BX tires - Turf or R4? and what brand?

[Mark_BX25D]

Well, it looks like that day may have come. I seem to have a seep from my sidewall. Tires are filled, of course, or they'd probably be flat.

So, I have several questions:

1. Are these tires changeable by a backyard mechanic with hand tools, or am I going to have to take them to the dealer?
2. Any preferred brand? I see a lot of complaints about the Kubota branded R4s. Are Carlisle any good?
3. Since I do a lot of bucket work and occasional backhoe work, would I be best to stick with R4s? I have seen some posts here and there from people who use turf tires for this work and are happy with them. I do drive on my lawn a lot, so that's a factor.

What say you all?

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Good day.

1. Do you know what caused the damage to the tire?

2. Tire damage aside, have you been happy with the R4s?

I’d probably take to a tractor tire repair shop, unless you have a farm / in field repair service that would stop by and see how severe the damage is…is it possible that it’s repairable? You might be able to call and send them some pics and see what they say. I’d start there.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

I just spotted the seepage, but they are pretty old. It's probably just age. The tractor was new in 2014. That makes them 12 years old. I don't know about tractor tires, but for automotive use, that's time to replace. The rubber just ages.

Yes, I've been happy with the R4s, but I thought I'd get some opinions on alternatives.

 

[Russell King]

Look at R14 (R1 to R4 hybrid. Not sure what sizes are available and they may be a little aggressive for lawns?

 

[Speed25]

I run turfs and R4's on my 25D-1. The turfs just don't have the capacity for any heavy loader work, but I'll run them when moving mulch around the yard and such. The R4's tear up the grass too much to run them all the time though, so I swap sets as needed, but I've intentionally NOT filled my tires to keep the tractor as light as possible for mowing. I'd rather put ballast on the rear if needed. For reference, I paid $470 for a full set of new, mounted R4 wheels and tires from the dealership last year from the local dealership.

It looks like you have decent tread left, is foam-filling an option?

 

[Mowbizz]

1. Ive owned 2 BX25d tractors over the past 20 years… both had TURFS and I’ve done many heavy loader jobs maxing out loader capacity many times. Turf tires have never been a hinderance for me. Hell I’ve even taken my BX off-road and never had a problem. Where turfs SHINE for me is on ice and snow…great traction on my steep paved driveway sections. I’m SOLD on turfs. I don’t mow anymore but turfs all the way for me when I did!
2. BTW if just sold a complete set of my “old” turfs for $100’ and both loaded rears were weeping. Bought NEW rears from my dealer, Not loaded!

 

[Mark_BX25D]

It looks like you have decent tread left, is foam-filling an option?

Then I'd have to find a lot of ballast, so I'd rather stay with liquid filled.

Besides, if the sidewalls are leaking, they are coming apart. Foam might work, but... I really don't trust those tires at this point.

 

[Bearcatrp]

Don’t think turfs are very strong on the sides. My 1st year with turfs plowing snow, piece of ice cut a hole on the side of one of my fronts. I now use R4’s for winter duties. Never an issue now. Bought mine through my Kubota dealer. You may want to stick with R4’s for grunt work. Do love my turfs for lawn care.

 

[fmgsr]

Fronts from dealer on wheels are cheaper than just tires. $90.00
Rears are pretty close also.

 

[Speed25]

1. Ive owned 2 BX25d tractors over the past 20 years… both had TURFS and I’ve done many heavy loader jobs maxing out loader capacity many times. Turf tires have never been a hinderance for me. Hell I’ve even taken my BX off-road and never had a problem. Where turfs SHINE for me is on ice and snow…great traction on my steep paved driveway sections. I’m SOLD on turfs. I don’t mow anymore but turfs all the way for me when I did!
2. BTW if just sold a complete set of my “old” turfs for $100’ and both loaded rears were weeping. Bought NEW rears from my dealer, Not loaded!

Out of curiosity, stock turf tires? Stock pressures? Filled, or just air? Mine are only air-filled, but they're so squishy and bouncy with a loader full. Getting off camber, facing slightly downhill where more load is on the front tires is even worse.

I do agree, the turf tires are great on ice and snow, and have done surprisingly well in the wet dirt (not quite mud, but slick nonetheless) for me.

 

[Mowbizz]

Out of curiosity, stock turf tires? Stock pressures? Filled, or just air? Mine are only air-filled, but they're so squishy and bouncy with a loader full. Getting off camber, facing slightly downhill where more load is on the front tires is even worse.

I do agree, the turf tires are great on ice and snow, and have done surprisingly well in the wet dirt (not quite mud, but slick nonetheless) for me.

Stock tires. Rears were filled by the dealer when BX was purchased.
I have noticed at times the fronts were “squishing” a bit and a bit “squirrelly”’ but adjusted loads of whatever I was carrying fixed that. May have aired them up a bit to compensate as well but they always performed well enough to be acceptable ( to me). Again, turfs has always been good for all around work while excelling in snow/ice conditions. All I’ll ever buy.

 

[Mowbizz]

Fronts from dealer on wheels are cheaper than just tires. $90.00
Rears are pretty close also.

I just bought 2 new rears (turfs, not loaded) from my local Kubota dealer and they cost just shy of $800 for the pair. That’s not “close”

 

[Speed25]

I just bought 2 new rears (turfs, not loaded) from my local Kubota dealer and they cost just shy of $800 for the pair. That’s not “close”

Ouch. Messick's has them listed at $153/each (ABXR8712) for mounted wheel and tire, and I know my local dealer has been a bit cheaper than them with no shipping charge.

Edit: Go through sales, not the parts department.

 

[Shawn T. W]

It looks like you have decent tread left, is foam-filling an option?

Then I'd have to find a lot of ballast, so I'd rather stay with liquid filled.

If I'm reading this right ... You have the same misunderstanding about foam as I had when my brother mentioned it to me ...

The foam used in filling tires is very dense and heavy actually, and is puncture proof ... But tire will have to be cut off the rim eventually to replace, places that foam fill are prepared to do that too ...

 

[Mowbizz]

Ouch. Messick's has them listed at $153/each (ABXR8712) for mounted wheel and tire, and I know my local dealer has been a bit cheaper than them with no shipping charge.

Edit: Go through sales, not the parts department.

Is that shipped? If so I’ll have to start looking there! In my defense, I did need one for emergency as mine had lost its bead…I ordered the 2nd to avoid “old tire” problems.

 

[Speed25]

Is that shipped? If so I’ll have to start looking there! In my defense, I did need one for emergency as mine had lost its bead…I ordered the 2nd to avoid “old tire” problems.

Nah, and I've heard on the forum that they're expensive on shipping, hence buying from my local dealer.

 

[chim]

Couple of my experiences:

The last 3 tractors all wore R4's. I've often thought about trying something else. First alternative was turfs. Then when the R14's came out they were appealing. Because the R4's have worked well, it was difficult to go with an unknown.

The last couple sets of R4 have been grooved. Definitely worth doing. I plow snow with an 8' Fisher without chains - and frequently without any rear ballast

R4's have been kinder to my yard than R1's. Current R4's are loaded and on my cabbed L4240. The R1's are not filled and are on my Ford 1210. There's a big weight difference between the two. The L4240 can pick up the Ford.

At work we had all 4 tires of a Montana foam filled. There were choices of different weights and firmness.

 

[SDT]

Well, it looks like that day may have come. I seem to have a seep from my sidewall. Tires are filled, of course, or they'd probably be flat.

So, I have several questions:

1. Are these tires changeable by a backyard mechanic with hand tools, or am I going to have to take them to the dealer?
2. Any preferred brand? I see a lot of complaints about the Kubota branded R4s. Are Carlisle any good?
3. Since I do a lot of bucket work and occasional backhoe work, would I be best to stick with R4s? I have seen some posts here and there from people who use turf tires for this work and are happy with them. I do drive on my lawn a lot, so that's a factor.

What say you all?

View attachment 172832

As your tires are filled with liquid ballast, you will need to take them to a tire shop that works on AG tires for replacement. Having been filled with liquid ballast, it is almost a certainty that they cannot be repaired but you might ask the shop about the prospect of proper cleaning and installation of tubes.

That said, you will likely be better off replacing them with new R4s. As you routinely do FEL work, I would not recommend turf tires.

For decades I mounted/dismounted and repaired my own tires, including tractor tires, which is why I never used liquid ballast. Servicing air filled tractor tires is not difficult if one has two good tire tools and a slide hammer.

 

[SDT]

I just spotted the seepage, but they are pretty old. It's probably just age. The tractor was new in 2014. That makes them 12 years old. I don't know about tractor tires, but for automotive use, that's time to replace. The rubber just ages.

Yes, I've been happy with the R4s, but I thought I'd get some opinions on alternatives.

Absent abuse, e.g., operating while underinflated, tractor tires will last for decades. The tires on my 1994 B1750 are original and I do not expect to replace them for years to come. Inside storage helps as UV damage is minimized.

 

[bobnic]

I still have the original filled turf tires on my 2014 BX2370 with over 900 hrs and I really like them. They are in great shape because I do keep it in the barn so the tires haven't got too much sun exposure. I mow with the BX and find the turf tires to be very gentle on the lawn. I also have used the BX loader to move a lot of 1 inch minus stone and have had no problems with the turf tires. Those who have complained about them being "squishy" for loader work may not have been using appropriate ballast on their 3 pt hitch to reduce the load on the front tires. I also use the BX at times for snow removal and have found the turf tires to be very good on snow. I have R14s on my LX4020 which I find to be reasonably good on the lawn and provide excellent traction when snow blowing up hill.