R1s or R4s?

[rpraymond]

I'm looking at a B2320 w/ FEL. Primary duties would be to maintain a gravel driveway in the spring, summer, fall, and haul wood in the winter. All of my previous tractors have had R1s but I'm wondering if R4s would work better for the driveway and still offer the traction needed for winter work. Thanks to all.

 

[greenmule]

Now thats going to be the 64,000 dollar question.

 

[LBrown59]

I'm looking at a B2320 w/ FEL. Primary duties would be to maintain a gravel driveway in the spring, summer, fall, and haul wood in the winter. All of my previous tractors have had R1s but I'm wondering if R4s would work better for the driveway and still offer the traction needed for winter work. Thanks to all.

R1s hands down choice for me.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'm looking at a B2320 w/ FEL. Primary duties would be to maintain a gravel driveway in the spring, summer, fall, and haul wood in the winter. All of my previous tractors have had R1s but I'm wondering if R4s would work better for the driveway and still offer the traction needed for winter work. Thanks to all.

.. No.

 

[RickB]

I'm looking at a B2320 w/ FEL. Primary duties would be to maintain a gravel driveway in the spring, summer, fall, and haul wood in the winter. All of my previous tractors have had R1s but I'm wondering if R4s would work better for the driveway and still offer the traction needed for winter work. Thanks to all.

I would not consider R-4's for those uses, if I had a choice. That said, if I were looking at a used tractor with R-4's, they probably would not be a dealbreaker.

 

[spruce Deere]

I would tend to lean towards R-1s. Not as gentle on turf, sounds like its not an issue though, but max traction in snow, dirt. My 2 cents worth....

 

[Diamondpilot]

R1's for me.

Chris

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

R4s for me...but my uses and needs are not the same as yours...

 

[greenmule]

OK!,I now like r4's,[cause thats whats on my tractor],but seriously,believe I do like them,best of both worlds would be r4's with a set of good chains.

To many people put to much air in them I think,is one reason some don't like them. But they have their advantages over r1's in many applications,and if you put a set of chains on them,ice won't stop you[r1's won't even go in ice].

 

[SPYDERLK]

Once you start putting chains on youre talking chains...not tires.

 

[rpraymond]

Now thats going to be the 64,000 dollar question.

I guess so! Thanks for all the replies. I'm looking at a new one so I'll get my choice. Still not sure though...

 

[RickB]

Once you start putting chains on youre talking chains...not tires.

Exactly. Chains on even turfs will outperform no chains on anything else in iice and snow.

 

[Willl]

Sometimes I wish I would have gone with R1's instead of the R4's on my 790.

I don't use it on lawns and it really could use some help in the traction department.

 

[greenmule]

Thats,well,,kinda true??

AG tires don't do any better on ice than ind.,so,[bet ind would actualy do better on solid ice than ag's.???]

But either with chains would be the ticket.

Only thing I see ag's beating ind. are deeper mud and deeper snow.

On the other hand,ind. beat ags for stability,toughness,and for heavier weights,and also for not tearing up your yard so bad.Also loaded the center of gravity is lower with ind. They also drive smoother on roads.[see,told you all there was advantages!]

Your turn.

 

[whistlepig]

For your dirt work R1's are the better choice hands down. I have used both R1's and R4's on snow and ice. IMHO they are both very poor snow/ice tires. The R4's are a tiny bit better on snow and ice but not enough to influence my dirt working decision. The R4's don't tear the yard up as bad as R1's when mowing. The R4's wear like iron but ride like iron also. R1's ride better. R4's are also more puncture resistant. There is no perfect tire. For snow and ice I would recommend chains on a tractor regardless of tire type. I use an ATV with a blade to push snow. That's what works best for me.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Get what is best for 90% of the work you do. The rest of the time you will just have to live with your decision.

As for R1's tearing up the yard I have not seen it in my parts. Been mowing with R1's for 6 years and no issues unless its wet. Guess its the makeup of our clay soil.

Chris

 

[LarryRB]

I only had R1's once and vowed never again,, for one,, it is what one is used to, When you run Deere hoe's year in and year out, not much choice but R4's. The L 48 I have now has to have the 4's because of our geological make up here... R 1's get tore apart pretty quickly because of the rock, constant shale, outcroppings, granite forms and other rock protrusions, So for longevity, I like the 4's.. If our ground was much different then I would consider others... Check and see what the popular tire use is around your neighborhood, this should give you a pretty good idea.

 

[LBrown59]

Get what is best for 90% of the work you do. The rest of the time you will just have to live with your decision.

As for R1's tearing up the yard I have not seen it in my parts.
Been mowing with R1's for 6 years and no issues unless its wet. Guess its the makeup of our clay soil.

Chris

I think that the R1s tearing up the turf story is a fable with the smaller tractors.

 

[greenmule]

It ain't no fable,look at the tires,[thats why r1's are better in the mud],now if your yard is not real soft,than...

 

[SPYDERLK]

It ain't no fable,look at the tires,[thats why r1's are better in the mud],now if your yard is not real soft,than...

Nah, LBrown is right. The little BXs dont tear up turf noticeably. Even when wearing AGs.
larry