Tires JD4720 Wheel & Tire Spacing

[Highlander]

Owning a 4300HST with a 430 Loader for the past four years, I have now logged over 900hrs on this machine using the loader for approx. two thirds of the time, I soon discovered the superior stability provided by reversing my front wheels on the R-4 tires to the widest position. Presently mulling the purchase of /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif another tractor come next spring, I am looking at the 4720 for a number of reasons but have noticed an anomoly in the wheel and tire spacing when the R-1 tires are mounted. It appears that there is but one(1) inch of offset on the 8.00-16 6PR R-1(Rim p/n AM127369) versus the four(4)inches provided by reversing the 10.00-16.5 6PR R-4 T1 (Rim p/n AM127368). Why is there no virtually no offset when using the R-1 Tires??? I enjoy this added stability and often wonder why John Deere would offer 8 positions on the rear wheels but no options on the front? Could I use another wheel or am I doomed to use no more offset and a narrow front end regardless of what I do with the rear? I really do not want the R-4 tires unless I have to as the tractor will be out in the field mowing, cultivating, seeding and fertilizing and light baling when required outside of it's normal gardening chores!

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue">Why is there no virtually no offset when using the R-1 Tires??? </font>
The reason is that when you offset the front wheels, you are greatly increasing the stress on the entire front end especially the bearings. I am sure that if you check, most compact tractor manuals state that front wheels with Ag tires are only allowed in one position.

 

[Highlander]

No offense intended, I went back to the Deere manual for the 4720 and it allows for a narrow and wide R-1 wheel configurations on the front end, however the difference is only 1 inch compared to the 4 inches for the R-4 tires. I find it odd, that for the tire tread alone, John Deere must feel there is sufficient bearing support for R-4's over the R-1 tires. Perhaps it is due to the tire slippage with the R-4's, but the off-set difference is still hard to explain. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif