Turf tires killing grass

[csquared63]

I have a JD 790 with filled turf tires. If I drive over the same area more than a few times, the grass is killed. The only thing I can think of why this is happening is because the tractor is too heavy with the filled rear tires.

Would I be correct?

Thanks

 

[Deere Dude]

It depends on how soft the ground is, possibly. I had a neighbor who couldn't mow around trees with his SCUT because he would take the exact turning circumference around the tree and that started digging it up.

I had a 3720 with filled R4s and never had a problem, maybe because I don't take the exact same turns every time.

 

[PILOON]

Another consideration with a 4WD is due to the front lead damage will occur especially in turns.
The solution is to dis engage 4WD in all turns.

 

[csquared63]

Thanks guys. This was mostly just straight driving. I did have it in 4WD and it occured to me that it might be an issue, but as I said it was mostly straight. I made several trips down a trail with a full loader. The ground was pretty dry. My neighbor drives all over his lawn, a lot more than I do, and I don't see the tracks.

Here are two shots showing the damage. In the first, I only traveled twice over the grass. In the second, I probably made 20 trips.

 

[4570Man]

A bunch of trips over the same area is obviously going to kill it. Unless it’s super dry I don’t know why one trip is hurting anything. My tractor is heavier and my other tractor was a lot heavier and they never killed the grass. Take it out of 4wd unless it’s needed.

 

[oosik]

I wonder if it might be due, in part, to the type of grass. Around here my "lawn" is field grass that has been mowed into submission for 36+ years. I can drive my M6040 with R1 tires(weighs 10,100 pounds) on the lawn - it will leave chevon marks - it wills skerf up the grass if I make a turn - it sure won't kill any of the grass.

I don't make a habit of driving out on the lawn with the tractor.

Now my riding lawn mower - JD G100 - has turf tires and, obviously, I drive it all over the lawn. Never killed any grass or tore up any lawn with it.

I think the answer is very obvious - like with my tractor - STAY OFF THE LAWN.

 

[Coyote machine]

Drive only on the neighbor's lawn. He'll never know. Drive after dark!:shocked:

 

[Industrial Toys]

You said it. He drives ALL OVER His lawn. You drive in the same spot. I had a 770 and never saw where it had been cutting grass. Mind you, I never had a loader and come to think of it, the tires were not filled.

Make your roads wider and drive in varying positions.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have a JD 790 with filled turf tires. If I drive over the same area more than a few times, the grass is killed. The only thing I can think of why this is happening is because the tractor is too heavy with the filled rear tires.

Would I be correct?

Thanks

I don't think it is the weight of a 790 that is doing the damage. It might just be the type of grass/weeds that is a bit fragile. From your post photo, you have R4 tires not turf tires. If you are in 4 WD the front tires will be slightly spinning all the time. This could be the cause of the killing. I drive my 10000+(with FEL full of dirt) pound tractor several times over the yard hauling dirt and it doesn't kill my pasture grass lawn. I do try not to go more than a couple of trips in the same tracks though. It has R1 tires (loaded with water).

 

[Thomas]

By the looks well travel and mostly shaded might be problem.

 

[csquared63]

Drive only on the neighbor's lawn. He'll never know. Drive after dark!:shocked:

Ha! That's awesome.

 

[csquared63]

I wonder if it might be due, in part, to the type of grass. Around here my "lawn" is field grass that has been mowed into submission for 36+ years. I can drive my M6040 with R1 tires(weighs 10,100 pounds) on the lawn - it will leave chevon marks - it wills skerf up the grass if I make a turn - it sure won't kill any of the grass.

I think the answer is very obvious - like with my tractor - STAY OFF THE LAWN.

Thanks. The grass I was driving on was essentially field grass, but only mowed for 18+ years. I don't use the tractor to cut the lawn, just occasionally for moving soil or mulch and to plow the driveway in the winter.

 

[csquared63]

You said it. He drives ALL OVER His lawn. You drive in the same spot. I had a 770 and never saw where it had been cutting grass. Mind you, I never had a loader and come to think of it, the tires were not filled.

Make your roads wider and drive in varying positions.

Good points. I guess I'm somewhat of a tractor noob. Thanks

 

[zzvyb6]

Is the grass really dead or just disinterred (Pulled up and out)? Or, are the tires leaking and the salt or other solution affecting the grass?

Swap out your tires with a neighbors and see if the grass is being saved and their's killed ( ! ).

I drive my 1070 on the lawn all the time with loaded ag tires and loader mounted. Grass is healed in a few days.

 

[PILOON]

Looking at your pics it is obvious that that is a well travelled trail and not a typical lawn.
Shucks constant walking would even wear down a path like that.

 

[Creamer]

If you are in 4WD the speed differential causes constant slippage and with loaded turf tires there is a lot of rubber in contact with the grass and that little bit of slippage can tear the grass if it is fragile. If it is wetter it will do the same thing except that the dirt will give more and not tear the grass as much. We are talking consistent micro slippage here not macro slippage like wheels spinning. On dry ground turf tires get good traction and forced slippage will damage grass.

 

[mercdv]

It depends on the grass type and current grass conditions. My little 2305 without filled tires will kill my grass if I drive over the same spot too many times without giving the grass a resting period and this is in 2WD. It can be even worse on some grasses with loaded tires. Like with mine when they drove a 2WD loader over the same spot twice in a straight line, it killed the grass in their tracks. Might give you a good excuse to build a nice little road of some sort down that path.

 

[smstonypoint]

It may be just me, but it looks like you have more broadleaf plants than grass. Many broadleaf plants don't stand up to traffic very well.

Steve

 

[Industrial Toys]

You run up and down the same patch of grass in your slippers and you will get to dirt soon enough.

Turf tires are more a gentler alternative to Ag tires than a tire that won't harm turf at all.

 

[Creamer]

Turf tires are more a gentler alternative to Ag tires than a tire that won't harm turf at all.

Disagree. Ag tires will bites into the dirt more and move the dirt with the roots only in the area of the lug everywhere else the grass is not grabbed. If it is relatively hard dirt the the area between the lugs does not touch the grass at all. The turf tires due to more distributed weight on the higher amount of rubber touching the ground and the increased amount of "bite edges" will tend to slip more without moving the ground and therefore any slippage breaks almost all of the vegetation.