If you’ve ever wondered when and what each type of tractor tire is designed for, this video will help.
R1 tires, often called Ag tires, short for agricultural tires, were found on farm tires as some of the first rubber replacements for steel tires. These tires have deep bar lugs, with wide open spaces for good grip across dirt and mud. Our 1948 Ford 8N has these type of tires, as does our Ford Workmaster.
R1 tires are great for field work, mud, and digging in for torque in tough situations. They are not the best for solid surfaces and snow.
R3 tires, called turf tires, don’t have the traction capabilities of the R1 tires, but are designed to float over soft terrain without causing damage to yards. These tires are often found on mowing tractors. They tend to be not good in mud or slick surfaces. They do perform okay on grass, but wear quickly on hard surfaces like asphalt or cement. These soft rubber tires will wear down the most quickly of any of the tires we’ve used.
R4 tires, called industrial tires, are tires with thick lugs, thick sidewalls, and designed for solid surfaces. These are found on industrial machines and often seen on tractors with loaders. In fact, these tires were previously the most popular tires on compact tractors with loaders due to the stiff sidewalls, heavy duty use, and long wear time. But, they do not do well in mud and on slick surfaces.
R14 tires, a new hybrid blend of ag tires, turf tires, and industrial tires, offer the best of all worlds. These tires have become amazingly popular. They handle mud and snow appropriately, offer a smoother ride than R1 tires, and have the stiff sidewalls necessary for loader work like the R4 tires. They aren’t as damaging to lawns/yards as the R1 tires would be. These tires are so popular, that they’re often the “delay point” on new tractor orders.