Has anyone regretted going from R4 to R1

[edisonck]

I did a search for prior threads on this, but didn’t see anything this specific. I hope I didn’t miss something. That said, before I embark on the cost and journey to go to R1’s, I thought I would ask this smart and experienced group for your feedback on the topic. This is an amazing forum!

 

[edisonck]

I know I am a newbie to the site and hopefully I haven't touched on a taboo topic. Or... maybe it's been 'beaten to death' and I can't find the old threads. HA! That said, someone must have experience on this topic!

Please help the new guy before I take the expensive plunge into the R1 conversion!

 

[procraftmike]

Well, I have no experience with R4's. I have always used R1's, due to wanting to maximize traction and keep lugs from filling up with mud. But, they do ride a little rough, if you are on a hard surface.

I guess it's more of an application question on why you want R1's vs. R4's. I think for farm work in fields, R1's can't be beat.

 

[Bmyers]

I have R4s, but so far have found no need to go to R1s.

I don't know, maybe a lot of people don't find the need or don't want to spend the cost til they actually switch out tractors.

 

[fruitcakesa]

My old L4630 came with R4's and seemed to function fine for most jobs, though I did use rear wheel chains in winter and in mud but had nothing to compare them to.
My M came with R1's and I was concerned about their performance before I actually used them.
Well, the big thing for me is the taller wheels allow the tractor to travel in rough terrain[of which I have a lot] much more smoothly and they clear quickly when in slop.
Still use chains in winter and mud but I have no regrets about having the R1's.

 

[edritchey]

I use both if you're going to run on a lawn R1s will mark it up unless you have a really light tractor and the lawn is really dry. R4s are ok on the lawn if it isn't to wet. R1s have much better traction in soft dirt.

 

[NoJacketRequired]

I'm in the process of changing one of my tractors from R1 ag tires to turf tires. Why? Because the R1s shake your teeth out and provide poor traction for snow removal operations. I always thought turf tires would be a poor choice for winter operations, but my thinking was all wrong. The only time the R1s have an advantage in winter is in deep, loose snow. Given that i use front-mounted blowers, the tractor tires are never in deep snow and the turf tires give far better traction on smooth snow.

 

[Brian H]

I bought my MX5200 in September of 2018 with R4s. They were bad in snow and useless in mud. I was spinning or stuck all the time, even in 4wd. And they were rough riding. I bit the bullet and replaced them with R1s a year later at 200 hrs. Specifically getting the 13.6-28 rears for the higher profile. They are fantastic. Better in snow and mud. Rides smoother too. Dont regret it for a minute but it was an expensive lesson.

 

[Brian H]

No Jacket. Respectfully I have to disagree with most of your experience. However maybe you are on pavement. I am not.

 

[tawood]

My only regret was getting the R4 tires in the first place.

 

[edisonck]

tawood,

That hurts... Expensive lessons suck. Especially in COVID-19 business environments.

 

[PitViper]

When I put new tires on my TG1860, I went from turf tires all around to R1 on the back and turf on the front. I have no regrets and can’t say that I can tell a difference in ride on turf or gravel, but there is a very noticeable difference in traction when climbing hills and doing pulling work.

The R4 “industrial” tread is a hybrid pattern, and has its advantages and disadvantages. The primary advantage being tread wear. They are easier on turf than an R1 ag pattern, but not as easy on it as a turf tire. They ride smoother and wear better than an R1 on pavement, and offer better traction in the muck than a turf tire, but not as good as an R1. Goodworks Tractor put out a video a while back on over rated tractor features, and T4 tires was the first item covered. It’s worth checking out. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you want in a tire, and how you use your tractor.

On a side note, R4 may make selling your tractor easier when the time comes.

 

[tawood]

...They are easier on turf than an R1 ag pattern, but not as easy on it as a turf tire. ...

I disagree.

Yes, the R1 will make divots in the yard when the soil is wet. But on a big yard like mine, they are not even noticeable. I'm finding that the R4s, on the other hand, kill the grass. I don't know why, but R1s will make a divot but the grass lives, still growing in the divot. Yet now with R4s, I have dead lines, or roads, back and forth across my grass just from mowing. Oh, and I still get divots from the R4s when the yard is damp, its just that now the divots have dead grass.

 

[PitViper]

I disagree.

Yes, the R1 will make divots in the yard when the soil is wet. But on a big yard like mine, they are not even noticeable. I'm finding that the R4s, on the other hand, kill the grass. I don't know why, but R1s will make a divot but the grass lives, still growing in the divot. Yet now with R4s, I have dead lines, or roads, back and forth across my grass just from mowing. Oh, and I still get divots from the R4s when the yard is damp, its just that now the divots have dead grass.

That’s strange. What soil type do you have? What tire pressure are you running?

Just another case for matching the tire to your specific application.

 

[D2Cat]

Edisonck, the tire you need should be based on your tractor, it's weight, and how you will use the tractor a large percentage of the time.

I have tractors of various sizes, used for various task, and have R1, R4 and Turf on different machines. Turf tires are designed for, as the name mentions, using on turf. If your higher percentage of use is mowing on ground you want looking smooth, use turf. That also means you pay attention to soil conditions when you mow, but most don't mow the yard when wet. But then "yards" should not be worked on with any tread when they are wet.

R1 are the best for farming, working the soil. Obviously, that's what was first introduced in rubber farm tires. Hard to beat when you need the weight and HP of the tractor to move when working soil.

R4 is as heave industrial tread, ideal for many situations, but does not make ruts when R1's will. They are wider then R1's and heavier. Do not pick up nails and hardware on jobsites like other tires. Works find on yards when soil conditions are not wet.

Being in Mn. you need to evaluate snow removal. I've used R1 and R4 for snow removal and it does not make any difference to me. We get a few 6" events and sometimes to 15" max though.

Another nuance, I recently cut grooves in R4's. I can tell it makes a difference. But you're buying new tires, so you need to determine your primary usage. No tire is perfect for every application on one tractor.

I have an L4240 with R4's and 350# of fluid in each rear tire, and use it on my lawn for raking and other tasks. They do not kill, stifle or affect the K31 in my yard.

We use a Grasshopper Zero Turn for mowing, and the yard is Pretty!

 

[tawood]

That’s strange. What soil type do you have? What tire pressure are you running?

Just another case for matching the tire to your specific application.

My soil is heavy clay. I'm running 30 psi front and rear, and I mow in 2wd (of course) with no FEL on.