R-1s Ripping up drive rows too much!

[GarlicOfEden]

Howdy All,

I'm row cropping on a 5-7% slope. Last year's planting methods are going to be changing. I'm wanting to go with grassed drive-space rows this year. I need the grass lanes to stay grassed for erosion control purposes. My current R-1s are roughly 48" mounted dia with approx 144" rolling circ on 24s. Completely fine getting new rims and centers to go with the next tires. My R-1s are ripping up too much grass. I've seen the Titan/Goodyear bar-turf tires and think I'd love'em. But as my luck would be, they only make 1 size, no where near the size I need. I have specialty root crops so I till and pull conveyor diggers. When I saw the performance of the zig-zag pattern bar turfs traction, I realized that's something like I need to pull and prevent angle of slide. Suggestion please! (constructive advice please, I do realize it could be easier to sell the tractor, sell the farm, and buy perfectly flat drain-tiled land.) We were married on this farm and would like to keep it. Thanks

 

[RalphVa]

The 4010 that I had for 9 years had turf tires. They have more side grip than R4s on the 1025R and the 2025R. Only had R1s on the Gravely for a short period before selling it; so have no comparison with. The turfs also pulled pretty good when tilling the soil that one time I did it in the big garden. After that, it was no till. The turfs pulled an old JD M soil ripper in previously tilled soil. Not sure how they'd have done for the 1st tilling in heavy grass. Did that with a Gravely rotary plow (with turfs then on it, but the plow kinda pulls itself along). Then I pulled 2 big 45 degree opposed discs to make raised rows after soil ripping with the 4010. The turfs were fine for that, too.

Ralph

 

[oldnslo]

I agree with Ralph on the diamond pattern turf tires provide more side grip than R4s would.

Not sure how well they will hold on wet grass but again suspect better than R4.

Would R1 radials provide a bigger foot print and do less damage to your grass while still providing the best traction?

 

[oosik]

I think you will find that most any tread design is going to rip, tear, pull grass. Especially with repeated trips over the same track. Perhaps the diamond tread pattern of turf tires will be kinder & gentler.

I have R-1's on my 10,000# Kubota M6040. It rips the crap out of my lawn - any season. Only difference - doesn't leave deep cleat marks when the lawn is dry & hard.