Another R4/Turf Loaded or not question

[doabbs]

Just finished reading through most of the threads I could find on the topic of R1/R3/R4 tires and that didn't help very much. Wanted to get peoples opinion given my use case.

Got a 2520 and initially asked for it to come with the Turf tires. It's waiting on a MMM to show up so it's not ready to go just yet so I've got a couple days to change/makeup my mind.

I plan on using it for a good 50/50 mix of loader and mowing work. Initially I have a fair amount of loader work to do. Regrading and landscaping about a 1/2 acre area, turning some compost piles, moving about 20 yards of loam. Have a number of animal pens that will be regularly cleaned out. Need to move some medium sized rocks too.

Once that is all done I figure I could use the 62D MMM to make life easier mowing the lawn.

In the winter I will be using it to plow my driveway and clean up animal pens.

After thinking about it I can't make up my mind:

• Turf tires loaded
• Turf tires loaded use Ballast Box
• R4's loaded

 

[sunnyside360]

My dealer always recommends loaded tires if you have FEL as an economical ballast, but you can also use wheel weights and/or ballast box.

 

[doabbs]

I'm leaning towards R4 loaded, I just think if I wanted a lawn mower I shouldn't have bought a tractor. I want the loader work to be the main thing and the R4's shouldn't rip things up too much.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm leaning towards R4 loaded, I just think if I wanted a lawn mower I shouldn't have bought a tractor. I want the loader work to be the main thing and the R4's shouldn't rip things up too much.

I ran filled R-4's on my 790 (which was also my mower) for years without damaging the lawn. Those R-4's will leave impressions, but they're gone in a day or so.
The main thing is to run in 2WD as much as possible and minimize sharp turns (that's what tears the grass up).

As far as ballast for your tractor...talk to your dealer about a ballast box. That would be best if you plan on much loader work.

 

[MarkV]

It sounds like you want to do double duty. Mowing and loader work. For the cost of the Mid-mount mower you could buy a riding mower that would work fine on 1/2 acre. If your did that then there would be no question, for me, load the tires. Loader and snow removal work would both benefit from loaded tires. If you want to do your finish mowing with the tractor then I would say use a ballast box or the box blade you will buy to do the regrading on the 1/2 acre as ballast.

MarkV

 

[DAY]

From what I know (which ain't much!) Roy's right. Loaded rears are a must for ground engaged equipment, but so are Ag tires. You don't say how much 'lawn' you have, or if it is a putting green or more like ahorse pasture. Many, many folks here say get a zero turn to cut grass, and a tractor for everything else. Of course, it's YOUR money they are spending!

There's a good thread on grooving/siping R4's for snow work. A good idea in NH! And a ballast box, even an old oil drum filled with rocks, can be removed, whereas loaded tires can't.
You say you've read all the tire posts, and are confused. We haven't helped at all, have we?:confused2:

 

[doabbs]

Are they really that bad in the snow? Saw the thread on grooving the R4s I got the mower deck because of the $2500 promotion. Figure I will be doing more loader work at first but wanted the option of mowing with it. Only have an acre of lawn but have a couple loader projects that will add more to that total. We plan on buying a bigger property in the next 2-3 years. Didn't think I'd save much if I didn't get the mower and wasn't really interested in any other attachments right now. I've got access to a variety of attachments. Do folks recommend ballast and filled tires for day to day loader work or only when you are pushing capacity?

 

[Glen Watkins]

I think JD recommends rear ballast of some sort be used with an fel installed. Just hang a ballast box off the back! I think it is explained in your manual.

 

[greg_g]

As far as ballast for your tractor...talk to your dealer about a ballast box. That would be best if you plan on much loader work.

Agreed. I ordered my 3720 with the quick detach loader and quick change bucket. Since the front hardware was removeable, I thought it only logical that the rear weight be removeable as well. Not very practical with (the very expensive) wheel weight, not possible with liquid ballast. So I went with a ballast box that I can park on a pallet when I don't need the rear weight. Compared to the price of ballasting all 4 tires, I thought the $210 list price for the JD ballast box was reasonable.

//greg//

 

[RoyJackson]

Are they really that bad in the snow? Saw the thread on grooving the R4s I got the mower deck because of the $2500 promotion. Figure I will be doing more loader work at first but wanted the option of mowing with it. Only have an acre of lawn but have a couple loader projects that will add more to that total. We plan on buying a bigger property in the next 2-3 years. Didn't think I'd save much if I didn't get the mower and wasn't really interested in any other attachments right now. I've got access to a variety of attachments. Do folks recommend ballast and filled tires for day to day loader work or only when you are pushing capacity?

For traction and loader, the ballast box works better then filled tires. Filled tires help more with stability of the tractor.

R-4's are pretty wide tires and don't put much weight (per square inch) on the ground. As far as traction and the lawn, my R-4's on my old 790 did better then the R-3 turfs on my 4400. I rarely needed 4WD with the 790...I almost always do with the turfs. Now, my lawn is fairly sloped...if your lawn is level, the turfs will probably do OK.
As far as snow removal...the R-4's were pretty good as long as you used a degree of common sense (meaning get out and plow before it's 12" deep!). You can always add chains. There's also a good thread (in the snow removal forum) on siping the tires. I've never done that so I cannot comment on it.

All in all, I'd rather have R-4's then turfs. But I'm not going to spend the money to convert at this point in time.