Finding the right tractor can be a daunting task. With a plethora of manufacturers and sizes, it can be difficult to tell up from down. But once you've honed in on the right tractor, or at least the right size tractor, how do you know which tires you should get?
Over the years, I have pin pointed 4 simple questions that will help you narrow down your tire selection:
Do you need to use your tractor year round, rain or shine?
Do you have steep hills that you plan to traverse on a regular basis?
Do you plan to regularly use your tractor on sensitive turf that can't be damaged?
Do you plan on using your tractor on hard or rocky surfaces frequently?
R1
If you answered yes to questions 1, 2, or both 1 and 2, you most likely need the R1 Ag Tire. The R1 provides the most traction in sloppy conditions, and is very well suited for tasks like transporting or feeding hay through the winter. The R1 Ag Tire also provides the most bite on hill sides, reducing the possibility of slippage and sliding. You'll notice that this style tire is sold in almost every instance on tractors 70hp and larger, which are typically going out into production applications.
R3
If you answered yes to question 3, most likely you need some variation of the R3 Turf Tire. This tire is typically used by golf courses, municipalities, and homeowners who are focused on turf care. This can also be a good option for snow removal. The R3 tire is the least common style of tire you'll find on a tractor, and consequently may limit the ability of your tractor to do traditional tractor work. Because it's not as popular, this style of tire may affect the resale value of your tractor.
If you answered yes to question 4, or you answered no to all of the questions, the R4 Industrial or R14 Hybrid (R1 and R4 mixed together) style tires are going to be the best option for you. These do it all tires are the jack of all trades, master of none. You'll get good traction in many conditions, have long tread life, great load rating, and good resale. The R4/R14 are the most common tire found on compact tractors.
R4 R14
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