Zero turn tires for hilly yard

[Hotrod363765]

I'm trying to find something with a more aggressive tread design for mowing steeper slopes in my yard. The stock turf tires don't have enough traction when going downhill. The tire size is 22x10-14.
So far all I've found would be a atv or golf cart tire. Anyone have ideas? Thanks, Jeff

 

[Motion]

Be careful, if the factory tires are losing the traction with the correct amount of pressure on dry turf, you may be pushing the limits of the mower. if you good to a more aggressive thread it may damage the normally flat areas. Depending the incline wear your seatbelt and have the ROPS locked in the up position.

 

[mikester]

I use Carlisle WT300 bar tires on my ZD326

 

[dirtydeed]

Did the same thing with my "beater" ZTR. I put ATV tires on it and it's damn near unstoppable when my property is wet. Just about any ATV tire will be better (traction wise) than lawn mower tires. You can also get them in heavier ply ratings.

 

[MOOTS]

I'm trying to find something with a more aggressive tread design for mowing steeper slopes in my yard. The stock turf tires don't have enough traction when going downhill. The tire size is 22x10-14.
So far all I've found would be a atv or golf cart tire. Anyone have ideas? Thanks, Jeff

I looked, and that is an odd size tire. Rim actually. Have you tried adding some fluid to the tires for extra weight? I filled my Cub cadet rear tires with water/RV anti freeze and don't slip and slide anymore.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

Being on sandy soil, my atv shreds my grass on turns. Most likely due to the solid rear axle. Do these tires rip up the grass on turns.? With my zero turn, I avoid zero turns when cutting cuz the turf tires do a little damage.

 

[dirtydeed]

Being on sandy soil, my atv shreds my grass on turns. Most likely due to the solid rear axle. Do these tires rip up the grass on turns.? With my zero turn, I avoid zero turns when cutting cuz the turf tires do a little damage.

Not sure who your question was directed to...

You are correct on atv/solid axle. Inner tire needs to slip on turns resulting in tearing stuff up. There are a few machines (I know Honda had that option) that can be put into "turf mode" that unlocks the rear diff.

ATV tires on ZTR - they will rip up grass on turns if you're not careful (just like any other tire). But that is more about technique than the tire itself.

 

[radas]

Being on sandy soil, my atv shreds my grass on turns. Most likely due to the solid rear axle. Do these tires rip up the grass on turns.? With my zero turn, I avoid zero turns when cutting cuz the turf tires do a little damage.

Same here with my zero turn and sandy soil. I usually do small radius 3pt turns or J turns to avoid tearing up the lawn.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

Yep. Love my zero turn. Spots where I must turn are always missing grass from the inside rear wheel. Still learning and getting better. But I also have some steep slopes that I haven’t attempted yet, and get out the old cub cadet tractor to do these.. I’ve considered some higher grip rear tires for these slopes, but the caveat is more turf damage….thus why I asked.

 

[radas]

Yep. Love my zero turn. Spots where I must turn are always missing grass from the inside rear wheel. Still learning and getting better. But I also have some steep slopes that I haven’t attempted yet, and get out the old cub cadet tractor to do these.. I’ve considered some higher grip rear tires for these slopes, but the caveat is more turf damage….thus why I asked.

I found it easier to slowly drive up the hill with the ztr and reverse down. This doesn't work if the hill is too steep though, I have done wheelies in the past

 

[notforhire]

I recently purchased a new Ferris Z and went through the same tire selection problem. I ended up running chevron style tread, which is what I ran on my previous machine for 18 years. They work for me.

One thing I did learn is that the size printed on the tire is more like a rough guess. I was told that tire measurements are taken at full operating pressure. I don't know if that's true but some tires I looked at varied in width and height measurements by 1 1/2 inches. Another thing to check is the load rating. Some ATV tires may have a rating around 400 lbs, while a similar size/ appearance tire may be rated for 1,300 lbs.
These are things you may want to keep in mind for clearance, cut height and safety. My machine weighs over 1,200 lbs.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

I too have a Ferris. ISX2200. Same oil system as yours.
In your opinion do they hold cutting a slope better than the turfs? How about turf damage? I know the inside tire, no matter what tread will shred the lawn if the operator spins around on a dime, but how is it for 3 pt turns or gradual turns.

 

[Mowbizz]

I do okay with my standard turfs on my Z422 Kubota. I can drive straight up and straight down without problems…the key is go slow! I make up time on my flatter ground!

 

[GSD-Keegan]

I cut 3 or 4 passes along the road edge, can’t go straight up and down.

 

[notforhire]

I too have a Ferris. ISX2200. Same oil system as yours.
In your opinion do they hold cutting a slope better than the turfs? How about turf damage? I know the inside tire, no matter what tread will shred the lawn if the operator spins around on a dime, but how is it for 3 pt turns or gradual turns.

Just so you know, I live in the country. My lawn used to be pasture, so I'm not as particular as someone with a manicured lawn.
I think the new tires were a big improvement over the supplied turfs. Side slopes that had been impossible with the turfs will sometimes suffer some damage with the new tires.
A short hill that I mow up and down could not be climbed with the turfs and going down used to be a slightly controlled skid. Now it's possible w/o skidding.

I read once that the advantage of four wheel drive was the ability to get stuck in more inaccessible places.
The places that I do some turf damage with my new tires are places that I couldn't even go with the turfs.

I can now mow close to my pond without sliding. I actually did damage with the turfs sliding sideways in the same spot. (That's what prompted my tire change. )

If you are careful and take reasonable turns you will be fine, if you really want to destroy your grass you can do that too. Just try a few power turns when the lawn is wet.

BTW, I sold my old mower (a Ferris 1000z, that has chevron tread tires) to my neighbor. He is happy with the tires and has no plains of changing to turfs.

 

[GSD-Keegan]

Thank you for your detailed post. Yes, I live in the country as well. I cut about 1.5 acres. Some wooded area, and along a creek and wetlands, and some along a road edge which is steep. I always managed to cut this slope with my old cub cadet rider, and could easily shift my butt to the uphill side to feel more comfortable. Can’t do that with the Ferris. I too have experienced a couple out of control downhill slides

 

[mikester]

Thank you for your detailed post. Yes, I live in the country as well. I cut about 1.5 acres. Some wooded area, and along a creek and wetlands, and some along a road edge which is steep. I always managed to cut this slope with my old cub cadet rider, and could easily shift my butt to the uphill side to feel more comfortable. Can’t do that with the Ferris. I too have experienced a couple out of control downhill slides

Sliding down a steep slope ending in a deep pond with the rear tires going in full reverse is a good wake up call. Having to drive forward to stop the slide and slow down isn't intuitive. Bar tires fixed the slide issues for me...and avoiding turns on steep slopes or while going straight up/down hills with wet grass.

 

[Vigo]

I read once that the advantage of four wheel drive was the ability to get stuck in more inaccessible places.

I take your point as intended, but another relevant take is that on a tractor or any other thing which essentially only has two 'braked' wheels, 4 wheel drive doubles your braking traction by getting all 4 tires involved in it! I know zero turns put basically all their weight on their rear tires and 4wd is totally irrelevant to zero turns, but it might be a relevant concept for someone deciding between a zero turn and a SCUT for mowing duties on 'interesting terrain'.

 

[notforhire]

I take your point as intended, but another relevant take is that on a tractor or any other thing which essentially only has two 'braked' wheels, 4 wheel drive doubles your braking traction by getting all 4 tires involved in it! I know zero turns put basically all their weight on their rear tires and 4wd is totally irrelevant to zero turns, but it might be a relevant concept for someone deciding between a zero turn and a SCUT for mowing duties on 'interesting terrain'.

I actually looked into a Kubota B and BX for my mowing before buying the Ferris. IMHO as far as value goes I think the tractor wins. Diesel engine, 4wd etc. I just don't have enough hills to make the tractor worthwhile.
On decent ground the Z is soooo much faster. I spend too much time mowing now.

 

[Vigo]

I hope to eventually achieve 'decent ground' on the ~2.5 acres i have to mow. I have tried a couple of zero turns I was working on for others out here and the ride is too rough to use the greater speed. But, i intend to eventually rip up and smooth out the whole thing and start over as there isn't a spot of grass on it i actually like anyway (used to be a hay field).