Tires Winter use Tires

[OpsPops]

In my experience I've cleared snow with Kubota's in two provinces...Manitoba and British Columbia.
Two BX series tractors with R3 Turf tires, as well as a B3030HST cab unit.
Manitoba snow is generally light and packs up when it drifts...and I never had an issue with turf tire traction with either the BX or B3030 with snowblower.
British Columbia is generally heavy wet snow and can be hard to push (only have a BX loader bucket now), but again, the turf tires provide plenty of traction.
Glare ice conditions - waste of time no matter where you go.
These aren't Zambonies.

 

[RalphVa]

Had turfs on the 1st tractor for 9 years. Good in the snow. Most noticeable thing about R4s is they don't have much turning resistance. Definitely need steering brakes.

Looks as though I may be getting R14s on the next tractor.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I used R4s without chains for a number of years, then borrowed a neighbor's chains one year, after repeated trouble with ice in the driveway. The chains made my Kioti DK45 more capable in 2WD than it was in 4WD without chains. I now have chains on all 4 wheels, and it will go just about anywhere that the undercarriage doesn't get hung up.

 

[Jagnut]

Does anybody have any experience with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta TRI tires?
I have R4, and they lack both traction and side grip. Often the tractor goes where it wants to when I am blowing snow, and I have to back up a bit and lift the snow blower off "float" position to get me going where I want to, as in staying on my driveway.

 

[LD48750]

Turfs are good in the snow, up to a point

What point?

 

[RoyJackson]

What point?

I can only estimate, and that comes from my memory.
When we first moved to Vermont, I had a Deere 4400 open station (brought from PA when we moved) with turfs. This was late 2012 and we lived in East Randolph, VT.
Snow hit...about 10", if memory serves. All I had at the time was the bucket and my chains (for the rear tires of the 4400) were still packed away...definitely not prepared!
Anyway, had no problems (other than being cold and wet!) clearing the snow from the drive...pretty slow with the bucket. The drive wasn't long...100 feet maybe. I was quite impressed with the traction I got.
I was in 4WD, BTW. So, on reasonably level ground, I'd say 10" was no problem.
My current tractor, a Deere 4052 cab, also has turfs. No chains for this one. I use a rear snow blower and reverse to clear the snow, so the tires aren't going through any heavy stuff. They'll slip occasionally and I'll use 4WD occasionally.
I can only compare my experience with turfs in the snow to another tractor I had (4520 with Industrial). That tractor slipped a lot and 4WD was required all the time...the turfs never (knock on wood) let me down
That's my experience...so, take it for what you paid for it.
Safest way though, is to have a set of chains mounted...but the ride (I had 4 link ladder type) sucks on asphalt.
So, IMHO, turf tires without chains are good for 10" of snow

Watch tractors plowing in Europe YouTube vids). Most are running turfs with no chains...and they drive a lot faster than I ever would
Also

I'd love to have those tires!!

 

[5030]

I can only estimate, and that comes from my memory.
When we first moved to Vermont, I had a Deere 4400 open station (brought from PA when we moved) with turfs. This was late 2012 and we lived in East Randolph, VT.
Snow hit...about 10", if memory serves. All I had at the time was the bucket and my chains (for the rear tires of the 4400) were still packed away...definitely not prepared!
Anyway, had no problems (other than being cold and wet!) clearing the snow from the drive...pretty slow with the bucket. The drive wasn't long...100 feet maybe. I was quite impressed with the traction I got.
I was in 4WD, BTW. So, on reasonably level ground, I'd say 10" was no problem.
My current tractor, a Deere 4052 cab, also has turfs. No chains for this one. I use a rear snow blower and reverse to clear the snow, so the tires aren't going through any heavy stuff. They'll slip occasionally and I'll use 4WD occasionally.
I can only compare my experience with turfs in the snow to another tractor I had (4520 with Industrial). That tractor slipped a lot and 4WD was required all the time...the turfs never (knock on wood) let me down
That's my experience...so, take it for what you paid for it.
Safest way though, is to have a set of chains mounted...but the ride (I had 4 link ladder type) sucks on asphalt.
So, IMHO, turf tires without chains are good for 10" of snow

Watch tractors plowing in Europe YouTube vids). Most are running turfs with no chains...and they drive a lot faster than I ever would
Also

I'd love to have those tires!!

Cute little tractor. Way too small for my end use but cute anyway. Those tires are useless for my applications, hell, the tread pattern on my farm truck tires are more aggressive.

 

[Rustyiron]

Thread title; Winter use tires.
If someone that only drives around in circles, in the soft summer grass making hay would have something to add to this discussion other than passive aggressive condisention of everything "not his" would actually have something helpful or even remotely relevant to the thread.... get off your high horse dude! Post IF you have something to add. Nobody cares what doesn't work for you, that's not what this whole "forum" thing is about. Maybe you'd fit in on the "social media" bs better, there you can tell everyone how superior your big mac is over everyone else's.

 

[5030]

I do more than run hay bub.

 

[Smokeydog]

Like to see more groovy R4 tire analysts. Kinda of heavy duty DIY R14. Done both hot iron and chainsaw carving tools to cut grooves to improve hillside traction. Have limited opportunities in snow or ice but see improvements in other poor traction environments. Biggest obstacle is that you can’t buy them like tires or chains but have to make them. Then decide how to cut and best pattern.

 

[LouNY]

Well to add fuel to the fire;
I have started hearing some of the larger farms around here talking about running R14's on the mowing tractors,
these are the ones running the triple mowers on the large tractors instead of the R1's.
These guys are doing a bit more hay then anyone I have seen on here posting.
On the farm here the R1's have a few thousand hours on them with lots of road travel
so they are getting the bars worn down considerably and don't tear up hay fields even when the ground is soft,
the haybine actually makes more of a rut then the tractor does.

We have one Kubota on the farm with R4's on it, it has the worst traction of anything on wet or slick ground
and it has absolutely no side grip if even just the grass is wet that thing is helpless.

 

[Rustyiron]

Like to see more groovy R4 tire analysts. Kinda of heavy duty DIY R14. Done both hot iron and chainsaw carving tools to cut grooves to improve hillside traction. Have limited opportunities in snow or ice but see improvements in other poor traction environments. Biggest obstacle is that you can’t buy them like tires or chains but have to make them. Then decide how to cut and best pattern. View attachment 730891View attachment 730893View attachment 730895

I really don't remember anyone that did some "grooving" to their r4's reporting anything but improvement.
I don't remember any particular pattern and I wonder if it just comes down to more "edges"?

 

[Smokeydog]

I really don't remember anyone that did some "grooving" to their r4's reporting anything but improvement.
I don't remember any particular pattern and I wonder if it just comes down to more "edges"?

More edges helps like sipping particularly on ice. Snow packs in grooves and snow-on-snow gives traction. See gravels stuck in grooves like studs but can’t confirm added traction. The grooves help with side hill slip.

R4 tires last longer and sure that grooving them lessens the life span.

On our farm have switched from R1 tires to R4 primarily for loader durability and lower landscape damage. There are comprises, always comprises. Same tires on the same machine with different operators can have very different outcomes.

 

[coobie]

Cute little tractor. Way too small for my end use but cute anyway. Those tires are useless for my applications, hell, the tread pattern on my farm truck tires are more aggressive.

YOU DA MAN.LMAO

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I really don't remember anyone that did some "grooving" to their r4's reporting anything but improvement.
I don't remember any particular pattern and I wonder if it just comes down to more "edges"?

I think you are right in your question about it "coming down to more edges" as that = more traction.

 

[RoyJackson]

I think you are right in your question about it "coming down to more edges" as that = more traction.

Which is, basically, what at turf tire gives you...

 

[Rustyiron]

Circular discussion
I'm really learning that the conditions (driving surfaces and the snow itself) have wild swings and you really need to prepare for the best "average conditions". Those that are concerned about scarring asphalt are pretty much out of luck . Tire chains are the best "fall back" solution. The old adage of "plow WITH the storm" is still gospel particularly with ice or wet heavy snow.

 

[PILOON]

This is why so many people have cut grooves in their Industrial tires. The extra biting surfaces pack more snow between them just like the turf tires do. Yes Industrial tires are poor in snow and mud for that matter. I have never owned any Turf tires, (only AG and Industrial) but from what I understand they are quite a bit better in snow than Industrials.

When you take a close look at turf treads you'll observe they are the ones that most closely resemble snow tire treads.
The main difference is the rubber composition with actual snows being much softer for better gripping.

 

[Rustyiron]

Does anybody have any experience with the Nokian Hakkapeliitta TRI tires?
I have R4, and they lack both traction and side grip. Often the tractor goes where it wants to when I am blowing snow, and I have to back up a bit and lift the snow blower off "float" position to get me going where I want to, as in staying on my driveway.

I don't know if there's any similarities, but this is a picture of the Nokian Hapxxx#@&%, (snow tires)

Now these are automobile tires, but notice the amount of siping (I think it's called). They also state that it's a softer rubber and that makes me think that it's not a good choice to run all year, they are pricey.

 

[RoyJackson]

I don't know if there's any similarities, but this is a picture of the Nokian Hapxxx#@&%, (snow tires) View attachment 731046
Now these are automobile tires, but notice the amount of siping (I think it's called). They also state that it's a softer rubber and that makes me think that it's not a good choice to run all year, they are pricey.

Yeah, they are extremely pricey, plus it's the wheels too. IIRC, they're mounted on R1 wheels.
I think I read one is looking at between $4K and $5K to do the deed.
Regular turfs last quite a while and considering many of us put few hours (I'd estimate 60-80 hours a year for me) on our tractors...they'll be on a long time before replacement is necessary