R4's or turf tires for mowing and plowing?

I'm looking at getting a subcompact tractor and wondering what tires you guys have used or prefer. I currently have a John Deere Garden Tractor with turf tires and can't say I've had any issues with traction while mowing or plowing, but R4's on those newer subcompacts sure do look nice. I plow a concrete driveway with a loader in the winter so my main concern is whether I will have enough traction on the driveway with the R4's. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

All of my plowing experience with tractors is on R-4s. I was not impressed with traction. Considered buying chains, but for the larger tires they were too expensive. I still got the job done, but sometimes it was a pain. Compacted snow often turned to ice. But keep in mind that everything I plow is crushed stone drives and parking lot. The turfs would seem to me to give you more traction on icy/slippery surface because of more tire surface touching. I have now returned to plowing with a pickup because I have enough to plow that I got tired of plowing with a piece of equipment. Much faster and more comfy in a truck. Let us know what you decide.

 

You lookin at 2 or 4x4?
I plow with R4's and they do fine with no chains, rears are filled.

 

I also plow with a 4x4 tractor with r4's and loaded rears. Works fine. I drive up my driveway with the plow lifted and push down the hill. I use a plow off a truck on the front of my tractor, not the loader fwiw.

 

Thanks for info gasifier.

4x4. I'd def have wheel weights on the rear so that makes me feel better

 

Good to know. My driveway is slightly downhill as well. That must be a good size plow for your tractor!

 

I've used both plows on loaders and buckets. The buckets scrap it down better. I did not have loaded tires. I did have a backhoe on the back for weight though. It is amazing how if you have a snowy winter, how fast your snow can compact down to ice when you can not scrap it clean. Like on my crushed stone surfaces. Can get slippery fast. Concrete should be easy to scrap down and keep clean.

 

Yea that's a good point gas. I try to keep it clean and ice free and the loader def helps do that.

 

I wacked a foot off each side so it is narrower now. It is really nice to have that hydraulic tilt and be able to send the snow off to the side.

My driveway is blacktop so I bought a stable mat from tractor supply and cut it up in strips then sandwiched that between the plow and metal cutting edge. It hangs down about an half an inch so it squeegee's the driveway. When it is tougher snow I can put weight of the tractor on the plow to help scrape.

 

I should also point out the I should have spelled scrape. Not scrap. That is what I will do with the last old chain I hit a rock with.

 

R4's work decent for everything, mowing, snow, and dirt work. I use a SCUT for mowing that has R4s. I don't have any problems with turf damage. I have used the same tractor in the snow and pushed 20" with a rear blade. The R4s are a better choice if you plan on going in the wood. I feel the are more puncture resistant. If you are not happy how the R4's perform in the snow you can get a set of chains pretty cheap from tirechain.com.

Instead of getting wheel weights have you thought about getting fluid in the tires? Just don't get a fluid that is corrosive because it will eat your wheels up. The downside to wheel weights on a tractor this size is the wheel weight sticks out past the wheel. They always seem to be in the way. They can actually cause you to get stuck. If you are getting a loader most dealers automatically load the rear tires. Some automatically fill the tires on all tractors they sell.

 

I run R1s' on both my tractors. Like the traction mo better...

 

I filled mine with windshield washer fluid. Used a coupon and ordered online at advaned auto for in store pickup. 5 minutes after ordered the manager called me to ask if I really just bought 50 bottles of fluid

 

That's a great idea with the rubber mat as a scraper! I've seen posts about that on a tractor forum

 

If you do fine with R1's then the R4's should have no problem.

 

Mine is way more than just a slight hill and I have never failed to get up. Only once last year did I need my snowblower and that was after it dropped some freezing rain just after I cleared the first foot that fell and another foot fell on top of that. All ice at the bottom.

 

Yea I am still undecided if I want to fill them or not. I currently have 3 weights on each rear of my current tractor and you are right, they can be a pain and def stick out quite a bit. Id probably go with the beet juice fluid if I do fill them.

 

That's good to know. I'm sure any tires would have problems on freezing rain.

Glad they are working for you guys. I feel much better about them now

 

I was thinking the same too about the R4's being more puncture resistant

 

Here is a video of R4's in snow on a SCUT.