Tires RE: possibly switching tires on my 2001 JD4100....

garchib · Apr 4, 2005

RE: possibly switching tires on my 2001 JD4100....

I am toying with switching from R3 turfs to industrial tires. This is due to almost getting stuck in two feet of snow in my side yard. I got out, but have never even come close to getting stuck with this tractor before. Basically, I had to compact the snow before the R3(s) were able to get traction. Are the industrial tires (R4(s) ??) truely "ok" on the grass ? I do a lot of mowing with my tractor and I would rather not switch tires each season and just go with one set. Also, anybody have an idea of how much it would cost me to swap my tires ? Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

trlong · Apr 5, 2005

Were you running chains on your R3's this winter when you got stuck?

I have no experience with Industrials. For mowing, and many chores around my 10 sidehill acres, I run R3's on my 4wd 4115. At my dealer's recommendation, I put chains on them, from the start, whenever not mowing, or on dry fairly flat land (which I have little of). I've found the combination very good for traction when needed and (removing the chains) excellent for not chewing up the grass. With the chains, I have only gotten stuck once, in a very muddy area. Fortunately, I had the BH on and was able to reach out and drag myself out with little effort.

One of the reasons my dealer suggested the R3/chains combo was that he believed they were actually better traction, with chains, on snow and ice due to the chains not getting buried into deeper tread. This leaves the option of good traction with chains or low impact on lawns w/o the chains. I find installing or removing the chains fairly quick and easy.

Hope this helps,

Tom

garchib · Apr 5, 2005

Thanks Tom for the info ! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

RalphVa · Apr 5, 2005

My Gravely was bought with turf tires and chains. They make a big difference in snow/ice. Think they're the only combination available to me if I were to use the very heavy old square chute snow blower on it again. Only used it once for a 7" sleet fall a couple winters ago. Not likely I'll use it again since I have my JD 4010 with FEL now (with turfs).

I've also R1 duals for the Gravely. They grip pretty good but make more prints in the grass. They also dig as bad as the chains do in dirt when they do let go. Chains are probably the best in mud. The R1s and turfs both quickly become little round mud-covered donuts in mud. Chains don't have much side hold in mud though. Think you're more likely to slide sideways on muddy spots on a slope with chains than with turfs or R1s. R1s would hold sideways a little bit better.

Ralph

pat32rf · Apr 5, 2005

Sooner or later there comes a time when the snow is just too deep and heavy for anything that doesn't have tracks. Or the snow might be to wet and slippery to climb the grade. If I keep the trail packed down my R3s with chains will go thru 2 feet of fresh powder snow. If there is a grade with a packed snow base and 6" of fresh wet sticky stuff on top forget it. Each case is different, break thru the crust so your front diff is dragging and you might be able to take the weight on the FEL enough to back out(using it as a sled) You probably won't be able to use the bucket to push yourself back until you can chew up enough of the crust to get moving back and forth a little. Right now our snow is starting to melt. I have a Sportsman on tracks. Where the trail is packed and shady John won't climb the hills, but the quad will. Were the trail is sunny and the snow is just wet granuals John climbs OK but the quad sits and spins. The quad on tires just sinks or spins in both cases. Until it rains or melts I stay out of the bush.Pat

cwcouch · Apr 6, 2005

I have Industrials on my 2001 JD 4100. I mow, dig, and use various implements when working with the 4100. I have absolutely no issue in regards to mowing.

The tires don't tear up the grass; however, if the lawn is really wet I do leave some marks in the grass. By the next mowing, approximately a week later, the marks are gone. The yard has never been rough or "bumpy" due to the tracks.

I have only one area of my yard that has gotten rough and that was last year during a very wet Spring. I just rolled the area this year and the roughness is gone.

I would recommend the Industrials.

Hope this helps,

C

GaryK · Apr 6, 2005

I have r4s on my 4100 and never had a problem with the lawn except if I took a turn too fast or forgot to take it out of 4wd. I have got my tractor stuck but a bulldozer would have got stuck where I did. Its hard to move when the belly is sitting in the mud.............

garchib · Apr 6, 2005

Thanks for everybody's help ! That is great info /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

DJLX · Apr 7, 2005

I would agree with the others concerning the R4s. No problems leaving imprints in the lawn just the wet-no grass areas. I was tilling a garden that included a manure pile - boy was that a sloppy mess. The 2210 was down to the axles but the R4s got me out.