Tires Turf or Industrial tires?

[shop_rat45]

I will be getting my tractor by Friday and I still have the opportunity to specify what tires I want on it. The tractor is a NH TC30 and it will be used for mowing, landscaping, plowing snow, and anything else I feel the need to do. So, which tires should I get? Turf or Industrial? I don't want to tear my grass up when mowing, so that is the only reason I am considering turf tires. All other uses, industrial tires would probably work better. So, how bad will the industrial tires tear up my lawn? (if at all)

Thanks for the info. I love this website already!!

Kris

 

[Deadman]

Its GIVE and TAKE. You're just going to have to decide what is the most important to YOU and make a decision.

Turfs----best for mowing, but worst for digging, pulling, soft ground.

Industrials----good for mowing, but can rip it up very slightely if its wet and you turn as sharp as possible. They also pull, dig and have good traction in soft ground.

No you decide!

I'm VERY glad I got industrials instead of turfs, because the industrials really aren't that aggressive! They rarely tear anything up, and my a flood-plane on my river land.

 

[DaryleD]

I have been mowing with my TC30 for about 5 years now, with the R-4 industrial tires, and I have not torn up the lawn, unless it is unhealthy or new grouth, AND I have to turn real sharp. As long as it is fairly thick and green, you'll be all set. I also blow snow, on a driveway that is mainly a hill. I did get Valby ice chains for the rear tires, to help get wintertime traction. They work great! I also do the landscaping at my, and my mothers properties. You will be very impressed with what the little TC30 will do. I also have a NH757 subframe backhoe that I bought used, and it is also surprizing at what that will do as well. Have fun, and don't worry about your lawn with the industrial tires.
Daryle.

 

[MicroPilot]

Industrials unless you plan on exclusively using the tractor to mow with. I have AG tires on mine and mow with them. They do tear up the lawn on turns, but only if I make sharp turns, or the ground is wet. The grass recovers fairly quickly though.

 

[VABlue]

I put turfs on my JD2305 because I'm mostly mowing with it and my yard is new and not very compacted yet. I also need to make lots of sharp turns. I can see tire marks when its soft ( a day or two after a rain), but otherwise see nothing. I've also just pulled some 20'-30' tree sections out of the yard and up a steep bank while turning and had no slippage at all over bare dirt. That said, if your yard is established and compacted the R4s should be safe (but I've never used them).

 

[LoneCowboy]

Industrials (R-4's) and don't use 4wd to mow with (that will considerably lessen the binding of the front wheels)
turfs are ONLY good for mowing (or other work on turf)

 

[Jibber]

I did moderate damage to my lawn with my L3130 on R4s.. mostly in areas where I passed repeatedly. But when the backhoe is attached it really peels back the turf.. especially in 4wd. I do a lot replanting in the spring after a project where I'm moving the big tractor on the turf a lot.

That being said.. turfs are worthless for loader work.. you might as well have slicks on there when driving into a pile.

My solution.. I bought a BX for mowing and light loader work..

R4 damage is directly proportional to the weight of the tractor.. if you're carrying a lot in the bucket and have it in 4wd.. those fronts are going to bite into the turf on corners.

I'd still go with the R4s if I was you. As long as you don't drive the same area over and over.. the turf should stand up to the mowing.

 

[crbr]

.....turfs are ONLY good for mowing (or other work on turf)

You haven't used them much to know, as I beg to differ......

Turfs will work with any tire within the machine's capacity. This digging and scratching and bulldozing forwards and backwards with souped up enginuity doesn't count. A turf does all one could need, with one exception that you may be correct... plowing... But you may have never plowed with mules....

 

[ihookem]

If I ever get turf tires again they will be 6 ply instead of 4 ply. I have had four flats in 180 hrs on the tack. All have been on the front tires.

 

[McRancher]

I like my R4's, but like others have said, I take it out of 4wd when driving around on the grass. I have heard hear at TBN that neither are that great in the snow and ice, so I am looking for a good set of chains for this winter.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I've been mowing my yard with R4's on a B2400 for 6 years and not had any real problem. I don't use 4-wheel drive unless the tires start to spin on wet grass but even then the damage isn't too bad. I had turfs on my last tractor and if I used it anywhere else except on the yard, like out in the pasture, you could almost guarantee a flat. For me it's a no brainer, get the R4's.

 

[Blk88GT]

To anyone who says Turfs are worthless for anything but mowing, I couldn't disagree more.

I have moved over 120 yards of material in the short amount of time I've owned my 7510 (15 hrs!) and I don't regret the turfs at all. I can sneak across the lawn multiple times with a bucket load of material without leaving marks, and I don't need chains in the winter to push (no blower, FEL only!) snow.

If it was 2wd, I wouldn't get turfs. If it's 4wd, by all means.

 

[dqdave1]

With turfs and a FEL; 6 ply should be an option.

 

[53gravely]

I have loaded rears (turfs) on my 7610. Loaded is the key...adds about 400#s. Doing loader work without a heavy implement or ballast off the back would be tough. Turfs are actually pretty good until you hit mud. Once you start spinning, you're done for.
The treads fill up with mud and turfs become slicks.

I have a set of chains on the trufs now and they really help. Plus they leave no visible mark at all in the lawn. A set of 2 link chains is about $150 for my size tire and gives you the best of both worlds.

If I were doing it over, I'd still be debating turfs vs. R4s

 

[Botabill]

53gravely is right on that turfs are no good in mud. Everywhere else they work just fine. I've put my little BX to the torture test in everyway. Sure I'd like an easy change switch to have a more aggressive threaded tire for about 5 % of the jobs I do but for the other 95 % the turfs work good and that includes snow work.

 

[DAN IN OHIO]

Kris, I will only comment on the turf tires on my JD 2520 as my only other experience is with ag tires. I bought them because the R4's were not recommended for use with a belly mower. They are working great for loader work and plowing snow. They are very kind to my yard and woods where most of the work is done. I am very satisfied with the traction they get.

Dan

 

[daTeacha]

I'd like to help confuse you further, but I'm an Ag man. I just picked up a JD 240 mower at auction with bar tread (Ag style) rears. It will climb some hills on my lawn that the Cadet with it's block tread semi turfs won't.

 

[whodat90]

My old tractor (B7200D) had turfs. I was honestly surprised at how well they did. They were, however, totally useless on wet grass, wet (greasy) clay, or snow. Nothing like sitting in the snow slowly spinning all four tires, at the far end of the driveway. I sold that and bought a B8200D with a loader and ags. It will tear up the lawn something fierce if you go out when the ground is very wet, but is nearly unstoppable the rest of the time. I bought a lanwmower to mow with, and the tractor to use as a tractor.

 

[53gravely]

Here's an interesting looking tire. I heard the called "bar turfs".
They look great for snow, wet grass, and light mud but they may bugger up the lawn in a tight turn?

Anyone got them? could you comment?

 

[Oleozz]

I used turfs for 6 yrs. I plowed snow, did a lot of FEL work, mowed lawn and fields and they peformed will for me. I did have a few flats on the front while mowing multiflura rose but I can't blame the turfs on that.