Which tire is best?

[Accubite]

I'm a new member but have been reading lots of threads for the past two weeks. Thanks to the great information here I decided to order a B3030 with 735 FEL and 60" MMM. I live in the upstate of South Carolina, soil is mostly red clay but some topsoil. I have 5 acres partially wooded with creek and hills. The hills get up to a 20% grade in places. I have been using an old borrowed 26 HP JD 2wd with loaded Ag tires on rear to bush hog lot. The JD has done well but I have noticed it pull pretty hard when cutting up hill and the Ag tires really have to bite in to get up the steepest parts.

My question is what tire should I have put on? I've read all the posts about tires and from them I've learned the Turf tire marks the turf less, and has the smoothest ride but least traction. The R4 has better traction but has a harder ride and moderate turf marking. The Ag has best traction but will tear up a lawn.

I will likely be doing about 75% mowing and 25% loader work in woods and around creek. I have already decided to load the rear tires on whatever I get.

In my situation would I get sufficient traction between the 4wd and turf tires? Would I get more traction from the R4 tires and is there that much difference in the ride of Turf and R4 tires? I've pretty much ruled out Ag tires due to the finish mowing I'll be doing. Thanks for the input.

 

[wushaw]

R4s will do fine if it's not muddy...they will just fill up and turn to slicks.

 

[Toolguy]

I have a B3030 with Turf tires. Most of my use is mowing a finished lawn but I also use it to plow my garden and plow snow. I have done quite a bit of loader work also. My soil is mostly sand but it has some sticky clay in it that really gets slick when wet. I am very impressed with the traction I get with the turfs and 4WD. My rear tires are filled with Rim Guard. If I was doing it again I would still want turfs. The only reason I can think of where R4's might be better would be if you did a lot of work in the woods and/or brush hogging on unknown land. The R4s are tougher and will take more abuse.

 

[Accubite]

Thanks for the info. I noticed I put the wrong loader number. I meant the LA403 What about the ride of R4s versus Turf? Has anyone had both and noticed a big difference between the two?

 

[N80]

I live in upstate SC too and I have Ags on my L4400. I wouldn't even consider anything else for the red clay, mud and hills around here. However, I do not have any lawn to mow and even when the ground is dry the Ags will mark a lawn, particularly the fronts, primarily when turning, even in 2wd. If the ground is wet they will pull the grass right out.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I will likely be doing about 75% mowing and 25% loader work in woods and around creek. I have already decided to load the rear tires on whatever I get.

75% mowing...I would go with turf unless you are mowing in straight lines then maybe R4. If you are mowing around trees, flower beds, etc, on a lawn then I would go with turf tires.

The MFWD and FEL should provide enough weight and assistance in pulling the hill.

For the woods, creek and FEL work you could get a set of chains for the truf tires to help with traction.

 

[Atlas]

Do loaded R4 tires cause more turf damage than unloaded R4s?
I haven't had a need for the extra weight but this would be a concern if it ever came into play.

 

[Accubite]

Thanks for the Carolina perspectives. I will be mowing straight line for the most part. As I understand the R4s may do lawn damage mostly when turning. If I cut without the FEL I should be able to keep the weight off the front. I don't know about the rear weighted R4. Would I get any improved traction on solid grass covered ground with R4s over turf tires?

 

[JLoaf]

.... What about the ride of R4s versus Turf? Has anyone had both and noticed a big difference between the two?

I have Turfs on my B2710 - very nice ride for a tractor.
I have Ag tires on my L3830 - not as good a ride as the turf's.
I do not have R4's on anything but I have been told they provide a pretty stiff ride.

 

[fishpick]

I'm an R4 kinda guy for mixed work... that's my vote... like it will make a difference (sorry, still hung on the elections)

 

[Accubite]

Thanks for the input Fishpick. I'm right there with you

 

[Harry c]

I'm in Southern NC probably not far from you. Same clay. BX24 with loader B'hoe etc. (Obviously, I take off the FEL and BH to mow) Turf tires do fine for traction on the grass. FEL work is ok since the 4wd and dif lock make a huge difference over 2wd. I wouldn't put the R-4s on my lawn. The R-4s have a greater load per psi than the turf tires and the red brick soil I have doesn't need to be packed any tighter. Even the turf tires can do some damage in the turns just from the weight of the tractor and from scuffing on the sidehill passes...
Summary: I'm glad I got the turfs. I haven't had a situation where I absolutely had to have the more aggressive tires. The turf ties do well enough that if even I had a mounterd set of R-4s, I certainly would not be very likely to change back and forth to get my work done.

 

[JLoaf]

My turf tires are "7 RIB". I've seen the "5 RIB" turfs tires and I wish I had them. They appear to be more aggressive (larger lugs) than the 7 rib. I compared specs at the Firestone web site and the tread is considerably deeper on the 5 rib tires. If I was buying new, I'd get the 5 rib tires.

 

[Accubite]

Thanks for more carolina comments and others. I'm really struggling. Wish I could try it both ways and see. I haven't checked on 5 lug tires. I'll ask tomorrow. I didn't see that as an option but they may know about them. 5 lug isn't a Galaxy tire is it?

 

[Glowplug]

I know upstate SC. I was born and raised in the red clay of the piedmont of North Carolina (Gastonia), five miles from the SC state line. It is were me, I'd get R4 Industrials. That way you could have good traction for hill climbing and loader work but not the "bite" that R1 Agricultural tires give and thus won't tear up the finish mowing turf. In my opinion, R4s are a good all-around general purpose tire. They take the benefits of both an AG tire and a turf tire. They're the compromise tire. You're talking about a 20% grade on red clay? When moist that would be like a hill of ice! I would seriously consider R4s for the land and work you're talking about. They don't put 'em on the big heavy machinery for nothin'. I would get them on the tractor that I am planning to buy but they don't come in my rim size. I'm stuck with R1 ags.

 

[Accubite]

Here's an update. I just got my tractor. B3030, FEL, MMM R4 tires. I decided to try the R4s and had them filled. Used the tractor today to take out about 600 ft. of fence. The tires performed better than I even imagined. I had great traction in 4wd and no turf marking on turns. The tires still had plenty of bite and would dig a hole like an Ag if pushed to the limit but the tires were very smooth on pavement and yard. I was impressed when it climed up a 25 percent grade in reverse with no tire slippage and great stability. The tractor pulled out 6 inch diameter posts, some with concrete, with little effort. This is an ideal tractor for my 5 acres. First impression is I'm very satisfied with both the tractor and the R4 tires.

 

[johnk]

You made great decisions by the happiness in your statements. If it is working for you the research paid off!!!!!!!!! Good luck with the new machine.

 

[LBrown59]

I'm in Southern NC probably not far from you. Same clay. BX24 with loader B'hoe etc. (Obviously, I take off the FEL and BH to mow) Turf tires do fine for traction on the grass. FEL work is ok since the 4wd and dif lock make a huge difference over 2wd. I wouldn't put the R-4s on my lawn. The R-4s have a greater load per psi than the turf tires and the red brick soil I have doesn't need to be packed any tighter. Even the turf tires can do some damage in the turns just from the weight of the tractor and from scuffing on the sidehill passes...
Summary: I'm glad I got the turfs. I haven't had a situation where I absolutely had to have the more aggressive tires. The turf ties do well enough that if even I had a mounterd set of R-4s, I certainly would not be very likely to change back and forth to get my work done.

Why take them off when it works fine with them on?

 

[Volfandt]

Why take them off when it works fine with them on?

Perhaps he only likes to use ONE machine to mow his property....

I've got the Bar tires and with hindsite being 20/20 I should have gone w/turfs. They are much easier on damp/wet lawns.
R4's weren't an option but had they been I'd have gotten them instead of the Bars.

Congrats on the B3030, thats a fine machine