R14s in snow

[SuperiorLakeEffect]

Somebody asked about how they do, so I thought I'd start a thread given my experiences with them. Finally have enough snow on the ground to test things out, so here's what I've found.

The test course (picture from last year, not this much snow yet):

Varying slope over about 75 yards with pavement under part of it. Steep enough that when my mother in law parked on it one spring, her car went sliding to the bottom while in park.

Today's experiment-

Control Group:
1 Unladen toyota tacoma with well worn snow tires.

Experiment Group:
1 Unladen Kubota L3901 with filled R14s.

Experiment conditions:
About an inch or two of slippery wet snow on everything.

Results: Tacoma was unable to make it up the hill in 2wd, climbed no problem in 4. Tractor made it up in 2wd just fine, but there was definitely some slippage. Diff lock just made it harder to steer. No problems at all in 4.

So that's a win, I guess.

We'll see how things do as winter wears on.

 

[Citydude]

Thanks for taking the time to report. I like your controlled testing!
Pretty picture from last winter.

 

[rcio7684]

Thanks for sharing. I just put some Carlisle Versa Turfs on my MF GC1723, but we don't have any snow so far (not that I'm complaining), so good to hear your experience. Is the steepness greater than the photo shows? I find in my photos of the slope of the land at my home is greater than shown in them.

 

[Thomas]

Also try backing up the hill with tractor in 2WD & 4WD.

 

[Midwesterner]

What tires did your tractor have on it before the R14s?

 

[SuperiorLakeEffect]

What tires did your tractor have on it before the R14s?

Probably nothing, new tractor. I'm new at this, so unfortunately no data for comparison between tire models on the same tractor and test course.

 

[CobyRupert]

What about weight distribution?
Tacoma in 2 wd with a load of sand in the back, or tractor in 2 wd with a load of sand in the bucket, or with/without a rear attachment ; and results may of been very different.
Diff locks will make steering harder. Here’s a trick, instead of using diff lock when one tire is slipping, use wheel brake on slipping tire. More torque will now go to the tire not slipping.

 

[SuperiorLakeEffect]

What about weight distribution?
Tacoma in 2 wd with a load of sand in the back, or tractor in 2 wd with a load of sand in the bucket, or with/without a rear attachment ; and results may of been very different.
Diff locks will make steering harder. Here’s a trick, instead of using diff lock when one tire is slipping, use wheel brake on slipping tire. More torque will now go to the tire not slipping.

Weigh distribution? Sounds like an opportunity for future experimentation next time I need to do a dump run!

Definitely need to play with the split brake a couple of times soon before I absolutely need it this winter.

 

[Midwesterner]

Probably nothing, new tractor. I'm new at this, so unfortunately no data for comparison between tire models on the same tractor and test course.

Gotcha. Well, you chose a very good tire to start with. There are very few directions that you could go to get better traction in the snow. Congrats on the new tractor.