed for mine. It was well worth it. You could order them for about $90 each but that’s from amazon that’s going to tax me on them plus I hate mounting tires so I’ll pay the tire store.