• Toro’s MyRide suspension seat provides incredible comfort.
• The heavy, 10-gauge, reinforced deck looks like it will take a beating.
• Large, 23-inch rear tires feature an open tread design that offers increased traction over traditional turf tread patterns.

It took only two hours of testing to discover my favorite feature of Toro’s Titan Max MyRide 60-inch Zero-Turn Mower: a seat that didn’t aggravate my sore back. You see, earlier in the morning, I tweaked my back, hunched over, applying sealant along the bottom of a shower I was installing—not fun. Somehow, I managed to finish the project and a couple of other small jobs, but after lunch, it was time to tackle the lawn. For that, I had the new zero-turn mower from Toro, but I dreaded what it would do to my aching back.

Putting it off wasn’t an option. The grass finally had a sudden growth spurt due to spring temperatures and recent rain. There was a short window in the weather, so I needed to suck it up and get mowing. As I stepped onto the operator platform, it sank a little under my weight. It felt a bit odd, but as I sat down, it rose again and the seat settled down a bit. This was my first inkling that Toro’s MyRide suspended seat might be different from other zero-turn and riding mowers I’ve tested.

Calling MyRide a suspension seat doesn’t really do it justice—it’s more than that. It’s actually a suspended operator platform that includes the seat and floorboard where you rest your feet. The entire platform is suspended at three points with coil-over shock absorbers, which can be actuated and compressed individually. This differs from typical suspended seats, which generally travel up and down in a linear fashion. So MyRide allows the operator to sort of float, with the platform able to pivot in opposition to where the mower hits a bump.

Meanwhile, each shock can be adjusted to the operator’s weight and preferred comfort level. The end result: this is the smoothest-riding zero-turn mower we’ve tested yet. If you’ve found zero-turn mowers to be a bit bumpy, then you’ll love the MyRide suspension. And if you don’t need a mower this big, MyRide is also available on other Toro zero-turn mower models.

I know I was grateful for it. Being able to mow comfortably for a couple of hours, even with my back torqued up, is about the best yardstick to measure how well this advanced seating suspension system works.

I’m a big fan of the more aggressive, open tread tires on the Titan Max MyRide. The relatively smooth turf tires offered on most mowers have always been a pet peeve of mine. They’re designed to prevent tearing up the lawn when making the tight turns that zero-turn mowers can execute. But they often wind up sliding or spinning, leaving you with a smooth, burned streak in the grass.

The more open, aggressive tread on Toro’s Titan Max digs in and slides less, especially on damp grass and areas with slopes. You do have to be careful, though; if you do get a little overzealous and spin the tire, it can inadvertently dig up the dirt. This risk is worth it, though, and I think you’re less likely to damage the grass when making tight turns with these tires.

While MyRide is my favorite feature on this mower, there are others worth talking about. For instance, the Titan Max comes with a 24-horsepower Kawasaki engine, one of the most popular engines used in commercial mowers because of its reliability. It had plenty of power to muscle through the toughest, thickest wet grass I could find, without balling it up and clogging the discharge chute. The design of that chute was notable, too. Made from rubber, it easily bends and pops out of the way if you run it into an unmovable object—nice that it doesn’t get mauled the first time you bump it.

The Titan Max’s controls are quite simple, with no bells and whistles that necessitate a learning curve to operate the mower. It’s got the basics, a keyed ignition switch, throttle, choke, power take-off (PTO) switch (to engage the blades), an hour meter, and a light switch. Meanwhile, the steering arms, or control levers, are broadly adjustable for different-sized operators.

My one complaint is that the mechanical fuel gauge, located at the top of the tank, is a bit awkward to find and read. You have to view it by peering under the armrest and between the seat and bodywork. Once you know where to look, it isn’t too bad, but it’s hard to see while seated at the controls.

This is a big mower, too. With a 60-inch-wide deck, the Titan Max MyRide can cover a lot of ground, and fast. It’s best suited for larger yards of one or more acres, with big open areas. You can tightly get up to edges with it, but it might not fit through narrower areas. I was able to reduce the width a bit by flipping up the discharge chute, but there were still some areas I couldn’t squeeze through.

Another thing you need to watch for with this wide deck are sloped transition areas. Since the deck extends well beyond the wheels on both sides, it can reach over slopes before the wheels do, cutting the grass shorter there and leaving a sharp line cut across the slope. This happens with any larger mower, and something to watch out for if you’re new to decks this size.

Easy operation, a powerful engine, and very good cut quality make the Toro Titan Max MyRide a great zero-turn lawn mower, but in my mind, the advanced seat suspension sets it apart as outstanding. Plus, the fast speed and wide cutting deck mean you’ll get the job of mowing done sooner. This model does come at a cost of about $1,000 more than a similar one without MyRide suspension. But considering the time I spend each week cutting four to five acres, the remarkable operator comfort makes a big difference and is well worth the higher price.

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