R-4 vs R-1 tires

[jeff77indy]

I am looking at purchasing a new tractor and my questions is how well do R-4 tires do at plowing and field cultivation work?
My concern is that I would like the wider R-4 tires for loader work.
My field cultivation work would be limited to plowing and working a garden spot, an occasional 2-3 acre hayfield and pulling a pasture renovator on occasion. The majority of work will be lawn mowing and clipping pastures.
This may have been dicussed already if so point me to the thread.
Thanks

 

[Oleozz]

Hi Jeff----Stay away from the R1's if you are going to do any lawn mowing, they leave mighty big ruts. For what you have said your needs are I would go with the R4's.

 

[rope1]

I've got a 35 HP Agco with r4's and use it for almost everything you've described. Works great for me, use it working up arenas, mowing, grading, snow removal, and everything else. They don't tear up the grass as bad, and they give great traction, unless your in greasy mud. My spring tooth is an 8', 13 tine, and I'll run out of power way before they'll ever slip.

 

[jbrumberg]

Jeff77indy:

What type of tires do you have on your Ford 1910 4WD, and what size tractor are you interested in? If you are going to do a lot of lawn mowing I would stay away from R-1's. Jay

 

[JerryG]

Like the others said, if you are going to be on your lawn the R1s will tear it up. As far as loader work with R1s, if you do heavy loader works with R1s you need to have 6 ply tires. I had two 4 ply come apart and loader work was the cause. Since changing to 6 ply tires several years ago, I haven't had any problems what so ever.

 

[jeff77indy]

Thanks for the replies. My 1910 has R-1's on it.
I'm looking at a 35-40 hp tractor to replace it and will be mowing the lawn with it until I get a ZTR in the future.
I'll most likly go with the R-4's as I like the wider foot print and believe they are better for FEL work.
Jeff

 

[wolc123]

Prior to your last post, R4's looked like your best choice. If your last tractor had R1's and you had an acceptable ammount of turf damage, then you can probably get by temporarily with R1's until you get your zero-turn. Your zero-turn will have turfs so this way you will make no compromises on the lawn or in the fields. R4's are a poor choice for plowing, providing traction less than worn out R1's and requireing a smaller plow. In fact, a 2wd tractor with R1's will develope as much traction against a plow as a 4wd of equal weight with R4's. For agricultural work, if you want to achieve the traction potential of your 4wd tractor then R1's are the way to go. If you are concerned with punture resistance, R1's (usually 4-ply on CUT's) can be special ordered in 6-ply to provide equal to that of R4's which are usually supplied 6-ply.

 

[jeff77indy]

I can live with the little damage R-1's do on the lawn. Belive I will go with R-1's on the new tractor as the one I am really interested in has 9.50-16 on the front.
The 1910 has 6.00-15 on the front.
Thanks Jeff

 

[N80]

I have done some serious loader work with my 45 hp tractor with r-1's and have had no problems. This was not just moving and loading material, this was 'bulldozing', knocking down trees, leveling, pushing brush piles around etc.

But, I have to say, even in 2wd if the ground is wet, the r1's tear it up when turning.

For landscaping (moving dirt) and 'plowing' with my boxblade, r4's would have been useless for me. There were times when 4wd + r1's + 45hp was barely enough to keep me going in some of my muddy, hilly food plots.

I'd also say that for hard surfaces, r1's can make for a bumpy, unpleasant ride just because of the tread size. It's just like anything else, there are tradeoffs, but it seems to me that if traction is ever going to be the determining factor, r1's are the way to go.

Anyone out there have a set of each? That's a very expensive way to have your cake and eat it too, but changing wheels/tires on a tractor is not all that hard. Especially if you have a loader, the fronts are a piece of cake. The rears aren't bad if you have a good jack and a level surface.

 

[RandyK]

I have a set of turfs and R1's. My tractor (JD 4500) had turfs on it when I got it and I bought an almost new set of mounted R1's on ebay delivered for under $600 (got lucky!). In the spring when the yard is soft I put the turf tires on, the rest of the time I have the R1's on. Works great. When the yard is dry the R1s actually make the yard look better (less grass gets smashed down by the tire before the mower passes over).

I think this is the ideal way, but I realize I got lucky with getting a set of tires and wheels so cheaply.

Takes about 30 minutes to change the tires and wheels with the loader on and an impact wrench. I just have to remember that my tractor won't fit under the garage door with the rops up with the R1's!