what's the differenece between these kubota rear tires (both R4)?

[BGigHarbor]

Kubota site lists the r4 tires the smaller (up through l4760) l60 series come with as
REAR - 17.5L-24 R4 Firestone All Traction Utility

The larger models (which have cat I, II) like the l5460 list the rears as
REAR - 17.5L-24 R4 Titan Industrial Contractor TL

What's the difference? Maybe the second tire for the bigger motors -- tougher carcass and compound?

Same difference of rears for the l40 series as well.

 

[Sysop]

The brand and what the particular brands call their R4 line of tires.

17.5L-24 is the size, same for both.
R4 is the type of tire, which is a standard industrial tread.
Firestone and Titan are the brands and the "All traction utility" and "Industrial Contractor TL" are what they call their line of R4 tires.

Beyond the brand, I don't think there is much difference.

 

[BGigHarbor]

Re: what's the difference between these kubota rear tires (both R4)?

The brand and what the particular brands call their R4 line of tires.

17.5L-24 is the size, same for both.
R4 is the type of tire, which is a standard industrial tread.
Firestone and Titan are the brands and the "All traction utility" and "Industrial Contractor TL" are what they call their line of R4 tires.

Beyond the brand, I don't think there is much difference.

for an example, the build my kubota only offers the first one in the cat i L tractors, and only offers the second choice in the bigger (cat I or II) tractors for r4. Same thing for both l40 and 60.

Plus when I looked at new tractors at the dealers with r4 tires, the cat II L tractors had the Titan Industrial Contractor on the rears and the cat I L tractors did not.

Also when I looked at build my kubota for some larger yet M tractors for r4 tires they only offered Titan Industrials in the rear in the sizes I checked.

Note I am only talking the different tires in the rear, in most cases I saw the front tires were the same (and also made by Titan).

 

[Bkubota]

for an example, the build my kubota only offers the first one in the cat i L tractors, and only offers the second choice in the bigger (cat I or II) tractors for r4. Same thing for both l40 and 60.

Plus when I looked at new tractors at the dealers with r4 tires, the cat II L tractors had the Titan Industrial Contractor on the rears and the cat I L tractors did not.

Also when I looked at build my kubota for some larger yet M tractors for r4 tires they only offered Titan Industrials in the rear in the sizes I checked.

There really isn't any rhyme or reason why Kubota offers different manufacturers for the R4 tires. Some models only offer one and some have multiple.

 

[daugen]

I have the Titan Industrial R4's on my Kubota and find them a hard ride, but effective. Will lose grip in the mud
or woods before a R1 will, but then it will tread a little lighter too and not dig ruts so easily. I've let air out of mine to the point I can see the tiniest bit of flex and they rode a bit softer, but honestly not that much. I've had them filled also.
Nice looking tires, look like they will outlast me many times over.

The R1 BKT's on the rear of my smaller tractor ride very nicely, btw, so I'm using them as comparison.
I guess when the only suspension in the machine is the flexing of the sidewalls, every little bit helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypIst_d7DuY

 

[BGigHarbor]

One reason I wanted r4s is the way I am going to use the tractor (not particularly soft ground, heavy fel work) and so the dealer originally said they would swap r4s from another tractor for the r1s on the l5460 they had in stock. But I knew all their bigger tractors on hand had r1s.

But the dealer just emailed that in fact when they went to look at swapping the r4s they had on hand (cat i tractors) they realized the wheels had 6 holes instead of 8.

Kubota had no r4s in stock and no other dealers would sell them a set of r4s, so they solved it by getting another l5460 from a different dealer that already had the r4s(which has the titans on the rear, for better or worse).

They still are waiting on one rear remote part, and I am getting excited to put the new tractor to work at the new property.

 

[rbargeron]

Kubota site lists the r4 tires the smaller (up through l4760) l60 series come with as
REAR - 17.5L-24 R4 Firestone All Traction Utility

The larger models (which have cat I, II) like the l5460 list the rears as
REAR - 17.5L-24 R4 Titan Industrial Contractor TL

What's the difference? Maybe the second tire for the bigger motors -- tougher carcass and compound?

Same difference of rears for the l40 series as well.

17.5L-24 R4 tires are made in 6, 8 and 12-ply versions. Load rating, sidewall strength etc. goes up with the ply number. The Titan Industrial Contractor tires are 12-ply (load range F). The Firestone All Traction Utility are 8-ply (load range D).

 

[MHarryE]

Generally companies select by prices contracted with suppliers. Interesting in my John Deere quote that the standard tire would be one of 4 suppliers John Deere's choice. If I wanted to specify one of those tire suppliers only I would need to pay a $200 premium.

I haven't seen a Firestone R-4 but the tread picture shows a traction bar similar to a Titan.

As a manufacturer building the same product in multiple plants worldwide I remember we sole sourced tires to Firestone in the USA, Goodyear in Europe (Titan only purchased Goodyear's ag tire name and facilities in USA), and I can't remember who in Brazil and China. Michelins were a $6,000 option everywhere - extreme duty radials that last forever.

So the tires probably are only based on the lowest cost package price (rim and tire, mounted and delivered).

Per their catalog, Firestone builds 8 and 10 ply. Titan supplies 6, 8, 10 and 12.

 

[Sysop]

From my limited experiences, Titans have always seemed to get weak in the sidewalls before they wear out the tread.

 

[daugen]

From my limited experiences, Titans have always seemed to get weak in the sidewalls before they wear out the tread.

hmmm, mine are twelve ply...maybe the sidewalls get tired from all those plies, or more realistically, aren't built to the same strength standard. Maybe too much flexing from heavy weight loads, backhoe use?
No wonder mine ride rough, not much flex in that tread for sure. But ride is more a function of sidewall flex, isn't it???

My Kubota model is right at the cusp of going up to a cat 2 and i believe can technically handle it, so perhaps that's why they put the heavier duty tires on. For my use, no backhoe, field mowing and wood gathering, perhaps the lower ply tire might have a better ride. No sense overbuying but the factory sensibly puts a tire on that will work if a backhoe or other heavy implement is added later. I guess what I'm thinking here is that super heavy duty vs heavy duty is not always the best choice for the application. But likely splitting hairs here, the tires work just fine, just ride hard.