R4 Tires in snow

[haveissues]

So I have to say the R4 tires on my kubota b2620 worked way better than I expected. I have a very steep driveway and had no issue getting up and moving around. A couple of times my front wheel went off the side of the driveway while piling up snow. After locking the diff I was able to back out uphill with no issue. I thought I would need chains but I don't think I will bother now. :cool2:

 

[tony binkowski]

rim guard in the tires goes along way, look in to it! i love extra weight in my b3000hstcc!

 

[haveissues]

I'm cheap so I used windshield washer fluid but I could put 10 more gallons or so in each tire still.

 

[Thomas]

I run R4's w/no chains but loaded rear tires,you might see change in traction when snow not dry.

 

[rmorey]

I run R4's w/no chains but loaded rear tires,you might see change in traction when snow not dry.

I agree, I had R4's on my Kioti CK25 and in slushy stuff, it would slide all over the place on the hills. Chains fixed that right up. My :2cents:

 

[DK35vince]

My tractor with R-4's and loaded rear tires is near useless without chains when plowing with a 9' front blade.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

My tractor with R-4's and loaded rear tires is near useless without chains when plowing with a 9' front blade.

I'll second that. I have v-bar 2 link chains on my front tires of the L3400 and I was fighting to keep my loaded rears behind me when I was pushing across the slope on some clean up passes. I was pushing an 8' meyers truck plow mounted to a homemade subframe.

 

[steverino101]

i'm with you so far. have the same setup and not even a bit of slippage. of course i have it in 4 wheel drive, but again, no problems.

 

[Wolfy]

Ive had good luck with R-4s and Duo grip tire chains.

 

[rekees4300]

I thought I would need chains but I don't think I will bother now. :cool2:

I also have R4s with steep gravel driveway, they work okay in snow but had to get chains for ice. Chains make a BIG difference.

 

[dave1949]

So I have to say the R4 tires on my kubota b2620 worked way better than I expected. I have a very steep driveway and had no issue getting up and moving around. A couple of times my front wheel went off the side of the driveway while piling up snow. After locking the diff I was able to back out uphill with no issue. I thought I would need chains but I don't think I will bother now. :cool2:

I would have a Plan B in mind. As others said, ice on a steep drive may cause you to re-think that. My drive is only moderately sloped and I have done 360's on ice with R4's and no chains.

Also, if you put a front wheel off the side with ice, you may not have the traction to back out. I would keep a couple bags of sand handy if I were you.

 

[oldballs]

Although my previous BX2660 with turf tires worked fine in several snow seasons, the B2620 with R4 didn't work worth a darn. In both cases the FEL and the Back Blade were employed. I've got the chains on it right now. I think the chains help even when working on frozen turf moving some gravel and excavated dirt on a project that I'm currently doing. IMHO

 

[haveissues]

A few people mentioned that R4 tires will not work on ice. I think that goes without saying and I doubt any other tread pattern would fair any better. Short of chains or studs you are not going anywhere. I don't want to chain up my tractor as I have a concrete pad in front of my garage that I don't want to beat up.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Once you try a good set of chains you will never go without again. As to the concrete pad it is just a matter of how important it is to you to get the driveway cleared. If you have to have it to get to work no matter the weather then a few battle scars on the pad are just the cost of doing business. If you can take storm days off you can putz around and wait for the weather to cooperate.

 

[chim]

I've been using R4's since 2002 and they've always worked fine. There was a very long and interesting thread here about grooving R4's for better traction. I have the rears filled and only use the FEL and a rear blade for snow. I wonder if most of the people who complain about traction have big plows mounted way out in front that give the snow leverage to work against the tractor.

 

[haveissues]

Once you try a good set of chains you will never go without again. As to the concrete pad it is just a matter of how important it is to you to get the driveway cleared. If you have to have it to get to work no matter the weather then a few battle scars on the pad are just the cost of doing business. If you can take storm days off you can putz around and wait for the weather to cooperate.

My garage is on the bottom of the hill near the road so my truck can always get out and my workday starts when I decide to start it. I just don't drive my car that day. Wife is a teacher so snow = no work plus her audi is 4wd. I would rather save the concrete.

 

[oldballs]

You are right about the concrete dings, haveissues. Those chains leave marks even without spinning the wheels. I wish that didn't happen especially since I poured my on driveway and patios etc. Yet, even the Rear Blade leaves a few scrapes. .... just the way it is ... And the walk behind snow blower throws gravel when I get off the concrete....and the hand shovel I ain't doing anymore in large quantities. Winter looks good from a heated kitchen window and in God's design. Otherwise it sucks.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Winter looks good from a heated kitchen window and in God's design.

Ain't that the truth.

 

[Oaktree]

A few people mentioned that R4 tires will not work on ice. I think that goes without saying and I doubt any other tread pattern would fair any better. Short of chains or studs you are not going anywhere. I don't want to chain up my tractor as I have a concrete pad in front of my garage that I don't want to beat up.

Agree that if you have R4s (even loaded), you've gotta have chains or you're not going much of anywhere. I park my tractor in the garage during the winter & put a couple sheets of OSB on the floor so the chains don't chew it up.

 

[Teikas Dad]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/233050-trying-tire-grooving-next-mod.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/snow-removal/193438-cutting-groving-siping-r-4-a.html

After reading all the info in those two threads I bought a tire grooving tool - chains/studs are the only thing that will really work on ice, but the addition of grooves in the R4's for snow seems to make a big difference.