Does another 4inches make a difference?

CPM · Mar 8, 2012

crazyangel said:
Oh, you are talking about tires....

My mind when somewhere else. :laughing:

Yeah, I couldn't resist phrasing it that way - kind of a headline grabber!

CPM · Mar 8, 2012

KYDan said:
I have the R4 industrial tires on my MX 5100 and love them. However, I do have some specialized uses that influenced my choice. First, I have a couple of older ponds on my property that I am cleaning the muck from the bottom. The R4 tires work better in that use for me as they do not dig in the muck as deeply as the R1s do. I have tried it with both and the Ag tires were continually digging in and I had to pull the tractor out with another one. I have not had that happen as much with the R4s. I have big locust thorns that can puncture tires and the R4s have more rubber and are more puncture resistant. Also I have a runway and the R4s do not cleat it nearly as badly as the R1s do. The downside of the R4s is less traction although that is somewhat minimized by 4WD, and they really aren't good for any plowing as they will not ride in the furrow.

Thanks for the input. I was supprised that the Ags didn't do as well near the ponds. That's an issue for me as I have a few dams, which I'll need to operate near, especially when it's wet.

I wont have the runway issue as I fly helicopters - but I'd hate to have cleat marks over the Helipad:thumbsup:

CPM · Mar 8, 2012

Reg said:
Spec sheet for MX5100, from Tractordata.com;

Standard tires (ag): Front: 7.5L-15. Rear: 14.9-26 (2WD)
Front: 9.5-16. Rear: 14.9-26 (4WD)
Optional tires (ag): Front: 7.5L-15. Rear: 13.6-28 (2WD)
Front: 9.5L-15. Rear: 13.6-28 (2WD)
Front: 9.5L-14.9-26 (2WD). Rear:
Front: 9.5-16. Rear: 13.6-28 (4WD)
Lawn/turf front: 29x12.50-15
305R343
Lawn/turf rear: 44x18-20
610R470
Industrial front: 12-16.5 (4WD)
Industrial rear: 17.5L-24 (4WD)

=========================================
From firestoneag.com;
Here is something ALMOST counter intuitive;
Rolling circumference of the 17.5L24 is SLIGHTLY less than for
the 17.5LR24 (the radial version) although the diameter is slightly larger.

17.5L24 diameter 48.9, rolling circumference 145
17.5LR24 diameter 48.7, rolling circumference 146

R1s
13.6x28 diameter 51.5 to 51.7 according to tread pattern.
rolling circumference 153 to 154
--------------------------Conclusion------------------------
As in other fields(pun) boasting an extra 4 inches turns out to be barely 2 1/2 and only half of THAT is relevant to height (ground clearance).
{There is a very old joke somewhere about why women can't read maps, to SCALE (-: }

As to what OTHER differences they make;
1) Ags typically have a lower load rating, which can really MATTER for FEL work.
2) Industrials are harder wearing.
3) In THIS tractor's case industrials are significantly wider and will therefore rut less and "float" better.
4) If you ever decide to fill them with fluid the R4s could take more ballast.

Clear to me, but your uses may be different.
I would in any case not pay an extra kilobuck for industrials.
Hint/clue try to find out which are the most popular tire with that dealer's customers, go with those.
Then see if you can snarf up a set of the others as take-offs for cheap.
That way you get the best of both (-:

Thanks for the detail. It looks like I'll have to cough up the extra for the Industrials. They seem to offer the best match for my needs right now. Of course, this may change in the future but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.