Help lawn mower tires

Bonnan

Member
What is a good alternative to conventional lawn type tread? On my land they frequently did not provide sufficient traction and ag type are too aggressive. What is a good middle choice?
 

I can understand that turf type tires don't provide enough traction sometimes.
What do you mean that ag type are too aggressive?
If ag type tires tears up the grass maybe you shouldn't on the grass as its too wet.
Or maybe you aren't using the mower as you should.
 
Depending on the size you need, there are shallow bar tread tires. This is what they use on Dixie Chopper and Grasshopper. They are easier on turf.
 
Try driving on the ground I have. South Jersey is nothing but sand. A really GOOD lawn with a firm sod and Agg tires will still leave Rattle strips in your yard. On all of my garden tractors I put used anti freeze in the tires. It helped a lot in the traction department! Still have the lawn and turf tires. My CUB has the original agg tires and She leaves nice little waffle iron prints were ever I go.
 
When asking a question such as this, it is a really good idea to provide more information such as the SIZE of the tire you are currently using and whether the tire is on the front or rear of the tractor. There can be traction issues at both ends and some people do put AG bar tread tires at both ends to solve that problem. A few years ago, John Deere began offering a new type of tire known as a HDAP tread style that is more aggressive than a turf tire but less aggressive than an AG bar tread tire. Whether that tire is available in the size you need, I cannot say. GOOGLE HDAP TIRE and see where that takes you.

There are also tires that were designed for off-road vehicles known as quads that offer several tread designs.
 
Very simple solution... ATV tires, they come in various sizes, tread patterns and price ranges, they provide better traction than an ag bar without tearing up the lawn, and they ride soft because they run lower air pressures, turf tires and ag bars are both 40 year old technoligy... ATV tires are high quality modern designs built for vehicles similar in weight to most lawn and garden tractors. Never put on chains again. If you watch kijiji or craigs you can often find them super cheap because people often change the tires on new ATVs right after purchase, I bought a pair of new Kenda Bear Claws for $100, Duro Red Eagles $40 for two. Pic is the Duro's dragging five 4" cultivator shovels.

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You didn't say if this is a zero turn,lawn tractor or garden tractor. If its a tractor you can weight it down enough that the turf tires will work fine the majority time. I have ag tires on two of my garden tractors and pull hay wagons loaded with fire wood up to house and never tear up the yard.
 
Try adding some weight. 50lbs on both rear wheels makes a huge difference. If you have a rear lifting hitch of some sort a box that attaches to it is a handy way to add weight.
 
I haven't nor would I ever use anything but a good AG tire on my lawns. I can assure you that they aren't tearing up the turf as much as a turf tire would when it spins. If you are thinking the Ag will tear it up, then I would suggest that you are driving too fast for the conditions at hand.
 
As I posted a couple of places here recently, I have difficult terrain to mow and tried bar lug and wound up with Snow Stud. Internet is full of them and most get them to you in a couple of days with free shipping. Work great for me and even with a ZT, if you take it easy in ZTurns, they don't tear up your lawn yet give you super traction in wet grass, mud, and standing water. The bar lugs tore up my lawn even being careful and slid on 25-30 degree slopes.
 
Like some of the other folks have said, take a look at the ATV tires.

Contrary to what some folks believe, an aggressive treaded tire will, in many cases, cause less damage than turf tires in a low traction situation because they will grip when the turf tires will spin.

I have CST ANCLA tires that have a VERY aggressive tread and they will leave a bit of a 'mark' when my yard is super saturated, but that is temporary and after a few days you can't see/feel them.

Weight is your friend for traction. I have mine filled with Rim Guard and also use wheel weights. I try to avoid hanging weight on a tractor as it causes more stress on the axle and frame than wheel weights and fluid in the tires.

Here are two of mine that have the ANCLA tires on them, Both are right around 2000 Lbs.


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I mow on 45 degree and steeper with turf or ag lug and can hold them on banks and not tear up grass. Both tractors are weighted down.
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Hey OB... twice in two days on two forums you get to show off the forklift... Lol That is a Cool pic.... did you get the starter fixed

and those are nice tires, the new technoligy that goes into ATV tires make them far superior IMO, softer rubber, low air, I dont even bother filling the tires, Ive never needed to, even while pushing a foot of snow with a 54" blade... and Ive never put a mark on the lawn.
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Hey thanks guys for the feedback. I really appreciate them all; some really good suggestions that were new to me. i never had ag type on a lawn mower maybe they wouldn't be so bad.
 
The ag tires (F1) I originally bought had a very sharp corner to the lugs which did the damage. The ATV tires are smoother on the corners and do a better job if you are the least bit careful.
 

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