Hillside traction Kubota Zero turns, specific Z700

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Brother next door is interested in a Kubota Z700, especially with the $1000 off Kubota is now offering thru 10/31/14.
His lot is a bit steep sloped in the back of his house. Any traction issues? Does he need filled tires or tire weights.
Any one with Kubota Z hillside experience willing to share experience rather than theory?

 

[Scooby074]

Id depends on what "steep" is I suppose. If he can go straight up and down he shouldnt have issues. I regularly mow about 20*+ with mine side hill. It can slip out a bit. If I go straight up, no problems. Ive witnessed people mow hills considerably steeper than that (30* maybe) with the same ZD as mine by doing it vertical. Sidehill, on the steepest part of my yard, if Im facing down, it can get real interesting, real fast. Im running the stock Turfmasters. No added weight. Does Kubota recommend wheel weight on their ZTRs?

That said, this is with the stock tires. I really want to upgrade to Carlisle AT101's for next year. They are supposed to really increase traction.
<a href="http://youtu.be/apmyo4FCkXI" target="_blank">

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Thanks for the info video. Very helpful.

 

[groundcover]

I have had my ZD221 on some steep hills and have been fine. Sticks a lot better than the Skag freedom Z I had but the diesel is a good bit heavier. Not to say you can't get some wheel spin but I haven't scared myself .

 

[Kubota 2007]

I have a ZD 326, Tire's are not filled and I don't use the rear weights. I mow a 30 deg hill and have no problems, I mow up and down and other days side ways, wet grass and mud seem to be the biggest problem with a zero turn. I also use a B3030 with a belly mower and fell much safer with the zero turn

 

[EddieWalker]

I don't have a Kubota, but I've found that with mine, if the grass is dry, it sticks like glue!!!! I'm truly amazed at how well it does going sideways on a steep hill and even more so how comfortable I am on it. Places that I was too scared to cut with my tractor, I don't even give a second thought to cutting on my zero turn.

If there is any moisture on the grass at all, it's just not going to happen. I have the standard turf tires and they are worthless on wet grass or a patch of mud. I try to never cut wet grass because of how bad it builds up under the deck. But sometimes I don't have a choice or I hit a wet spot. Once the tires lose traction, you are stuck.

I've seen where more aggressive tires will get you through the soft ground, but my turf tires already tear up the ground if I turn to quickly while going fast. Those other tires would just tear up my yard even more. As it is, the damage that I do is pretty minor and in a few days the grass grows back and you cant tell that I tore it up.

Eddie

 

[CNeubauer]

We changed dad's Cub Cadet ztr over to the at101's and they made a huge improvement on slopes or wet ground. He gas a ZD326 now and I plan on putting a set of Carisle WT300's on it before spring.