Traction ag vs industrial XR 4046

[EKUgrad]

Sorry, I know that this has been beaten to death in other threads but I wanted some of y'all's opinions, too. We are looking at getting a XR 4046 and have only had tractors with R1's, dealer is pushing R4's. The tractor will mostly be used for bushhogging and some of the terrain is hilly. There will also be some general farm maintenance type work, too. Any thoughts? I was looking at the photo thread and was moderately surprised with what was able to be done with the R4's. Anyone have any idea which have a higher ply rating or weight rating? Thanks in advance.

 

[AaronS]

I am one of the only 4046 owners I've seen on here that opted for R1's, and I had to wait longer for them because most all are sold with R4's. I believe the R4's have higher ply and weight ratings, but have not checked to make sure. I wanted R1's for the occasion that I would be in mud. What actual usage has shown me is that those occasions are very rare, and I would have been served just as well if not better with R4's. In our situation, we live on an old dairy farm that has a large concrete area that used to be a feed lot. Most of my miles/hours come on this concrete, and I think R4's would hold up to it better than the R1's. For steep, sometimes slick hills, I would still go with an R1.

 

[peter3759]

I have a r4041h with r4 tires and pull a 2 bottom plow, use my back blade to cut ditches, brush hog 20 acres, rototill, snow removal with plow and back blade, and earth moving with a box blade! My land is flat but unless your doing ground engaging work while going up steep hills 4wd will get you where you need to go! There are situations where I wish I had more traction but for me those are few and far between and not having r1's tearing up my property is more important to me! Hope this helps!

 

[boggen]

dis like R4's, they are like dullies on a pickup truck. there fat, slick, and you get stuck in mud, ice, snow and on hills.

prefer R1's they will sink further down in mud and keep you going. and i can bite my way (tread) through snow. vs seating on top of the snow spinning wheels.

you can get any tire in different type of ply rating. higher ply rating = normally thicker rubber and/or harder rubber.

if it is to wet out. R1's or R4's are going to tear up the lawn, and make ruts no matter what.

 

[charles todd]

R4's are exactly what they are, industrial. Excellent traction on concrete, hard packed ground and thin mud with hard bottom. They are wider for hard surface use. You will get stuck in mud, otherwise are ok on a utility tractor. The R4's do not clean out well and have shallow tread compared to R1. I would only get R4's if I was using the tractor on construction sites or if it was dedicated to mowing the front yard.

R1's are also exactly what they are, ag. Excellent traction on dirt, grass, mud. Not so much on concrete. This would be my choice pick for a utility tractor that will used for general farm duties. They belong on a utility tractor of this size. Had I gone with the XU5065CPS, I would have opted for R1 over the R4.

My $0.02

CT

 

[BlessedMess]

Real pleased with the R4s on my XU. I also have the LS backhoe, and appreciate the wider tire profile for stability when using it and the front loader. They don't tear up the yard too badly, and handle the occasional 3 mile trip over blacktop to the in-law's better than R1s likely would. Have done bush hogging and finish mowing in sloping terrain with no need for 4WD. Insofar as ice and snow, well, it stayed like this until all the white stuff melted... I usually avoid slick and muddy situations unless absolutely necessary, and that may be why R4s work just fine for me.

 

[AaronS]

I didn't think Roll Tide country ever saw white stuff!

 

[tman1020]

So far I have been stuck more with R1 tires that I have with R4 tires. I think it's because the wider stance prevents me from sinking in the first place on the first pass. Thats usually enough to let me know not to try going through the wet areas a second time. But it seems that by the time your tire is sunk in the mud it's often too late anyways no matter what type tire you have. This is my first go around with the R4 tires. All my other tractors have been agg. And always thought that was the way to go and was really on the fence about it when I purchased this one. But I'll tell you 200 hours so far and I have no regrets. I like the wider more stable stance and the thicker ply that they offer. I have found traction much improved with the R4 for my uses.

 

[mx1alex]

I have a 40 horse Kubota with R4's and there have been a couple of times when I couldn't get up a slick hill that I think I could've with normal ag tires. If you're not using it on pavement or a lawn situation I see no reason to go with R4.

 

[EKUgrad]

Thanks for the feedback, gents. You've basically all confirmed what I thought.

 

[peter3759]

Well, who won? R1 or r4? lol

 

[BlessedMess]

I didn't think Roll Tide country ever saw white stuff!

After two years running of 10"+ snowfalls in Feb/Mar courtesy of "Polar Vortex" scenarios, I'm hoping we're done for awhile. All of y'all in the great white north who annually blow, scrape, shovel and slide around in winter precipitation have my sympathies! Maybe that would convince me to get R1s or a good set of chains for the R4s.

 

[George2615]

I don't do mud so R4's have been on my last 2 tractors. I do a lot of the white stuff but have loaded tires and chains available if needed.
As mentioned, for mud and steeper grades go with the R1's.

 

[EKUgrad]

Well, I don't do mud either -- but I do have a fairly nicely maintained place so I went with R4's -- hope that I don't regret it. We actually bought two -- dad thought he needed one too, but he went with the R1's as he will be mowing hillsides steeper than I will. I have the MF 5460 with R1's and MFWD if I need more pulling power, I suppose -- but it is too big for small work.

They should be delivered next weekend. Fun times ahead, for sure.

 

[George2615]

Well congrats on the 2 new tractors. Post pics when they come in.

 

[EKUgrad]

Will do. We live about 3 hours apart, a touch too far if I screwed up and get hung up on flat ground after a light rain because I went with the R4's - ha. :drink:

 

[George2615]

At least you have the Massey to pull you out if you get stuck but I don't think you'll have any problems. Get the rear tires filled if your dealer hasn't already done that for you.

 

[Bluesteel]

You won't have any issues with the R4s. I have had no issues with them. Good traction when needed but don't tear the grass us when finish mowing. If I was in a barn lot or doing tillage work continuously I may reconsider.

 

[Woodshaver]

Ok, my 2cents. R4's or R1's go nowhere in snow/ice without chains. Learned this from plowing much big snows here in Upstate NY. The mud I have here it also makes little difference between R1's or R4's as once you start digging in and spinning you get stuck no matter what especially if you get stuck on the frame. Maybe a little advantage to R1's but R4's float better wet/mushy ground. Plowing ground R1's advantage but loaded R4's have no problem. Pushing large piles of brush/trees on dry ground R1's better.

 

[MEXR4046HC]

Do tire chains fit on both R1 and R4 tires for the XR4046? That may be another point to sway someone one way or the other. Any first-hand knowledge?