new 3720 tire decision

[pbt_sisson]

Thanks guys/ I finally decided to order a new jd 3720 cab tractor. This machine is awesome. Powerful.Sleek. I could go on and on.....However the biggest decision I have to make before ordering is the tire kind. Should I get the r4's or r3 turfs?
I will use this machine for everything. I have 6+acres I mow with a rr fininh mower. I use the loader for gravel work. I use a grapple attachment for firewood,brush tree work. I sometimes bushhog 1+acres w/5ft bushhog.
I know the turfs will give me a much smoother ride mowing in the summer months, nut what about loader work and snow removal? What about durablilty when bushhogging?
Any thoughts would be appreciated/
Thanks. Paul

 

[jcmseven]

For multiple tasks I would go with the R4 tires. The R3 tires are fine and they get surprisingly good traction, but the R4 tires have solid traction, a great load rating and really are not harder on soft turf. They also (please keep this in mind) generally have a better resale value as they are somewhat more popular in the aftermarket--although good R3 machines are popular and hard to find. Personally, given all the pro's and con's I think the R4's offer the most for the least.

John M

 

[kennyd]

l am a R4 guy also...you will get LOTS of opinions on this issue, just like asking whether a gear ttranny is better than a hydro

 

[Nuru]

I had a discussion with my local JD service mechanics about this on Saturday. I am thinkng of going to the Turf Specials I had on my 4310 if they will fit (clear the MMM I just bought). and they indicated that the R4s on the compacts today are a much softer tire than those they used to put on them which were skid loader tires. The R-4 rears probably won't cut up your grass, but turning with the R-4 fronts is where you have to be careful with a tractor of this size. you also want to mow when the soil is dry versus wet too. The more wet the soil is, the more marks/tracks the R-4s will make potentially. I have a cab, so I will be interested in seeing if the filled R-4s will mark up my grass. I did a test run and it did not really leave any tracks I could see.

Snow - well dunno for sure, but I have seen some say on the forums that the R-4s are more slippery than the R-3s. However, on my former 4310, I used the R-3s in the snow and without being filled, they slipped very noticeably, and when I switched to the R-3 Turf Specials (41x18LLx20 rear, and 25x10.50x 15), and they had much more traction than the R-3s.

This year I might load the Turf Specials (if that is permitted?), to help with stability on the 3520 Cab.

 

[CT Yankee]

I wrestled with the exact same decision for weeks. I looked at every dealer and website I could find to help my decision making process.

I went with the big R-4's on my new 3320. They look and perform great. I am very pleased with my decision. Next to no impact on my lawn which I like to keep manicured yet great traction where and when I need it. Really beefs up the tractor and I feel it makes it a bit more stable. MJF

 

[Deerescaper]

I also endorse the R-4 tires as I do landscaping with my 3720 open station. I have never had one complaint from customers about tearing up their lawn turf. They generally can't believe how much work that tractor will do without any tracking on the grass. In winter for snow removal I use the tractor without any noticable traction problems. Depending on your snow cleaning maybe a set of chains would be beneficial.

 

[jsboening]

I went with the r3's(loaded) and am happy. They work great for mowing and was surprised how well they worked for loader work. I haven't tried them in the snow yet, but I'm hoping the work better than the r4's(loaded) I had on my old 4100. My back blade always wanted to turn the back of the tractor when it was angled and when pushing snow they seemed to polish the snow into slick ice. Thought I'd try the r3's. So far I'm happy.