Ag Tires versus Industrial tires

[pmsmechanic]

Turfs definitely have better traction on snow, but I thought this was an on dirt comparison.

Well if you think about it turfs have quite a bit more traction on hard ground than industrial tires. For the same reasons they do better on snow.

 

[Cougsfan]

I was commenting on how I am happy with the r4's on my new Branson, except on ice and snow, where I am not so impressed.

 

[Xfaxman]

Also, r4's offer no resistance to sliding sideways on greasy ground while ag's or even turfs offer some grip.

What's the reasoning behind this statement?

I agree about sliding sideways on muddy sidehills with R4 tires. And no sliding sideways in the same places with R1 tires.

 

[coobie]

I lowered my air pressure in my R4s to 12 psi front and rear. It helped a little, but they are still pathetic on the ice and snow.

+1 I would NEVER go back R4,s after having Ag,s on my Kioti.With the snow we get in the winter here R4,s don,t hack it even loaded with beet juice.In get around great with my loaded Ag,s.

 

[Cougsfan]

I have been working at lowering my pressure. I started out at 20 psi, went to 15 then 12 and it helped more each time. I will keep working down to where I feel they might roll of the bead, but I don't think the R4's will ever work as good as Ag tires in the ice and snow.

 

[Texasmark]

We have several tire threads going under the names of Ind. vs Turf, to liquid fill or not, getting the right air pressure and such under several Forum titles.

I posted about a month ago about getting some turfs (33 x12.5-16.5) to replace my 12x16.5 Industrials. They finally came in today. Brand is Titan and they must have just made them (Des Moines, IA.) because they smell like rubber and that may be why it took so long. Tread pattern is more aggressive than I expected (ok fine) and tread depth is 12/32 which you can see by the shadows in the pics.

Several things I was looking for:

4 ply rather than 6 ply Ind.
Softer sidewall to improve flexing with impact
Larger diameter area for more sidewall to flex.

I put them on dry at 7 psig and they are going to work much better for me in attempting to get a softer ride.

I checked the 4wd hop and there wasn't any even at min turning radius. Course you can tell by the picture that the OD is identical.

I checked traction with no load on the rear of my 2400 and as I said, no fluid in the tires.

The first test bed was a V shaped ditch with 25 degree slopes on both sides. It had short wet grass on both slopes. I was running 1-2 mph area. Traction held till half way up the far slope. Braked and shifted into 4wd, let the brakes off, clutch out, and it walked right on out.

Second test was a 10 yard sand pile, grass wet there too. Got part way in and started slipping. 4WD and she stayed after it as I raised and filled the bucket.

The plan was to use the turf rears for soft ride and kept the industrials on the front for loader work and traction when the rears slipped. It appears that the plan is working but if not I have 3 sacks of concrete mix and I'll make a block to mount on the 3 pt when I don't have anything attached. I'll keep the inds around for good measure. I have quit selling things I don't immediately use as I seem to go in cycles. When I want to get back into something I pay twice the sales price when selling to buying and get half the equipment.

 

[CADplans]

Turfs definitely have better traction on snow, but I thought this was an on dirt comparison.

Well if you think about it turfs have quite a bit more traction on hard ground than industrial tires. For the same reasons they do better on snow.

I will have an interesting "test" going on next summer,,,
possibly better than turfs,, or industrial R4 tires,,

worn out R4 tires,,

They may give me the capabilities of turfs,, and R4 tires,,

If I am not happy with what they do, I might "sipe" them before replacing,
I could sipe a turf pattern into the tread,,,
Hmmmmm,,,,,,

The rear tires show no wear,,, but, I am not worried about traction in the back.

 

[Texasmark]

I started back after Christmas looking for replacements for my R4 12x16.5 rears.

I was surfing just to be surfing yesterday and decided to look for R1s that would fit that wheel just to see what's available in other tread options for that size. None to be found.

With my limited knowledge and recent surfings, it seems that we the sub-compact, compact, small tractor whatever have you owners are very limited in the availability of tires to fit our machines. Just something I didn't check, nor expect before making the purchase. Not a show stopper for sure, but an observation. As far as my 33x12.5x16.5 4 ply Titans, running dry at 7 psig, I like them just fine. I think they will work for me.

 

[chuck172]

+1 I would NEVER go back R4,s after having Ag,s on my Kioti.With the snow we get in the winter here R4,s don,t hack it even loaded with beet juice.In get around great with my loaded Ag,s.

Totally agree, with the Ags, you don't need chains for snowplowing.

 

[joefromga]

I started back after Christmas looking for replacements for my R4 12x16.5 rears.

I was surfing just to be surfing yesterday and decided to look for R1s that would fit that wheel just to see what's available in other tread options for that size. None to be found.

With my limited knowledge and recent surfings, it seems that we the sub-compact, compact, small tractor whatever have you owners are very limited in the availability of tires to fit our machines. Just something I didn't check, nor expect before making the purchase. Not a show stopper for sure, but an observation. As far as my 33x12.5x16.5 4 ply Titans, running dry at 7 psig, I like them just fine. I think they will work for me.

Have you considered pickup swamp mud tires? May be a size that fits.

 

[Texasmark]

Have you considered pickup swamp mud tires? May be a size that fits.

One of the problems with truck tires would be too many plies. The 12x16.5 tire size is a Skid Steer size to fit a 9.25x16.5 6 bolt wheel. Truck tires on that sized wheel are also built for heavy duty service. Skid steer tires run 10-12 plies. The OEM tires on my 2400 were Tiron F4s (Korea with Korean built tractor) but were only 6 plies. No where else on the www did I find that size with that few plies.

My problem is a tractor that weighs 1850#, plus 400 (guess) is FEL, so figure 1000# (for a number) on the rears + me for say 1250/2 =625# actual load per tire and it comes with tires on the rear rated at 2300+ # per tire x 2 = 4700ish # buoyancy at rated 30 psig.....Even down at 7 psig it's hang on for dear life.

The turfs will work for me at the 7 # current pressure. With the 4 plies and larger volume of sidewall I have more to absorb the "bump" pressure transient. I was just curious and had it answered in that there weren't any F1s out there if somebody wanted to plow with this sized machine. So I guess one would have to use a rototiller which is ok for a garden or small acreage with their R4s or R3s.

 

[CADplans]

One of the problems with truck tires would be too many plies.
The turfs will work for me at the 7 # current pressure. With the 4 plies and larger volume of sidewall I have more to absorb the "bump" pressure transient.

I have found, generally, that wider tires ride MUCH nicer,,, if both tires have the same # of plies.
is there any chance you could find wider tires?

(if you look hard enough,, you can find cheap wheels)