Turf vs. Industrial Tires

[Magnum3252]

Going to be mowing and snow blowing with my tractor. Looking for recommendations

 

[frugalangler]

Unless you're mowing a 'golf course' or soft lawn, industrial will likely be more satisfactory in snow. If you were only mowing, then the turf would be the choice.

Just my 2c opinion, your mileage may vary.

 

[rkidd]

For mowing and snow removal, turfs are the way to go. More contact surface with turfs. I have them on my B2650 and live in the snow belt in NE Ohio and the turfs work great.

 

[Hanshans]

My turf tires work pretty good in the snow. I added chains and some weight in the rear and never have any problem plowing snow.

 

[beenthere]

I also hear that turfs are better for snow plowing.. and I believe it.

I have the R-4 industrials because I want the extra strength (plys) for working in the woods. But some winters have to put on chains to get around in the snow. Won't go in the woods with the R-4's when there is snow on the ground unless I have chains on.. one time digging out by hand was lesson enough to never get caught like that again..

 

[RoyJackson]

I also hear that turfs are better for snow plowing.. and I believe it.

I've used both R-3's and R-4's...R-3's are much better for snow work. You may read about people siping their R-4 tires. In fact, there's a pretty lengthy thread on siping on TBN.
Siping, basically, adds more grooves to the tire...Turfs already have those grooves

 

[Phillip w]

I run ag tire and pretty good. I can go in 8-12 inches of snow with out any trouble. One tractor is 4 wheel drive, the others are not. If the snow gets packed down to ice, then i have trouble and have to chain up. To put my mf on the lawn with ag tires is no big deal. My bigger tractors, some weighing 10,000 lbs + would train wreck a lawn. The problem with turf tires is it seems like you are always getting flat tires.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Going to be mowing and snow blowing with my tractor. Looking for recommendations

Turf tires all around. Much better traction than industrials tires on ice and snow. Get these as they are factory siped.

 

[beenthere]

That video didn't do much for me.. but appears that particular tire featured did ok in the test track setup.

To me, tire grip has much to do with temperature, ice be it from melting and then freezing, or whether it is black ice from previous salting and then freezing. New dry snow or wet snow makes a difference too. On frozen ground/drive or thawed ground enters into the equation too.

Many variables.. and think I'll stick to the R-4's and chain up when needed.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I got my Wheel Loader with Turfs and had sleepless nights about winter operation. I would have changed them to R4 had I found the right size, but didn't. As it turns out, they generally work great. I believe they may be Radial and that could make a difference.

No good on glare shiny ice or lightly snow covered glare ice, but then, what tire is? Except one with chains or studs.

Also useless in certain muddy conditions. Often, you can drive over a place once and your good. Try a second time and your done!

They don't leave a mark on turf.

 

[bigtiller]

Going to be mowing and snow blowing with my tractor. Looking for recommendations

I recommend up dating the tractor type in your Avatar so we know if your are talking about a garden tractor or a utility tractor. It could make a difference in our answers.


Magnum3252
New Member
Join Date Jun 2017
Posts 6
Location Potsdam, NY
Tractor None

 

[Zebrafive]

For mowing and snow removal, turfs are the way to go. More contact surface with turfs. I have them on my B2650 and live in the snow belt in NE Ohio and the turfs work great.

My turf tires work pretty good in the snow. I added chains and some weight in the rear and never have any problem plowing snow.

I've used both R-3's and R-4's...R-3's are much better for snow work. You may read about people siping their R-4 tires. In fact, there's a pretty lengthy thread on siping on TBN.
Siping, basically, adds more grooves to the tire...Turfs already have those grooves

I am with the turf crowd

 

[LD48750]

Last season was my first with turf tires on my 4x4 cut.
The tires are most likely original equipment so may be worn down but they were useless in the snow until I put chains on the front.

I'll try again this year with the tires loaded and see if it's any better.

Fortunately. my plowing is done with my F150 so I don't have to rely on the tractor.

 

[Egon]

If your looking for traction look at turfs. If you need load capacity and endurance think industrial.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

That video didn't do much for me.. but appears that particular tire featured did ok in the test track setup.

To me, tire grip has much to do with temperature, ice be it from melting and then freezing, or whether it is black ice from previous salting and then freezing. New dry snow or wet snow makes a difference too. On frozen ground/drive or thawed ground enters into the equation too.

Many variables.. and think I'll stick to the R-4's and chain up when needed.

I've got industrials on my tractor, but I drive a total of 14 miles to hit everything and putting on chains and then taking them off looks like a real hassle. As a result, I got into looking at much better snow tires and these happen to higher load capacity to boot!

 

[Industrial Toys]

This was years ago. JD 770, front blower.

Never had any bad issues with the Turfs, except the Odd time, I kind of drove into a Dip, and couldn't back out. Rear 3PH weight would probably have solved that.



In certain slushy conditions it's also nice not to have more aggressive tire tread marks making for a washboard when it freezes.

 

[RalphVa]

Industrial is tougher; no debate. Turf have more sideways grip and are better for turning, even in snow. Industrial have a better bite in going forward and reverse.

For me, I like Turfs better in snow. They just suck at loader work, e.g. not tough enough.

Ralph

 

[Msamt]

My R4s suck in snow and ice, have a paved driveway, so not using chains, tractor doesn't get much work (other than pushing back snow banks) in the winter - I use a walk behind blower for most of the work.

 

[pmsmechanic]

For me, I like Turfs better in snow. They just suck at loader work, e.g. not tough enough.

Ralph

I went through several sets of turfs and then finally ordered a set of 6 ply turf tires. It made a big difference.

 

[shui5612]

I have a yanmar sc2450 while a buddy has the same size Massey Ferguson (not sure what model but also a tlb)

The difference between the two are the tires. I have industrials and he has turfs...

I also have a giant tractor with agricultural tires...snow and ice wise... AG does okay but you sometimes skid wide ways and they do tend to spin on ice from my experience...

The massey and yanmar? Almost the same performance.. while I found both tires to be bad without chains when turning and using a loader to scrape/plow.. the forward/backward traction is pretty much identical..

In deep snow industrial performs better.

On ice both are borderline useless..

Light snow, braking I found the turfs to be abit better. Not by much.

I found that the turf tends to spin in place more often but the industrial spins abit and just digs in..

In terms of turf use the turfs are way better... doesn't mark the lawn as much (but marking is still possible)

Durability /loader work /toughness...

Industrials have a couple extra plies and will probably outlast the turfs in some ways.. neither of us got ours punctured yet but I've lost one tire due to sidewalk cracking... was losing air and after putting a tube in, the tube popped/twisted at one point And i just got a new tire.. but my machine is older. Around 300h 2012 while he has around 100h and a 2015.