Looking at purchasing a new Kubota (possibly L3901 or L4701) & not sure if I want ag or industrial tires. Tractor will be used mostly in the mountains on pretty steep grades but will also be used on flat ground (fields). Will be running a rotary mower (bush hog), York rake, & front end loader. Any recommendations?
Ag vs industrial tires
- Thread starter coolbrze
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Turbys_1700
Elite Member
R4's will typically have a higher ply rating and stiffer sidewall. If you are not going to do any tillage they would be the way to go. I just purchased a set of 12 ply R4's for my Ford 4610 SU. I mainly brush hog with it and needed the heavier tire for thorns and flat prevention plus they are tubeless. Plug and go.
R4s wear great and get good traction 99% of the time.... Problem is hillsides (not real steep grades) in moist (not sloppy wet) conditions.... My problems with R4s occurred backing up the slope to bush hog close to a tree line... you might think (I did) that if it lost traction, it would slide straight down.... the weight of the bush hog swings the back around, so I’m starting to slide sideways down the slope... Front loader drops to ground... it stops.... long story short... my R4s are 10 years old and I’ll get Ag tires when replaced... I’m sure there’s some operator error involved in my experience... but there are a lot of tractors on Ag tires in the Hollow... Good luck with your decision...!
buckeyefarmer
Epic Contributor
R1 for what you described.
There are so many posts on this site and YouTube videos comparing the two. I went with R4s in the L6060 I just ordered because I have R1s on my NHWM55 now and they tear up the yard around the house and tear up my gravel driveway. Maybe the R4s will do the same, but the R4s appeared to be more common on compact tractors so I felt I’d had a higher resale on it. Also if I need to do work at someone else’s property I figured the R4s will do less damage on their property.
I plan to run my rotary cutter, 7’ box blade, rear blade, backhoe, grapple, and later a rake to clean up my hilly property. I hope I don’t regret the R4s and I am sure there will be a couple places they may not be as good as far as traction. However, like with the R1s I will learn and compensate. My final thought is that if R4s were so terrible then they likely would not sell them or strongly steer you away from them at the dealership.
Hopefully I made a wise choice. Tractor hopefully gets delivered end of next week so once I run it around a bit I’ll have more advice.
I plan to run my rotary cutter, 7’ box blade, rear blade, backhoe, grapple, and later a rake to clean up my hilly property. I hope I don’t regret the R4s and I am sure there will be a couple places they may not be as good as far as traction. However, like with the R1s I will learn and compensate. My final thought is that if R4s were so terrible then they likely would not sell them or strongly steer you away from them at the dealership.
Hopefully I made a wise choice. Tractor hopefully gets delivered end of next week so once I run it around a bit I’ll have more advice.
oosik
Epic Contributor
No question what-so-ever, I would go with R1's. When your butt is up against the wall - the R1's are going to grip and pull you thru. I will agree - if you will be doing a lot of whatever on your lawn - the R1's will scuff it up.
I run R1's - 16.9 x 28 & filled with Rimguard. Each rear tire weighs right at 1000#.
I run R1's - 16.9 x 28 & filled with Rimguard. Each rear tire weighs right at 1000#.
LD1
Epic Contributor
R1's for field and hill work.
R4's are a compromise. Less traction. But benefits are less lawn damage, and stiffer/thicker tire with higher load ratings and do better in the woods because increased puncture resistance. None of those benefits help you for what little you describe of your needs
R4's are a compromise. Less traction. But benefits are less lawn damage, and stiffer/thicker tire with higher load ratings and do better in the woods because increased puncture resistance. None of those benefits help you for what little you describe of your needs
motownbrowne
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For traction on steep slopes, I'd take R1s every time.
Deere Dude
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I was considering a skid steer or a CUT. I nixed the skid steer because it would tear up my lawn and gravel driveway to much. I went with a CUT and R4s because I thought it would be easier on the lawn than a friends R1 was, and I was correct.
I have a big fairly nice lawn and cannot tell I am maneuvering on it with R4s unless I do a lot of work in one spot. I had to deal in a foot of mud hailing dirt for fill and it did alright. Maybe R1s would have been better but for the limited time I used them in mud they worked out alright. I suppose it all depends if it is a field tractor or an all around tractor with a bunch of yard work involved.
I have a big fairly nice lawn and cannot tell I am maneuvering on it with R4s unless I do a lot of work in one spot. I had to deal in a foot of mud hailing dirt for fill and it did alright. Maybe R1s would have been better but for the limited time I used them in mud they worked out alright. I suppose it all depends if it is a field tractor or an all around tractor with a bunch of yard work involved.
s219
Super Member
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R4 tires are optimized for doing heavy loader work, operating around construction sites (or other scenarios where durability and puncture resistance is important). They are a good general purpose tires for many uses.
R1 tires are optimized for row-crop farming where forward traction and a narrow tire are important factors. They have fewer plys and are less stiff than R4 tires.
You haven't mentioned anything that suggests R1's are needed, so maybe look into R4 tires. It really comes down to aligning the purpose/benefit of the tire with your typical uses.
R1 tires are optimized for row-crop farming where forward traction and a narrow tire are important factors. They have fewer plys and are less stiff than R4 tires.
You haven't mentioned anything that suggests R1's are needed, so maybe look into R4 tires. It really comes down to aligning the purpose/benefit of the tire with your typical uses.