Tires Turf vs. R4 Tires

[dragoneggs]

turfs for mowing grass... R4s for playing in the dirt.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thats why I bought the tractor with R-4's. Looked like a tractor. The turfs make it look like a oversized riding mower. LOL

turfs for mowing grass... R4s for playing in the dirt.

I bought these on a B2320 and it looked so cool and I hated them because they loped across pavement instead of rolled.

 

[Monster5601]

Turfs are pretty good all around until they get in the mud, then not so good.

I found that out when my dealer delivery my ZD232 mower a couple years ago. After getting stuck a few times I switch the tires over to R4s, never got stuck again. I have not noticed the R4s tearing up the turf but I also live rural and have the typical rural type lawn.

 

[6Burgh]

I got a good laugh out of this. :drink: I guess that is the same reason why loud vacuum cleaners sell better too.

Only thing I like loud is music, mine not our kids, and the our surround sound system.

 

[like2wheel]

turfs for mowing grass... R4s for playing in the dirt.

Isn't that obvious?

Given that most people don't want to change tires or tractors when the surface changes, I think the whole point of this discussion is to help people decide what is the best compromise for their situation.

 

[jackl]

I had a B7510 with turfs and recently bought a B2920 with R4s. In fact, the desire to switch to R4s drove my decision to trade in my 7510 rather than pay $1,000 for 4 R4 tires and rims. As most who have had both will say, you can tear up a lawn just as easily with turf tires if the grass is wet, you mow in 4WD and turn sharp. I have no regrets in going with the R4s and they work for mowing, FEL work and moving snow which we get a lot of. They are the tire of choice for FEL work as they are stiffer and more durable. I can't tell you how many front wheel flats I had with the turfs and no matter how many times I fixed them thay always leaked. I eventually put in tubes.

 

[dragoneggs]

Isn't that obvious?

Given that most people don't want to change tires or tractors when the surface changes, I think the whole point of this discussion is to help people decide what is the best compromise for their situation.

Agreed... so what do you do most... or what is most important to you? Sorry to be blunt, I am usually more diplomatic but this is what is boils down to in my mind. I posted after many others provided more in depth analysis. I can do that too and repeat what others have said.

 

[dragoneggs]

I had a B7510 with turfs and recently bought a B2920 with R4s. In fact, the desire to switch to R4s drove my decision to trade in my 7510 rather than pay $1,000 for 4 R4 tires and rims. As most who have had both will say, you can tear up a lawn just as easily with turf tires if the grass is wet, you mow in 4WD and turn sharp. I have no regrets in going with the R4s and they work for mowing, FEL work and moving snow which we get a lot of. They are the tire of choice for FEL work as they are stiffer and more durable. I can't tell you how many front wheel flats I had with the turfs and no matter how many times I fixed them thay always leaked. I eventually put in tubes.

Yep, I believe tubes are the way to go on your fronts... talking about small diameters (like a BX) that take a lot of abuse.

 

[like2wheel]

Agreed... so what do you do most... or what is most important to you? Sorry to be blunt, I am usually more diplomatic but this is what is boils down to in my mind. I posted after many others provided more in depth analysis. I can do that too and repeat what others have said.

But your post wants to end the conversation with the obvious, when in practice its not that simple. One might be less of a compromise to do the other duty than the other tire is, & I'm interested in hearing more experiences from people that have actually used both in similar situations.

And snow is another dimension that isn't covered by any of the generalizations, but sometimes is just as important to the decision.

 

[npalen]

Someone needs to invent a combination turf/lug tire. Increase or decrease the tire pressure and it converts from one to the other. Maybe they already make them for Hummers?

 

[taborekle]

I moved from turfs to R4's on my B2920. We've had a lot of rain here in Maryland (and some snow) and moving my tractor in and out of my pole barn and across the wet yard has really tore up my lawn in front of my pole barn. I don't think the turf tires would have done near the damage as my R4's.

If the lawn had been dry, it probably would not have made much of a difference. In the snow, both R4's and turfs seemed to offer about the same amount of traction.

 

[dragoneggs]

But your post wants to end the conversation with the obvious, when in practice its not that simple. One might be less of a compromise to do the other duty than the other tire is, & I'm interested in hearing more experiences from people that have actually used both in similar situations.

And snow is another dimension that isn't covered by any of the generalizations, but sometimes is just as important to the decision.

Yes, apologies. I am running R4s on lots of loose dirt and lots of slope. I do go across grass on a slope and when its wet, the R4s tear it up. My previous experience with turfs is they don't give enough traction unless on fairly level ground. I haven't had snow experience with either.

 

[Obejuan64]

I use titans griz turf tires, they are great much better than R4's, I had on 2320, just a good all around tire, I don't use it in heavy mud, we had a lot snow last year n didn't need chains, R4 would spin on 3-4" of snow n tear up lawn a lot easier, I'm very happy with these titans griz turf n they look cool on my tractor ��

 

[RalphVa]

I've had both turf and R4 tires. Turf grip much better for turning and therefore tear up grass because they grip. R4s slide sideways.

If I had my choice, I'd go with turfs.

Ralph

 

[thirdroc17]

My BX2670 came with R-4's because "that's what they had in stock because everyone wants them" and I've hated them from day one to the present. If I had a loader and played in the dirt, I might choose differently. If fact, yes I would, I'd want agricultural lug tires!

While this is my first Kubota, I've ran various types of lug and turf tires to mow grass and do garden work for 45 years. In that time I've found ag tires work best for mowing the yard, working the garden, and general playing in the summer. The ag tires spun less than turfs, thus tore up the lawn less. In winter, swap on some turfs with chains. Rubber spins on ice if you have a real winter where the ground freezes, no matter what the tread pattern. Chains disappear between the lugs of ag tires and become virtually useless. The R-4's aren't quite as bad, but they still swallow chains to a degree which lessen their effectiveness. Not to mention they are rough riding where the chain does cross a lug.

Speaking of rough riding, good grief, those R-4's are beating me to death. Either turf or ags would give a much smoother ride because they aren't as stiff. I'm down to 5psi in the rear tires hoping for some flex, and still waiting for that flex.

Sure wish I had waited for turfs, even though the snow was piling up and I had no way to clear it. Since this is my first 4 wheel drive tractor, the lesser traction of the turfs could easily be offset by engaging the front wheels when needed.

Of course, others needs and desires will be different, but in my case, where most of time I'm mowing the yard, or pulling a subsoiler/ground breaker, dragging old fences out of the brush, and blowing snow in winter where there is frost in the ground, turfs would be the best, overall, never change, tread type. In a perfect world, I'd have ags all around in summer, and swap on different rear wheels with turfs and chains permanently mounted on them. I can swap rear wheels faster than I can install chains.

One thing haven't tried, is studs in the front tires for winter. I think R-4's would be excellent for this. Coupled with chains on turfs on the back......