Zero turn turf tires

[dragoneggs]

My first zero turn (850 lbs) with turfs was terrible on hills.
My current zero turn is nearly double the weight (1600 lbs) with turfs was no better on hills. (the extra weight made little to no difference in traction IMO).
I replaced the turfs with bar tires (Chevron AT 101) and the difference in traction and mowing hills is HUGE.
Our hills that were always a problem with crappy turfs are no problem at all now.

hey vince, thanks for posting the side by side pic. I think I might look at cost of swapping out my turfs on my little Z turn. I have fair amount of sloping and not always dry lawn. Do you get better traction in terms of a sideways slide (mowing across the slope)? I can imagine the traction going up/down the slope would be much improved.

 

[4570Man]

Yea, because heavier mowers are less likely to get stuck in the mud

Foaming all 4 wheels would be a steep cost. It cost me $70 just for the fronts on mine. I wouldn’t want the hard ride of foamed backs anyway.

 

[big bubba]

personally, zero turn riders don't do well on wet slopes. the OP got stuck in mud, but doesn't say on slope or level. big difference.
no doubt more aggressive treads (preferably w/some ballast) will do the trick. wet slopes?....you'll tear it up regardless of tread on a zero turn rider

90% of my mowing 4 acres is done on zero turn rider, fairly level.
on the 3 spring fed pond banks, etc, i use a walk behind zero turn. much better on all fronts incl safety. (at least for those who might have the ambition or initiative to do a little walking while mowing for a change).
foam filled all 4 tires
Hydro Drive Walk-Behind Mowers - Encore

 

[DK35vince]

hey vince, thanks for posting the side by side pic. I think I might look at cost of swapping out my turfs on my little Z turn. I have fair amount of sloping and not always dry lawn. Do you get better traction in terms of a sideways slide (mowing across the slope)? I can imagine the traction going up/down the slope would be much improved.

I gained traction in every way vs the turf tires.

 

[4570Man]

Here’s mine. My sideways traction is much better. Going sideways it’s really still a game of not letting the up hill tire slip forward sending the front of the mower down the hill.

 

[dragoneggs]

Here痴 mine. My sideways traction is much better. Going sideways it痴 really still a game of not letting the up hill tire slip forward sending the front of the mower down the hill. View attachment 597000

Dang, and I thought I was all set for another mowing season. You guys got me thinking. There indeed is a lot of finesse with handling Z's on slopes and I enjoy the challenge, but more traction just means you upped your game! :thumbsup: :dollarsign:

 

[4570Man]

Most people’s mistake on hills is jerking back with the uphill tire and spinning it and then it’s game over. You have to be careful with the up hill tire and push into the hill with the downhill tire. Which the tires on my machine are 58” apart outside to outside and has a Kubota diesel mounted behind the center of the axel with helps the hill siding tremendously.

 

[4570Man]

My first zero turn (850 lbs) with turfs was terrible on hills.
My current zero turn is nearly double the weight (1600 lbs) with turfs was no better on hills. (the extra weight made little to no difference in traction IMO).
I replaced the turfs with bar tires (Chevron AT 101) and the difference in traction and mowing hills is HUGE.
Our hills that were always a problem with crappy turfs are no problem at all now.

Our wide commercial machines will definitely out perform the little machines in hills. Take a homeowner machine with useless turf tires and add what’s likely a first time operator and it’s no wonder why ZTRs have a reputation for sucking on hills. Imagine what could be accomplished with a front wheel locker.

 

[dragoneggs]

Our wide commercial machines will definitely out perform the little machines in hills. Take a homeowner machine with useless turf tires and add what痴 likely a first time operator and it痴 no wonder why ZTRs have a reputation for sucking on hills. Imagine what could be accomplished with a front wheel locker.

Yeah, not fair. I don't have much to mow but it is sloped. I could barely justify a z turn and my JD garden tractor until recently was at a rental. It does better on slopes but I don't want to be switching machines to get the whole job done. As it is, I still need to push mow the tricky areas. I surely cannot justify a bigger wider stance mower due to the 1+ acre I mow including part of my neighbor's property. I do call it technical mowing though... with orchard trees, tight spaces, etc. Z turns kick the crap out of GTs when it comes to mowing time.

I live on a steep hill that I am terracing and trying to create a landscape that I can maintain in a minimum amount of time and continue to do so as I age and cannot continue to expend the same personal horsepower as now. I want to die here and not in some place I am where I am not responsible. I think I am becoming an accomplished Z turner but traction is the 'game'. Time to google chevron tires for my little Z

 

[4570Man]

I paid about $230 total at a tire store installed for mine. It was well worth it. You could order them for about $90 each but that’s from amazon that’s going to tax me on them plus I hate mounting tires so I’ll pay the tire store.

 

[tradosaurus]

I paid about $230 total at a tire store installed for mine. It was well worth it. You could order them for about $90 each but that’s from amazon that’s going to tax me on them plus I hate mounting tires so I’ll pay the tire store.

I just bought two for $115 shipped. Discount Tire will mount them for $10 each.

 

[Texasmark]

Turfs are made for the least destruction of turfs! The other tires are made for traction. Obviously you can't have both.....to any degree. I have gone through the gauntlet of types of tires for my ZTs and I have a ZT with turfs to mow my lawn. The rest of them that are used for mowing fields, and pond banks use ATV snow studs. Bar lugs are popular but no way do they do what ATV snows do when you want traction.

Other thing is how you drive. You can make a big difference in lawn damage with any tire with that.

 

[4570Man]

The operator makes the biggest difference. I can shred a yard with turfs and not tear up a yard with bar tires.

 

[yomax4]

It all depends on just what is "tearing" up your lawn.

If slipping and sliding is tearing up your lawn, ag-type tires will fix that issue.

If its rutting up because it is soft and wet.....same size tire regardless of tread is gonna rut just the same.

Look up AT-101 tires. Have them on my ZTR for my hilly property. In some of the wetter areas, standard turf tires would spin. And leave a 20' long smear where I was spinning the whole way. No problem anymore with AT-101's

I'm considering the AT-101 tires. My biggest problem is slight to moderate downhill and a sharp turn around a tree. Uphill is ok but you still have to go down and turn due to a hedge line. I've added air, let out air, fluid in, fluid out. The AT101's will have to be the next trial.

 

[4570Man]

Going down a hill isn’t a ZTRs strong point. 15 degrease is about the extent of what I can descend in a controlled manor.

 

[dragoneggs]

Going down a hill isn’t a ZTRs strong point. 15 degrease is about the extent of what I can descend in a controlled manor.

That is for sure! Neither is too steep an uphill. I need to put some weight on the front to stop popping wheelies.

I’m pretty good spinning at the top of the hill and lucky I have a runout on the bottom.

 

[Ford850]

I just bought two for $115 shipped. Discount Tire will mount them for $10 each.

I planned to mount my tires, but ended up having a tire shop do it. I removed the old tires, cleaned up the rims, and replaced the valve stems. I tried to mount the new tires but they are much heavier than any small tire I've ever mounted on my HF mini tire changer. My local tire shop mounted them in five minutes for $6.99 each, and it was worth every penny.

 

[Texasmark]

Going down a hill isn’t a ZTRs strong point. 15 degrease is about the extent of what I can descend in a controlled manor.

Totally agree and weight is your enemy as is DEW in the early mornings. Mowers can push up a hill much better than they can attempt to descend a hill and maintain traction.

 

[yomax4]

And here I've been Blaming my Gravely for the down hill woes and spinning out and wanting to kill me near ledges. I am now informed.

 

[tradosaurus]

Discount Tire installed tires for free. Will be mowing this evening.