Good R4s for Mud, snow

jsmo

New member

Equipment
bx23s
Feb 6, 2022
2
3
3
03087
After posting the question I came across a great video on sub compact tire options which rates tires in 4 catagories. Grass, snow, dirt/mud, pavement. For anyone looking for info in the future:

Original question:
Can anyone with some tire experience help me choose a tire for my non-mowing bx23s.

Uses:
trail maintenance
hauling mulch and wood across the lawn
pushing snow
frequently encounter 6" deep mud on the trail which I've managed to wiggle my way using the backhoe
moving things that are too heavy for me (usually across the lawn)
fording a little mud river that runs across the trail entrance

Current tires: OTR grassmaster turf tires

Would like to not destroy the lawn when driving across it.

Looking at:
Carlisle wt300 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011O41CG6/
Carlisle versa turf - https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Paddles-6L0915-Versa-Turf/dp/B0914GSFYT
Carlisle Trac Chief - https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Trac-Chief-Lawn-Garden/dp/B005O5VJNI

Any idea which tire would provide a good balance of getting through the mud, keeping traction in snow without destroying the lawn when I drive across it?

As of now I'm leaning towards the wt300 but am wondering if that will be aggressive enough when I get in the mud.
 
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Henro

Well-known member

Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
2,341
113
North of Pittsburgh PA
The wt300 tire you seem to like looks more like an R14 than an R4, which is good.

I have AG style tires on my BX but they do not seem to be offered for BXs now. Even these AG tires on the BX are not the greatest in snow.

My experience with R4 tires is they are no good in mud. Period. Just turn to slicks.

If it were just winter you might consider ladder chains for your turf tires. But no mud in winter, when it is freezing anyway.

My son in law has a BX23S and just bought chains for it to use both in winter and summer mud. But I guess he is willing to take them off when needed. BUT he does not mow with the BX. That could be a difference. He had no option other than tuff tires, so he got wha I think are R4 tires. There was only two tire choices when he bought the tractor. I guess they are R4 tires. Mud was the reason he bought chains.
 
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pokey1416

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
Grand L4060HSTC, BH92 Backhoe, HLA Snow Pusher, Dirt Dog Tiller, EA DiscHarrow
Jun 24, 2020
532
738
93
SW Michigan
The lawn and garden looks like a standard R-4. No lawn damage but not very good in snow and mud, although you could groove it, which I have done and others. It's an industrial tire, or at least it's an industrial tread pattern on that one. The R-4's seem to have between 4-8 ply's maybe more on some models.

I would think the versa turf might work best. The wt300 grooves are very shallow IMO.
 
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jsmo

New member

Equipment
bx23s
Feb 6, 2022
2
3
3
03087
You were dead on Pokey.
I'm going to go with the versa turfs.
Updated my post with a video that helped me decide
 
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Henro

Well-known member

Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
2,341
113
North of Pittsburgh PA
You were dead on Pokey.
I'm going to go with the versa turfs.
Updated my post with a video that helped me decide
Interesting video. I think you made the best choice.

Let us know how they work out for you.
 

jimh406

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Lifetime Member

Equipment
Kubota L2501 with R4 tires
Jan 29, 2021
2,154
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Western MT
Good luck with the turf tires in woods. You are trading off durability/sidewall toughness. If you have a common place that is your creek crossing, it seems you would be better off adding some gravel.
 

Henro

Well-known member

Equipment
B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
2,341
113
North of Pittsburgh PA
Good luck with the turf tires in woods. You are trading off durability/sidewall toughness. If you have a common place that is your creek crossing, it seems you would be better off adding some gravel.
He did not choose conventional turf tires.

Check out the video and you will see the difference...
 

mikester

Well-known member

Equipment
M59 TLB
Oct 21, 2017
3,125
1,609
113
Canada
www.divergentstuff.ca
After posting the question I came across a great video on sub compact tire options which rates tires in 4 catagories. Grass, snow, dirt/mud, pavement. For anyone looking for info in the future:

Original question:
Can anyone with some tire experience help me choose a tire for my non-mowing bx23s.

Uses:
trail maintenance
hauling mulch and wood across the lawn
pushing snow
frequently encounter 6" deep mud on the trail which I've managed to wiggle my way using the backhoe
moving things that are too heavy for me (usually across the lawn)
fording a little mud river that runs across the trail entrance

Current tires: OTR grassmaster turf tires

Would like to not destroy the lawn when driving across it.

Looking at:
Carlisle wt300 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011O41CG6/
Carlisle versa turf - https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Paddles-6L0915-Versa-Turf/dp/B0914GSFYT
Carlisle Trac Chief - https://www.amazon.com/Carlisle-Trac-Chief-Lawn-Garden/dp/B005O5VJNI

Any idea which tire would provide a good balance of getting through the mud, keeping traction in snow without destroying the lawn when I drive across it?

As of now I'm leaning towards the wt300 but am wondering if that will be aggressive enough when I get in the mud.
I have WT300 on my ZTR. They have soft side walls so they won't be good for loader work. Superior traction over turfs.

I prefer R4's for loader work. R1's for field and deep mud work.
 

Brian H

Member

Equipment
MX5200HST, MTL RK5 Gr, Ford 850, King Kutter brush hog, rototiller, blade, disk.
Feb 8, 2019
44
11
8
Waupaca, WI
There are no good R4s for mud and snow. R4s suck for those applications. Stick with your R1s.