Snow Turf Tires in the Snow

[taborekle]

Hi all,

We got SLAMED in the Clements Maryland area. In a area where we typically get 4 inches of snow a year, we have about 20 inches on the ground right now. So I was definitely cussing myself for not buying a set of chains for the tractor.

But on Saturday while it was still snowing, I got out my B2920 and put the back blade on (5 ft) and the little tractor did ok. I could blade both up my rather steep hills and down them with no difficulty. 4 wheel drive was required all the time, and on the hill climbs I had the differential lock on for most climbs.

Now my neighbor Brian had already complained about the blading done on our private lane last winter. Every 2 years all the neighbors pitch in and buy new milling for our lane. So when a friend of ours balded our lane last year they turned some of it over (loosing the milling). Brian didn't like that, and mindfull of his complaining, I turned my blade around backwards so that I would not take up any of the milling when I bladed on Saturday.

That seemed to work, but much of the snow was just compacted. On Sunday and today, I turned the blade around (scope forward) and did many passes on our Lane. Each pass brought up another 1/2 inch or so of snow and ice. So after about 20 passes, we had black top showing and I hadn't taken up very much of the milling.

The little tractor I think did very well. Then turf tires and no chains had enough grip to allow me to blade both up and down the hills. My son and wife both commented that the tractor did a great job.

Larry

 

[srs]

I have the Kubota cabbed B3030, before that a B1550, and before that a B6200, all with turf tires. I swear by turfs for snow removal.

 

[beenthere]

taborekle
What is the difference between black top and milling?

 

[Ductape]

I'm with srs...... two of my three tractors have worked winters with turfs, and i have never had a problem getting around! 20" of snow is not uncommon up here. I've never used chains.

 

[PUSHINDIRT]

I have been debating getting the rim guard for my tires. I see you have it in your tires, and I would assume it really helped while pushing/ pulling the snow. One question does the added weight in the rear leave imprints on you lawn in the spring/ summer? I also have a 2920 with turfs also and so far this year it has been great in the snow!

 

[crbr]

I have been debating getting the rim guard for my tires. I see you have it in your tires, and I would assume it really helped while pushing/ pulling the snow. One question does the added weight in the rear leave imprints on you lawn in the spring/ summer? I also have a 2920 with turfs also and so far this year it has been great in the snow!

Loaded tires do not leave any imprint on my lawn / turfs.

The extra weight does indeed make a difference in traction as well as balast for the front loader.

 

[nh DRAGON]

I don"t have loaded tires and I have R4's. Never had a problem pulling trees over the snow, pushing snow, or pulling Chevy's out of snow banks!

 

[easygo]

I have pushed a LOT of snow with turfs and they have not performed any worse then my neighbor's tractor with R4's. If you get snow and freezing rain around the early and late winter like we do chain on the tires is the way to go.

NH Dragon
You should give the loaded tires a shot. I didn't think I need them until I ended up with a set of loaded rears. (longish story) I thought it made the tractor into whole different machine. A better one.

 

[radioman]

taborekle
What is the difference between black top and milling?

seems to me that milling is blacktop all grinded upfrom old roads/driveways and put down loose. blacktop is , well blacktop. - lol

 

[nh DRAGON]

I have pushed a LOT of snow with turfs and they have not performed any worse then my neighbor's tractor with R4's. If you get snow and freezing rain around the early and late winter like we do chain on the tires is the way to go.

NH Dragon
You should give the loaded tires a shot. I didn't think I need them until I ended up with a set of loaded rears. (longish story) I thought it made the tractor into whole different machine. A better one.

I have nothing against weighted rears, There is a few lawns I mow in the summer that have damp areas and even with no extra weigh I still start to leave rut like marks. They go away in a week or two but I think that would be worse as well as turning with loaded. I get along fine with my weight box the rest of the time, That's also how I carry my tools!

 

[Reg]

Lawn "damage" isn't much about tread patterns or ballast, it is MUCH more about making tight radius turns when the ground is wet.

 

[nh DRAGON]

Lawn "damage" isn't much about tread patterns or ballast, it is MUCH more about making tight radius turns when the ground is wet.

I agree, But If some one is willing to pay me to drive over there lawn and give me seat time I want it to look good. Just think the extra weight would make it worse that is all.

 

[taborekle]

seems to me that milling is blacktop all grinded upfrom old roads/driveways and put down loose. blacktop is , well blacktop. - lol

The confusion on this is all mine. I switched adjactives describing our road as having milling and then said the blacktop was showing. It's all milling.

Larry

 

[lawn_king]

Turfs are the best in snow, second only to chains & tracks.

 

[taborekle]

Lawn "damage" isn't much about tread patterns or ballast, it is MUCH more about making tight radius turns when the ground is wet.

I agree with Reg on this. You can (and I have) tore up a piece of my lawn with my turf tires. The ground was saturated wet, and even with out turning the turf tires were leaving their marks.

To me, if the ground is dry and hard, neither tire should leave a mark provided that you're making slow turns. The advantage of turf is that they can operate in softer wetter ground before they also start to leave a mark. Eventually, if the ground is wet and soft enough, it really doesn't matter what tire you have or how you turn the tractor, it's going to leave a mark.

Now that's based on -my- limited experience in my area with my type of ground. I'm sure that others have different types of soil that will react differently.

Larry

 

[Reg]

For ME it is a matter of balancing other uses.
I feel a "need" for loaded R4s and a "need" to NOT load my turfs.
The two sets aren't optimal in ALL conditions, but they give me a choice between two compromises.
I suppose OPTIMAL would be to have all six sets, R1s, R4s, Turfs each in a loaded and unloaded condition - it ain't happenin' at THIS address (-:

Another thing I COULD do to minimize lawn damage would be to take the loader off, but HEY, that is about half the tractor's usefulness.

 

[Czbilly]

For those of you with 1850 size rear tires, the older cub cadet/wheel horse wheel weights will bolt inside your rims. These typically weigh about 26 lbs for a total of about 52-55 lbs right on the tires. This may be a way to get weight for winter or specific jobs and can be easily taken off for spring mowing. You only need two of the carriage bolts for each wheel. If you can get your hands on these they may be easier than the rimguard or loading the tires. I've been lazy in changing over to my bar tires so far this winter and will probably slap the weights on and see how the turf tires work here in Ohio.

 

[easygo]

I agree, But If some one is willing to pay me to drive over there lawn and give me seat time I want it to look good. Just think the extra weight would make it worse that is all.

That is a whole different issue if you tear up a customer's lawn.
Don't get me wrong I used my tractor for two years without loaded rears and it was fine. The added weight does help me in the woods and in my bumpy yard and makes no difference to my ugly grass.

 

[timswi]

I'm glad to hear that the turf's do well in the snow...Mine has sat in a heated garage all winter for the last five years because I didn't think it would even move in the snow, never tried it (my bad)..Now when I need to move snow piles, I have an option

 

[irvingj]

Turfs with a blower work very well for me. I leave the BH on for rear weight. If using a plow, I'm not sure turfs would work as well, but for my situation they're great. Have never used chains, only sometimes need 4WD.

Course, a cab would be nice, too....