Question on tires running down roads

[pizzaguy]

I have a Grand L3240 that a friend wants me bring to his place to do some dirt work and landscaping. I have the R4 tires and was going to just drive it over there,which is about 16 miles away on good blacktop roads. Today at Easter dinner the BIL told me that driving that far is really hard on tires. I didn't think that was very far to take it,set cruise and go. My buddy has a car trailer but not sure if it is big enough. Any ideas what a Grand L 3240 w/ cab, loader and rear blade would weigh? Would you just drive it?

 

[Ed of all trades]

Your BIL is right, it is hard on tires. We hauled our tractors 4 miles to a field to get up hay. I would haul it if I could.

 

[varmint]

No owner's manual? Tractordata.com will give you the weights. Rent a trailer, if needed, since that much road driving will be hard on both your and the tractor. If you do go ahead, BE SURE IT ISN'T IN 4 WD!!! Assuming no idiot rams into the back of your tractor, probably the worst will be some unwanted tire wear.

 

[mike69440]

I figure you get 1500 -2000 miles out of a set of R4's, even less in the front. Do the math, and you probably are looking at a few $$ in tire and mechanical wear and tear. How good a freind is he?

 

[Sysop]

Not R4s, but R1s, and I used my tractor on my property for 150 or so hours and never saw any wear on the tires, all the lettering on the tread bars was still like new, and I had spun on quite a few occasions in tight spots. Decided one day rather than carting fuel to the tractor, I'd run a few miles up the road (less than you are proposing) and fill it up. By the time I returned all the lettering on the treads was worn off to the point you couldn't even tell where it used to be. That is the last time mine will ever see pavement except when doing roadside maintenance or I need to use the main road to cross the creek to go to the other field, which is just a couple times a year for haying.

 

[DT86]

Never had r4 tires but I can say bias ply r1 tires wear very quick on the road with added weigh on the front like a grapple or bale of hay. The bucket alone doesn't seem to make them wear any quicker. The radial tires before these wore very even and weight did not seem to effect the way they wore.

With that said, you are looking at two hours on the road. Forget tires being the issue, I'd worry more about getting ran over. I'm on the road several times a week and I swear have very avoidable close calls with some impatient person at least every couple months. Get a trailer.

 

[texasjohn]

agreed, I've seen unanticipated tire wear after only a couple of miles of blacktop . I don't do it often, maybe once a year. I just bought a 24' gooseneck trailer so I can haul the tractor easily as needed.

 

[dstig1]

Including the trailer, you'll be pushing 7-8000 lbs, I believe. So you need a tow vehicle big enough for that, and it is probably overloading a typical 7000 lb dual axle trailer. I would not try it on a landscape trailer, no way. I have a 10k trailer - 16' and it is adequate, but a bit short.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

IF you aren't going to do it all the time, I wouldn't worry about it one bit!

SR

 

[MHarryE]

Wear with R-4s not significant. I do a lot of roading on blacktop with my L5740 between farms and have no significant wear. Longest trip I've made on blacktop is 46 miles to pick up a disc. Had no hydraulics to lift the disc so needed the tractor. R-1s are a problem although all of our larger tractors have radials which are not nearly as bad as bias ply R-1s. A L3540 base weight is 3241 no cab, no loader. Not sure about a L3240 - not in my book.

 

[pizzaguy]

Including the trailer, you'll be pushing 7-8000 lbs, I believe. So you need a tow vehicle big enough for that, and it is probably overloading a typical 7000 lb dual axle trailer. I would not try it on a landscape trailer, no way. I have a 10k trailer - 16' and it is adequate, but a bit short.

Truck is not a problem. I have a F350 dually. Trailer big enough is the issue.

 

[RickB]

The fastest wear on tires when roading occurs on the right side tires when driving on or over the edge of the pavement where the 'marbles' are. Drive the tractor to your friend's place, and drive it fully in the driving lane with hazard lights on and SMV displayed. Don't drive in the ditch. Be sure to shift to 2 wheel drive, of course.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you are getting paid for this job, then figure in your cost in tire wear. R4 tires wont wear as much as R1 but would still have some wear on a 32 mile trip. Unless the road is very slightly used, I too would be concerned about fast traffic collisions with my tractor.

If this is a freebie to your friend, I would make him provide a trailer and tow vehicle for the tractor. That would still be a cheap job for him. Otherwise, I would tell him that it is just too unsafe and too far to drive it over the roads.

 

[oosik]

Over the entire life of your tires - one trip of 32 miles is a drop in the ocean. I would be far more concerned about traffic. I drive to my neighbors around 2X or 3X annually to scrape & clean manure. My drive time on the asphalt is less than 10 minuets but I've met some real knot heads. Fortunately, my tractor is large enough that they back down.

Unfortunately, the world is full of people who were passed by when the brains where being handed out.

 

[Tx Jim]

IF you aren't going to do it all the time, I wouldn't worry about it one bit!

SR

I've been custom farming since '87 and my 3 tractors with R1 tires have been driven 1000's of miles on public roads. As long as not operated at too low or high pressure I see no significant wear.