BX25 Tire Air Pressure Recomendations for Winter Ops

2fast916 · Feb 4, 2015

For those BX25 or SCUT owners, I was wondering what pressures you run in the winter for plowing. I have my rear R4 tires loaded and set the pressure by looking at the contact patch method in the fall...also did the same on my front R4's. I just ordered a grooving gun to grove both front an rear R4's in an effort to gain additional traction. As the snow flies and I still don't have the grooving gun in hand, I began thinking maybe I can lower my tire pressures a bit, as I ususally done this on my off-road vehicles in the past with good results. Any idea if this will help and/or what pressure is a good starting point?

bigtiller · Feb 4, 2015

Your tire pressure sounds fine but I think you may be disappointed with your efforts at siping the tires. A set of chains almost comes with a guarantee for traction in snow.

msb1766 · Feb 4, 2015

Are your tires loaded with anything? If not get them loaded makes a big difference with traction also get a weight box for the 3 point hitch. The weight box I also use for ballast for loader work.
My tires are loaded with Rim Guard (beet juice) it weighs about 11 pounds per gallon. I made a weight for the 3 point hitch just a cement block with a draw bar inside
and some eye bolts.

2fast916 · Feb 5, 2015

bigtiller said:
Your tire pressure sounds fine but I think you may be disappointed with your efforts at siping the tires. A set of chains almost comes with a guarantee for traction in snow.

My grooving gun just arrived...will definitely give it a try, as I figure I won't hurt the tires for dirt traction.

i do have 2-link H chains for the rear only but, really don't like the ride...unless I'm in soft snow. My problem, at least now, is that the area I clear is actually packed snow, a frozen layer of ice (that you could actually skate on), and then anlther layer of packed snow. If I get enough momentum, I can find enough steam to finish the push / job. If I don't use speed as my friend, I can't get enugh traction to be effective. I've loaded my rear tires and have ballast on the 3-pt. Also, the front is worse than the rear and I would love to add some weight to the frame but.....the Kubota quick hitch that operates my plow, all but eliminates any easy spot to hang weights. Once I get some time and can figre out a way to add weight to the front frame, I'll git er done and see how that helps the front.

bigtiller · Feb 5, 2015

If you raise the blade up a 1/4" or so, it will help during turns. If your lack of steering control is worse than the lack of traction, remove some ballast from the 3ph. I found that 4, forty pound weights on a home made weight bracket worked great, but I also had a hard sided cab. You may find that 6 weights is the sweet spot.