Turfs or R4's

[robertm]

So, Im calling tomorrow on a new B2620. I am torn between choices for tires. I will primarily mow,and remove sniw in the winter. Im thinking of addong the QA from the B3200, and adding the front blade... eventually. I really dont mind the turfs except that with my B7500, the fronts were square edged and cut ringsin my yard. It looks like the Kenda Super Turf 500's are rounded and much nicer, but looking on line, it seems the front tires can vary on new B'sfrom the old square edge to the new round shouldered Kenda. If I cant get the round shoulder Kenda, should I just go R4's? My BX2660 does no damage with R4 boots. Not sure what to do.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

First, I don't have a lawn but I've got lots of yard. I've had turfs, I/R4s and one set of Ags. No more ags or gear drives, both on the same machine B2320 taught me a great lesson.
I usually buy I/R4s on Bs especially if they have a FEL and usually buy Turfs on BXs except the BX25 which I buy I/R4s since it has FEL and BH.
The turfs did great the few times I used them on snow which we don't get that much in KY. Was actually quite surprised how well the turfs did on snow. My RTV has work tire which are closer to R/I tires than turf tires and they do well in snow going up and down hill, not crossing sideways where to my surprise it started sliding down the hill till I turned the wheels heading down hill.
My Fs have turf tires and if it's wet or I turn really fast they as well as all of my other tractors with turf or I/Rs also tear up my yard. I don't experience much damage to my yard between turfs or I/R tires based on the tires, it's more based on the way I drive it and/or wet or dry conditions. I usually don't do any of it in wet conditions but some times my clay soil can stay moist for a few days in some areas.
If I had "lawn" I'd maybe go turf but I don't so again I determine tires by implements not yard damage.

 

[michahicks]

Turf load up too easily when you get them off the grass/lawn, Ag's too agressive. I went R4's for all around work, good compromise. Have never been disappointed.

 

[bp fick]

Something about those older series B's that the front geometry was harder on lawns/yards. The B7510 was/is tougher on the grass than my newer B2320 was. Don't know the engineering differences.

Having 4 wheel engaged? disaster for grass. Even having the loader on the front adds more weight for turning on grass.

The turf tire is AWESOME in snow, in most textures we get and that's the problem with discussing turf tires on snow. Everybody has different snow and snow comes in different textures throughout the winter. Really, really hard to make generalization that all too often are made here on TBN. One tire does not fit all situations, it's that simple.

The R4 industrial are handsome and that's likely why they are popular. Looks. True, they're tougher and hold up well to working in the woods, pickers, thorns, etc. They're also stiffer so they hold up under material handling with the FEL.

My experience with R4 industrials in the snow? In far too many situations they can be a nightmare for traction. The industrial tire just isn't a snow tracking pattern.

So? No one tire can meet EVERY situation that a tractor will be expected to meet as you do your various chores. No perfect tire. Sorry. Cover your top 2, most prevalent, most important tasks first!!! Choose the better tire for those chores. The rest? You'll make do. It'll still work, just maybe not quite as well. That's what we call life.

 

[jackl]

I had Turfs on my B7510 that I owned for 8 years. I had a FEL and rear finish mower so I did a fair amount of loader work in addition to mowing about 1.5 acres of lawn. The turfs are fine on the grass, but lose traction when its wet. They load up quickly when using the FEL when the soil is even slighly wet and the tire side walls are not well suited for heavy loads even when using a rear counter weight. I lost track of the number of plugs that I had put in them! As for snow, we get an average of 130-140 inches where I live and they seem to work fine.

Now for the rest of the story. My desire to switch to R4s actually drove me to trade in my 7510 last April for a new B2920. I did want additional power, but I really wanted the R4s. To go from turf to R4s on my 7510 would have been over $1,000. Now that I've been through 4 seasons with the R4s, I would never buy turf tires again. Yes, they can be a little tuougher on the lawn when it's wet, but turfs will do damage as well. In fact, I can go up hills on my lawn now when the grass is wet in 2WD whereas before I had to switch to 4WD. For loader work, they are hands down better. For snow, this has been one of the worst winters we've had in years and I see absolutley no difference in traction between the turfs and R4s. Actually, let me take that back. Last week I was moving pretty good size piles of snow that would have caused slippage when the turfs loaded up. As for an all around, all purpose tire, I'd go with the R4s in a heart beat. (Plus they do look better!)

 

[Tompet]

On the Bxx20 series, according to the 2013 kubota whole goods catalog there is also 4th option called a Bar Turf tire that still appears to be available on request. I didn't look through whole catalog thoroughly but on a quick run through I think this is the only series of tractor on which they are available.

I run an a older B Kubota a friend of mine owns about a dozen times a summer that has these tires and they seem to be a little discussed option. They have the profile of a turf tire with many very small chevron patterns like an ag tire. The tractor is used for mowing with a MMM and it does no damage with good traction. I don't know about sidewall support vs R4's for loader work, but they do seem more substantial than straight turfs.

 

[sandyc]

I have a 2620 tlb with front mount plow and snow blower using r-4 tires. While I don't mow I do travel over the lawn and have found that the r-4 tires do not chew up what little grass I have. Just got thru moving snow with the plow today....switched to the FEL to move the piles back so I will have room for the next storm. The r-4 work great on snow and ice.
You'll love the B series as the implements change in a few minutes. Takes me less that 5 minutes to drop the plow or the blower with their sub frame and mount the FEL. Like they say....easy peasy!

 

[Bluegill2]

Turfs & R4s' are useless to me. Ags' are what works here on tractors. If I were mowing a yard I'd want turfs I guess...

 

[bigbull338]

i would go with the R4s no q about it.as they will allow you todo everything that you need todo.

 

[BeezFun]

One thing about turfs is they do better with chains if you really need snow traction. Chains lay flat and make more continuous contact. I think turfs get a bit better traction in the snow and ice, do less damage on damp mowing.

 

[prevent]

R4's on B2620 and I survived the 2014 Winter in Northern IL. I refuse to use chains and only time I had a problem was when everything thawed for 2 days and we received another cold snap, Driveway turned to ice and I was trying to move horse poop pile, but all 4 kept spinning.

I plan to have them loaded too, just have to ask what fluid my dealer uses.

*edit*

Now with all the snow melting, driveway is total mush. Even in deep mud I commute just fine but you have to be careful cause you'll dig holes really easy.

 

[RoyJackson]

I've had both turfs and industrials.
For your primary tasks, mowing and snow clearing, I'd suggest going with turfs. In my experience, they work a lot better then industrials for those applications.
If you go for the industrials, plan on getting tire chains as they load up fast in the snow. I do recommend chains for turfs too, however.

 

[robertm]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I think I'll go turfs, but I won't take the square edged Carlisle Turf Chief for the steer tire. I've seen some B2620's with them, but now they are discontinued. Probably early build tractors have them. Now the Kenda Turf 500 is the new tire. Those are balloon-ish, without a square edge to tear up turf like I experienced with my B7500. The only other thing I worry about is the thin sidewall on the turfs for loader work. They squat easily. Loader work isn't my priority, but I don't want to blow a tire. Guess I'll have to be careful. I assume the Kenda's load rating must exceed the weight of the tractor front-end with the loader weight... Bucket full.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

They squat easily. Loader work isn't my priority, but I don't want to blow a tire. Guess I'll have to be careful. I assume the Kenda's load rating must exceed the weight of the tractor front-end with the loader weight... Bucket full.
Driving back and forth with turfs and loaded bucket shouldn't be a problem. Driving down a hill and/or making tight turns with turfs and a heavy loaded bucket will probably be a problem. That puts extreme pressure on the side wall to pop the tire off of the rim.
No perfect tire for every job and every ones job is sometimes different. The R/I4 is the compromise tire but you've done your research, weighed the options so go forth and live happy knowing you've made the right decision for your needs. Turfs!:thumbsup:

 

[robertm]

They squat easily. Loader work isn't my priority, but I don't want to blow a tire. Guess I'll have to be careful. I assume the Kenda's load rating must exceed the weight of the tractor front-end with the loader weight... Bucket full. Driving back and forth with turfs and loaded bucket shouldn't be a problem. Driving down a hill and/or making tight turns with turfs and a heavy loaded bucket will probably be a problem. That puts extreme pressure on the side wall to pop the tire off of the rim. No perfect tire for every job and every ones job is sometimes different. The R/I4 is the compromise tire but you've done your research, weighed the options so go forth and live happy knowing you've made the right decision for your needs. Turfs!:thumbsup:

Yeah, easy for you to say! Now I need to figure B2620, BX25D, or BX2670.

 

[sandyc]

As you can see from my account I went with the 2620 and love it. The BH 65 will dig down six and a half feet so I can bury my stumps (our transfer station will not accept stumps) after I dig them out. The loader is rugged ....moved many yds of fill, snow, gravel, and whatever my wife needs. Just my $.02.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Another vote for loaded turfs.

Rear Snow blowing, FEL with snow plow, lawn work, logging / splitting. have been great for me in all situations. I have maxed out the FEL many times with firewood etc and never blown a front tire. Having the rear tire ballast is great for the snow removal and to get max out of the FEL without having to add a weight box... The extra weight on the lawn is only an issue in the wet season early spring.